--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 126 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/126/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 126. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/126/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 1 of 2. ## 126. Leviticus · 2 of 27 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/126/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/126/#p-N [¶0] His own voluntary will - לרצנו lirtsono, to gain himself acceptance before the Lord: in this way all the versions appear to have understood the original words, and the connection in which they stand obviously requires this meaning. ### Verse 4 [¶2] He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering - By the imposition of hands the person bringing the victim acknowledged, [¶3] 1. The sacrifice as his own. [¶4] 2. That he offered it as an atonement for his sins. [¶5] 3. That he was worthy of death because he had sinned, having forfeited his life by breaking the law. [¶6] 4. That he entreated God to accept the life of the innocent animal in place of his own. [¶7] 5. And all this, to be done profitably, must have respect to Him whose life, in the fullness of time, should be made a sacrifice for sin. [¶8] 6. The blood was to be sprinkled round about upon the altar, [Lev 1:5], as by the sprinkling of blood the atonement was made; for the blood was the life of the beast, and it was always supposed that life went to redeem life. [¶9] See Clarke on [Exo 29:10] (note). On the required perfection of the sacrifice see Clarke on [Exo 12:5] (note). It has been sufficiently remarked by learned men that almost all the people of the earth had their burnt-offerings, on which also they placed the greatest dependence. It was a general maxim through the heathen world, that there was no other way to appease the incensed gods; and they sometimes even offered human sacrifices, from the supposition, as Caesar expresses it, that life was necessary to redeem life, and that the gods would be satisfied with nothing less. "Quod pro vita hominis nisi vita hominis redditur, non posse aliter deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur." - Com. de Bell. Gal., lib. vi. But this was not the case only with the Gauls, for we see, by Ovid, Fast., lib. vi., that it was a commonly received maxim among more polished people: - " - Pro parvo victima parva cadit. [¶10] Cor pro corde, precor, pro fibris sumite fibras. [¶11] Hanc animam vobis pro meliore damus." [¶12] See the whole of this passage in the above work, from ver. 135 to 163. ### Verse 6 [¶14] He shall flay - Probably meaning the person who brought the sacrifice, who, according to some of the rabbins, killed, flayed, cut up, and washed the sacrifice, and then presented the parts and the blood to the priest, that he might burn the one, and sprinkle the other upon the altar. But it is certain that the priests also, and the Levites, flayed the victims, and the priest had the skin to himself; see [Lev 7:8], and [2Chr 29:34]. The red heifer alone was not flayed, but the whole body, with the skin, etc., consumed with fire. See [Num 19:5]. ### Verse 7 [¶16] Put fire - The fire that came out of the tabernacle from before the Lord, and which was kept perpetually burning; see [Lev 9:24]. Nor was it lawful to use any other fire in the service of God. See the case of Nadab and Abihu, Leviticus 10 (note). ### Verse 8 [¶18] The priests - shall lay the parts - The sacrifice was divided according to its larger joints. [¶19] 1. After its blood was poured out, and the skin removed, the head was cut off. [¶20] 2. They then opened it and took out the omentum, or caul, that invests the intestines. [¶21] 3. They took out the intestines with the mesentery, and washed them well, as also the fat. [¶22] 4. They then placed the four quarters upon the altar, covered them with the fat, laid the remains of the intestines upon them, and then laid the head above all. [¶23] 5. The sacred fire was then applied, and the whole mass was consumed. This was the holocaust, or complete burnt-offering. ### Verse 9 [¶25] An offering - of a sweet savor - אשה ריח ניחוח ishsheh reiach nichoach, a fire-offering, an odour of rest, or, as the Septuagint express it, θυσια οσμη ευωδιας, "a sacrifice for a sweet-smelling savor;" which place St. Paul had evidently in view when he wrote [Eph 5:2] : "Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering, και θυσιαν - εις οσμην ευωδιας, and a sacrifice, for a sweet-smelling savor," where he uses the same terms as the Septuagint. Hence we find that the holocaust, or burnt-offering, typified the sacrifice and death of Christ for the sins of the world. ### Verse 10 [¶27] His offering be of the flocks - See Clarke on [Lev 1:2] (note). ### Verse 12 [¶29] Cut it into his pieces - See Clarke's note on [Gen 15:10]. ### Verse 16 [¶31] Pluck away his crop with his feathers - In this sacrifice of fowls the head was violently wrung off, then the blood was poured out, then the feathers were plucked off, the breast was cut open, and the crop, stomach, and intestines taken out, and then the body was burnt. Though the bird was split up, yet it was not divided asunder. This circumstance is particularly remarked in Abram's sacrifice, [Gen 15:10]. See Clarke's note [Gen 15:10]. See Ainsworth. We have already seen, on [Lev 1:2], that four kinds of animals might be made burnt-offerings to the Lord. [¶32] 1. Neat cattle, such as bulls, oxen, cows, and calves. [¶33] 2. He-goats, she-goats, and kids. [¶34] 3. Rams, ewes, and lambs. [¶35] 4. Pigeons and turtle-doves; and in one case, viz., the cleansing of the leper, sparrows or some small bird. [¶36] All these must be without spot or blemish - the most perfect of their respective kinds, and be wholly consumed by fire. The Rich were to bring the most costly; the Poor, those of least price. Even in this requisition of justice how much mercy was mingled! If a man could not bring a bullock or a heifer, a goat or a sheep, let him bring a calf, a kid, or a lamb. If he could not bring any of these because of his poverty, let him bring a turtle-dove, or a young pigeon, (see [Lev 5:7]); and it appears that in cases of extreme poverty, even a little meal or fine flour was accepted by the bountiful Lord as a sufficient oblation; see [Lev 5:11]. This brought down the benefits of the sacrificial service within the reach of the poorest of the poor; as we may take for granted that every person, however low in his circumstances, might be able to provide the tenth part of an ephah, about three quarts of meal, to make an offering for his soul unto the Lord. But every man must bring something; the law stooped to the lowest circumstances of the poorest of the people, but every man must sacrifice, because every man had sinned. Reader, what sort of a sacrifice dost thou bring to God? To Him thou owest thy whole body, soul, and substance; are all these consecrated to his service? Or has he the refuse of thy time, and the offal of thy estate? God requires thee to sacrifice as his providence has blessed thee. If thou have much, thou shouldst give liberally to God and the poor; If thou have but little, do thy diligence to give of that little. God's justice requires a measure of that which his mercy has bestowed. But remember that as thou hast sinned, thou needest a Savior. Jesus is that lamb without spot which has been offered to God for the sin of the world, and which thou must offer to him for thy sin; and it is only through Him that thou canst be accepted, even when thou dedicatest thy whole body, soul, and substance to thy Maker. Even when we present ourselves a living sacrifice to God, we are accepted for his sake who carried our sins, and bore our sorrows. Thanks be to God, the rich and the poor have equal access unto him through the Son of his love, and equal right to claim the benefits of the great sacrifice! ### Introduction [¶38] The meat-offering of flour with oil and incense, [Lev 2:1-3]. The oblation of the meat-offering baked in the oven and in the pan, [Lev 2:4-6]. The meat-offering baked in the frying-pan, [Lev 2:7-10]. No leaven nor honey to be offered with the meat-offering, [Lev 2:11]. The oblation of the first-fruits, [Lev 2:12]. Salt to be offered with the meat offering, [Lev 2:13]. Green ears dried by the fire, and corn to be beaten out of full ears, with oil and frankincense, to be offered as a meat-offering of first-fruits, [Lev 2:14-16]. ### Verse 1 [¶40] Meat-offering - מנחה minchah. For an explanation of this word see Clarke's note on [Gen 4:3], and Lev. vii. Calmet has remarked that there are five kinds of the minchah mentioned in this chapter. [¶41] 1. סלת soleth, simple flour or meal, [Lev 2:1]. [¶42] 2. Cakes and wafers, or whatever was baked in the oven, [Lev 2:4]. [¶43] 3. Cakes baked in the pan, [Lev 2:5]. [¶44] 4. Cakes baked on the frying-pan, or probably, a gridiron, [Lev 2:7].