The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 218

Messenger and Dispenser of peace to the Church; but who is often grieved by the impurities of men (Matt. iii. 16). The fruit of the Spirit, is peace ; and those who exemplify it are called doves (Matt. x. 16). (2) The lark also is a clean creature, who soars high and sings gloriously in the light of the morning. How angelical I how saintly I (3) While winged insects that could not leap from the ground were unclean to show that those men are morally so who are wholly given to the cares of this world'. ~~ose with benders a~ve t~eir feet, in our version called "legs," those with crouchiag Jomts to stoop and spnng with, as locusts and grasshoppers, for the opposite reason are- clean. The Baptist lived principally upon locusts in the wilderness.-J. A. M. Vers. 26--41.-Unclean, erttping, and dead things. It is evident, from the concluding verses of this chapter (see vers. 43, 44), that these laws were designed to teach the nature of the holiness of God. It therefore follows, unless that holiness consist in not eating the flesh or touching the carcases of certain creatures, which it would be absurd to suppose, these creatures must in their habits represent evils which men should; abominate, and clean creatures, on the contrary, virtues which they should cultivate. Let ns therefore seek the spiritual lessons from- I. THE UNCLEAN CBEEPIYG THINGS THAT CREEP. These are opposed to creeping things- that leap, some ofwliicb are clean (see vers. 21, 22). Their steady attachment to the earth, never rising above it, represents an inveterate worldliness which a holy people- most bold in abhorrence. Samples are given under the following groupings (see ver. 42), viz.: 1. Those that have no feet, "Whatsoever goeth upon the belly." (1) Serpents, makes, vipers, and worms of all kinds are included under this description. The Rerpent has given its name to Satan ever since he enshrined himself in a creature of that kind (see Gen. iii. 1; 2 Cor. xi. 3; Rev. xii. 9; xx. 2). And wicked men are the "children of the devil," and so are described as the "seed of the serpent," and a "generation of vipers" (Gen. iii 15; Matt. iii. 7). (2) Serpents are abominable for their unclean habits, lurking in the dust or mire, and eating their meat from the dust (Gen. iii. 14; Isa. !xv. 25; Micah vii 17). Worms are bred in corruption and feast upon carrion (Exod. xvi. 20; Job vii. 5; xix. 21; Acts xii. 23). What a picture of those who wallow in sin I Serpents are double-ton~ed (Pe. cxl. 3), teaching us to abhor deception. They nourish poison, which is deadly (Numb. xxi. 9), teaching us to detest malignity (see Isa. xii. 24, margin; Rom. iii. 13). The worm of the damned dieth not (Isa. !xvi. 24; Mark ix. 44). 2. Those that have/our feet," Whatsoever goeth upon all four." (1) The weasel and the ferret are remarkable for their stealthy sliding motion in closing upon their prey. They teach us that slyness and treachery are an aggravation of violence, which should be held in abomination. The" mouse" (ver. 29) is to be taken as the representative of everything of the mus kind ; but it is difficult to say what animal is meant by the word (:lll) rendered" tortoise." By some it is thought to be the crocodile; by others the toad. Its name indicates some habit of swelling, and may teach us to abominate all impudence, ostentation, and vanity. (2) The animal called "chameleon" (ver. 30) is by some thought to be the mongoose, a creature which eats snakes, rate, mice, and other vermin; while Bochart concludes that the chameleon is intended by the- word we translate "mole." Creatures of the lizard kind, excepting the aquatic sort. such as the crocodile, live on flies. God makes some unclean creatures useful in exter- minating others• so be deals amon..,st wicked nations, punishing them by one another in their turn. 3. Those that have :iorefeet. (1) Under this description we have centi- pedes, caterpillars, perhaps, and innumeral:,le cr~atures, witl~ legs m~r.e in num~er th~n four. Amongst these there is scope for naturalists to describe quaht1es all which w1J.l convey moral lessons. (2) The one thing we mark in creatures that "multiply feet,"' as the Hebrew expresses it, is the slowness yet steadiness and stillneBll of their progress-. The stealthy, inRinuating false teachers who troubled the early Churches, and who have- their representatives in modern timeR, are compared to these creeping things (see 2 Tim. iii. 6; Jude 4). II. THE LAWS OF CONTAMINATION. These are ranged under two heads: 1. Tiu, polluting of persons. (1) This is done by their touching the carcase of an unclean creature. Whatsoever is unfit for food must not be touched (see Gen. iii. 8). Whom -we cannot commune with we must avoid. (2) It may be done by their touching the· carcase of a creature originally clean that has died of itself. Because in this case it; OH, XL 1-47.] 'l'HE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.