The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 217

appears hopeless to expect certainly to identify them. This fact in itself ought to con- vince the Jew that the Law, in the letter, is abolished; for he cannot tell whether he has not repeatedly eaten abominable thingR, or that contact with the carcases of such has not made him unclean. As to the spirit of the Law, there are broad indication!' of cleanness and uncleanness to which we may profitably attend. I. THE UNCLEAN ARE IN llENERAL BIRDS OF PREY. 1. ConspicU<IUll amoogst these are the eagles. (1) There is little doubt that first name (,ii,,) is truly rendered "eagle." 'l'he term expresses the propensity of that creature for lacerating and tearing in pieces the flesh of its prey. (2) Its associates in the group (vers. 13, 14) are similar in nature. The" ossifrage," or bone-breaker, is probably the sea-eagle, whose habit is to break bones to get at the marrow. The " ospray" has its name in the Hebrew from its atrength, and is generally understood to be the black eagle. The "vulture "-if that truly renders the original-is one of the largest and most formidable of the eagle kind. And what is construed the "kite," being in the same grou:r., is probably some other description of eagle. 2. These are emblems of e,ril spirits. (1) This, indeed, is true of all unclean birds, in proof of which see Matt. xiii. 4, compared with 19, and Rev. xviii. ~- They are so: (2) From their traversing the air (see Eph. ii. 2). This is eminently the case with eagles, whose flight is towering, and whose nests even are in inaccessible mountain heights. (3) From the formidableness of their attacks. From dizzy heights they swoop down upon their prey. They sre armed with powerful talons, and strong, sharp, hooked beaks fitted to inflict dreadful wounds, tearing as they grip the flesh or their quivering victims (Job xxxix. 30). 3. They also represent wicked men. (1) Wicked men are the "children of Satan," and naturally exhibit the family likeness. The kings of Babylon and Tyre are compared to the eaµ:le (Ezek. xvii. 3, 7). The per- secutors of the people of God are likewise so compared (Lam. iv. 19). The Roman .armies, whose standards were eagles, are called eagles by our Lord (Matt. x.xiv. 28). .(2) The lesson for us is to avoid the disposition of the wicked, and to beware of their relentless voracity and diabolical cruelty. God is stronger than the "powers of tha air." II. SoME UNCLEAN BIRDS ABE PROWLERS OP' THE NIGHT. 1. This cl,aracteriza th~ next grO'Up (vers. 15-19). (1) The Hebrew name for the" raven" (:i,:p) is that com- monly used for eveni11g. Our name "raven" probably comes from their ravening. The raven Noah sent forth from the ark, wbich wandered to and fro, and resting upon floating carcases or what dry thing it could find, was an emblem of an unclean dark ~pirit, which is cast out from the Church of God, and from the hearts of his people, and wanders among the moral carcases, the dead in trespasses nnd sins (comp. Zech. xiii. 2; Matt. xii. 43). (2) Keep close to Jesus, lest, departing from him, we may invite this unclean spirit to return with seven others more wicked than himself. 2. With the raven owls are associated (vers. 16-19). (1) These are creatures whoso vision will not endure the blaze of day, but who have wonderful sight in the dark. ·That rendered "hawk" has its name here (ntt,) from the swiftness of its flight; but in Dan. xiv. 13 (ntt,) from the sharpness of its sight. (2) 'l'hey are distinguished from each other by particular habits. That in our version called the "night hawk" (conn) is the screech-owl. Its screams are violent; and these birds in general make •earful and doleful sounds in the night. This does not argue favourably for the happi- ness of evil spirits. (3) Wicked men also, like owls, hate the light. When honest people of the day are sleeping, these prowlers are plotting mischief. Witness the burglaries, the murders, the prostitutions, the debaucheries, practised by them under the cover of darkness. III. UNCLEAN BIRDS ABE GROVELLING IN THEIR HABITS. 1. Such are the" fowla tl,at ~reep going upon all four." (1) 'l'he bat is a creature of this class. It has claw~ attached to its leathern wings, which serve it instead of feet to crBwl by. (2) 'l'his description includes also insects from which exceptions are taken in the verse following. 2. They are types of wicked intelligencea. (1) Some devils have a passion for enshrining themselves in organic bodies. The incarnation of Satan in the serpent was not the last .attempt. There were demoniacal possessions in our Lord's day; and when expelled from .human beings, they preferred the bodies of swine to having no organic habitation. (2) Wicked men grovel iu the most revolting moral filth. 3. Jn what contrast to these are Jhe good I (1) The dove sent forth by Noah is a figure of the Spirit of God, tho gracious  180 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH. XI. 1-4'1.