Leviticus 17:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-9

This statute obliged all the people of Israel to bring all their sacrifices to God's altar, to be offered there. And as to this matter we must consider, I. How it stood before. 1. It was allowed to all people to build altars, and offer sacrifices to God, where they pleased. Wherever Abraham had a tent he built an altar, and every master of a family was a priest to his own family, as Job 1:5. 2. This liberty had been an occasion of idolatry. When every man was his own priest, and had an altar... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 17:3

What man soever there be of the house of Israel ,.... Whether high or low, rich or poor: that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat in the camp ; which are particularly mentioned, as Gersom observes, because of these the offerings were; for the law respects the killing of them not for common food, but for sacrifice, as appears from the following verses; for this law was to be a statute for ever, whereas in that sense it was not, and could not be observed, especially when they were come into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-7

One place of sacrifice. It is of the essence of law to be impartial. Its precepts apply to all without distinction. "Aaron and his sons and all the children of Israel" are here included in the scope of the Divine commands. Let none deem himself too humble or too exalted to incur displeasure by infraction of the Law. I. We see that A LAWFUL ACTION MAY BE UNLAWFULLY PERFORMED . A wrong time or place may vitiate a deed otherwise permissible. Animals were given to man as food,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-7

Features of Christian service. It is open to question whether the prohibition ( Leviticus 17:3 , Leviticus 17:4 ) extends to all animals killed for feed, or only to those slain in sacrifice. The former view is, in my judgment, the correct one; for (a) it only lasted (see above) while they were in the camp, near to one another, and all near to the tabernacle; and (b) much less flesh was eaten there and then than is eaten here and now. A more largely vegetable diet would probably... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-9

Sacrifice is not in itself enough; there must be uniformity in the manner in which it is offered, and identity of place in which it is made. The seven first chapters of the Book of Leviticus have given a minute statement of the ceremonies which are always to be unfailingly observed. Incidentally, it had been taught in these chapters that the place of sacrifice was the court of the tabernacle, but now every other place of sacrifice is stringently forbidden. I. THE TABERNACLE AND ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-9

Sanctity of animal life. All God's people commanded to observe restrictions as to the shedding of blood. Door of the tabernacle connected with the sphere of common life; thus religion and its duty threw sacredness over all things. I. THE DOMINION OF MAN OVER THE LOWER CREATION . 1 . Appointed by God (see Genesis 1:26 and Psalms 8:1-9 ). 2 . Limited in its extent, by necessity, humanity of feeling, provision for the higher purposes of human life. 3 . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

The first injunction contained in the chapter ( Leviticus 17:2-7 ) is very generally understood to mean that while the Israelites lived in the wilderness, all animals fit for sacrifices which were slain for food should be so far regarded as sacrifices that they should be brought to the door of the tabernacle and slain in the court, an offering of the blood and fat being made to the Lord. Thus the ordinary slaughtering of domestic animals, it is said, became sanctified, and the dignity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

Grace before meat. Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31 . From the perfect atonement God provides, we are invited next to turn to the morality he requires. And no better beginning can be made than the acknowledgment of God in connection with our food. The beautiful way the Lord secured his own recognition as the bountiful Giver was by enacting that blood, since it is the means used in atonement, must be devoted to no meaner use. Hence it was to be carefully put away, either by the priest at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

Statutes concerning blood. The sacredness of blood is everywhere marked in Scripture. The chapter before us contains some of the more important statutes concerning it. I. IN RESPECT TO THE BLOOD OF SACRIFICE . 1 . It must be brought to the door of the tabernacle. (a) To the blood of those offered at the door of the tabernacle. As a matter of course, the bleed of such sacrifices would be sprinkled and poured out at the altar. (b) To the blood of those also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:3

What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat. The use of the word killeth, instead of sacrificeth, is one of the chief causes of the error referred to above, which represents this command as applying to the slaughter of domestic animals. But it is always permissible to use a generic in place of a specific term, and its use proves nothing. Probably the sacred writer uses it as a less sacred term, and therefore more suitable to sacrifices... read more

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