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
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
(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
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
(27) And whatsoever goeth upon his paws.—Rather, and whatsoever goeth upon his palms, that is, those animals whose feet are not divided into two parts, but which have feet with fingers like a hand, such as the lion, the bear, the ape, the wolf, the cat, &c. read more
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
III. HOLINESS DEMANDED 1. The Clean and the Unclean CHAPTER 11 1. Concerning the beasts on the earth (Leviticus 11:1-8 ) 2. Concerning things in the water (Leviticus 11:9-12 ) 3. Concerning flying and creeping things (Leviticus 11:13-23 ) 4. Concerning defilement with dead bodies (Leviticus 11:24-40 ) The chapters which form the third section of Leviticus are by some taken to give evidence that not Moses, but another person arranged the material of the book. Even men who do not deny... read more
ANIMALS ALLOWED OR DISALLOWED FOR FOOD (vv. 1-8) Never since the flood has man been commanded to be a vegetarian. After the flood Noah was told, “every moving thing that lives shall be food for you” (Genesis 9:3). Nothing at that time was forbidden, except the eating of blood, a matter that has not changed through the ages. However, under law, and under law only, God put strict limits on what animals, birds or water creatures were permitted to Israel to eat. These laws were never put upon... read more
WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT NOT TO EAT We begin at this chapter the consideration of that section of the book previously designated as The Law of the Clean and Unclean. Let us gather the facts by a series of questions, and then seek to learn what they mean. Read the verses and answer the questions, for that is the only way to approach a mastery of the lesson. How is “beasts” translated in the RV? What creatures might Israel eat (Leviticus 11:3 )? What exceptions were made (Leviticus 11:4-7 )?... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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