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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 11:1-23

Distinctions between clean and unclean animals 11:1-23We have here the same threefold division of animals that inhabit the land, sea, and air as the one that appears in the story of creation (Genesis 1:20-23)."It has long been recognized . . . that the order of the purity laws in Leviticus 11 follows that of the creation of animal life in Genesis 1 (Rashi). Moreover, just as in Genesis 1 God distinguished ’good’ and ’evil’ in his new creation, so also in Leviticus 11 God distinguished the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 11:1-47

1. Uncleanness due to contact with certain animals ch. 11"This chapter contains a selected list of creatures that divides each type of creature into various classes of purity. According to the final verse in the chapter, the decisive question was whether a class of animals was unclean or clean. The goal of the distinctions was to determine whether an animal could be eaten. The notion of uncleanness and cleanness is specifically applied in this chapter to the question of holiness. Violating any... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 11:20-23

These verses deal with insects. Perhaps the fact that certain insects swarmed rather than flew in a more direct and "natural" way made them unclean. Locusts that hopped may have been clean since this is the normal form of locomotion for birds, which they resembled. The varieties of locusts that crawled were unclean, perhaps because that appeared to be abnormal movement for this insect. [Note: Douglas, p. 56.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 11:24-28

In this section Moses passed along more specific directions concerning defilement from carrion (animal carcasses). Walking on paws, which look like hands, appears unnatural (to some). This may be the reason land animals that move that way were unclean. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 11:24-47

Pollution by animals and its treatment 11:24-47The rest of this chapter addresses questions arising from human contact with unclean animals. Only dead animals polluted human beings (Leviticus 11:24; Leviticus 11:27; Leviticus 11:31; Leviticus 11:39). No living unclean animal did. Death is an abnormal condition for living beings, and it caused pollution. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:1-34

(Leviticus 11-16) The Law of Clean and UncleanThis section deals with the subject of ceremonial uncleanness and the method of its purification. Four main types of uncleanness are referred to, viz. that of meats (Leviticus 11:1-23), of carcases (Leviticus 11:24), of leprosy (Leviticus 13, 14), and of certain bodily functions and conditions (Leviticus 12, 15). The effect of ceremonial uncleanness is that it disqualifies a person for the worship of God. Its duration varies according to the cause,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:1-47

Law of Clean and Unclean MeatsThe animals whose flesh may or may not be eaten are treated in four classes, viz. large land animals (Leviticus 11:3-8), water animals (Leviticus 11:9-12), birds (Leviticus 11:13-19), winged creeping things (Leviticus 11:20-23).3. Of the large land animals, those are clean which both chew the cud and divide the hoof. Unless they satisfy both these conditions they are unclean and cannot be eaten. The practical effect of this is to exclude all of prey. The flesh of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 11:23

(23) But all other flying creeping things.—Better, but all other winged creeping things. Besides the above-named four species and their kindreds, all other locusts, as well as insects of any kind, are to be abhorred as food. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 11:24

(24) And for these ye shall be unclean.—Rather, and by these ye shall be defiled, that is, the beasts and animals specified in Leviticus 11:26-27.Shall be unclean until the even.—For coming in contact with the dead body of the animals contracts defilement for the rest of the day, and till the beginning of a new day, which took place after sunset (comp. Leviticus 23:32). During these hours of legal uncleanness he was not allowed to enter the sanctuary, touch any sacred thing, or have intercourse... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:1-47

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS, AND DEFILEMENT BY DEAD BODIESLeviticus 11:1-47WITH chapter 11 begins a new section of this book, extending to the end of chapter 15, of which the subject is the law concerning various bodily defilements, and the rites appointed for their removal.The law is given under four heads, as follows:I. Clean and Unclean Animals, and Defilement by Dead Bodies: Leviticus 11:1-47.II. The Uncleanness of Childbirth: Leviticus 12:1-8.III. The Uncleanness of Leprosy: Leviticus... read more

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