The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 323

prehensive though not in so systematic a distinction is drawn between the peace manner ns the ten commandments. offerings that are thank offerings, which Ver. 2.-Ye ahall be holy: for I the Lord must be eaten on the first day, and the your God am holy. The religious motive is put peace offerings which are vow or voluntary forward here, as in the previons chapter, as offerings, which may be eaten on the first t~e fonndation of all morality. It is God's or second day. ID the present resume this will that we should be holy, and by being distinction is not noticed. Whoever trans- holy we are like God, who is to be our gresses this ceremonial command is to bear model so far as is possible to the cree.tUl'e. ~ iniquity and to be cut oft' from among So in the new dispensation, "Be ye therefore his people, that is, to be excommunicated perfect, even as your Father which is in without any appointed form of reconciliation heaven is perfect" (Matt. v. 48). " As be by means of sacrifice. which bath called you is holy, so be ye holy Vere. 9, 10.-The injunction contained in all manner of conversation" (1 Pet. i. 15). in these verses, to not wholly reap the Ver. 3.-Ye Bhe.ll fear every man his oomers of thy field, neither ... gather the mother, and his father. The words fear gleanings of thy harvest, is twice afterwards and rer,~enc8 are in this connection inter- repeated (eh. xxiii. 22; Dent. xxiv. 19-22). changeable. So Eph. v. 33, "Let the wife In Deuteronomy, the oliveyard is specified see that she reverence her husband," where together with the harvest-field and the the word " reverence " would be more vineyard, and it ie. added the.~ if a sheaf exe.ctly translated by " fear." St. Paul be by chance left behind, it is to remain for points out that the importance of the fifth the benefit of the poor. The object of this commandment is indicated in the Decalogue law is to inculcate a general spirit of mercy, by its being " the first commandment with which is willing to give up its own exact promise," that is, with a promise attached to rights in kindness to others suffering from it (Eph. vi. 2). The family life is built want. The word here nsed for vineyard upon reverence to parents, and on the family covers also the oliveyard. The expression, is built society. Obedience to parents is a neither Bhalt thou gather every grape of thy duty flowing out of one of the first two laws vineyard, would be more liternlly rendered, instituted by Goel-the law of marriage (Gen. neither ,halt IJ1ou gather the scattering oj ii 2-1). The second law instituted at the thy vineyard, meaning the berries (gropes same time was that of the sabbath (Gen. ii. or olives) which had follen or which were 3), and in the verse before us observance of left singly on the boughs. the sabbatical law is likewise inculcated, in Ver. 11.-Stenling, cheating, and lying the words that immediately follow-ye shall arc classed together as kindred sine (see eh. keep my aabbaths. vi. 2, where an example is given of theft per- Ver. 4.-Turn ye not unto idols. The word formed by means of lying; cf. Eph. iv. 25 ; used for idols, elilim, meaning nothings, is Col. iii. 9). contrasted with Eloliim, God. Pe. cxv. Ver. 12.-And ye Bhall not swear by my exhibits this contrast in several of it.a par- 118Dle falsely. These words contain a posi- ticulars. Cf. St. Paul's statement, "We tive pormission to swear, or take n solemn know that an idol is nothing in the world, oath, by the Na.me of God, and a prohibition and that there is none other God but one " to swear fnlsoly by it (see Mott. v. 33). (1 Cor. viii. 4). "If the heart of man Ver. 13.-Cbcnting nnd stealing are &!!'Bin becomes benumbed to the use of images of forbidden, and, together with these, other false gods of any kind, he sinks down to the foJ"ms of oppression although legal. Tile com- idols which are his ideals, aud becomes as mand to pny labourers thdr hire promptly- dumb nnd unepiritual ns they are" (Lange). which covers also the case of paying The remainder of the verse forbids tho trndesmen promptly-is repented in Deut. transgression of the second commandment, ns xxiv. H (cf. Jns. v. 4). the earlier part of the verse forbicle the Ver. H.-Thou she.It not ouree the deaf. trnusgression of the first commnndment: The sin of cursing another is in itself nor make to yourselves molten gods, as was complete, whether the curse be henril by dol\..e by J erobonm when he set up the calves thRt other or uot, because it is the outcome l 1 Kings xii. 23). of sin in the speaker's heart. The suffering Vere. 11-8.-The unsystematic charnotor caused to one who hmrs tho ourse orentes of this chapter is indicated by prohibitions a further sin by ocl,Iing nn injury to tho under the fifth, fourth, first, and second person addressed. Strnngely in contro.st commandments (vcrs. 3, 4) being succoecled with this is not only tho practice of irre- by a ceremonial instruction respecting the ligious men, who care littlo how they curse peace offerings, repeated from eh. vii. 16- a man in his absence, but the teaching 18. The words, ye shall offer it at your which is regarded by a large body of own will, should rather be, for your accept- Christians llB incontrovertible. "No hcum ance, 11B in eh. i. 3. In the seventh chRptcr a is done to re,erenoe but by an open mnnifo~- 288 TB E DOOK OF LEVITICUS. [aa. xrx. 1-37.