Leviticus 15

AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when any man has a running issue out of his flesh His secret parts, called flesh, Levit. 6. 10. and 12. 3. Ezek. 16. 26. and 23. 20., because of his issue he is unclean.

And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue Or if it have run, and been stopped in great measure, either by the grossness of the humour, or by some obstruction in parts that it cannot run freely, as it did, but only droppeth., it is his uncleanness.

Every bed whereon he lieth, that has the issue, is unclean: and every thing Heb. vessel, by which the Hebrews understand all sorts of houshold-stuffe. whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.

And whosoever toucheth his bed, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And he that sitteth on any thing, whereon he sate that has the issue, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And he that toucheth the flesh That is, any part of his body: the word flesh being taken otherwise here than, v. 2. As the same word is frequently used in Scripture in differing significations in the same chapter, and sometimes in the same verse, as Matth. 8. 22. of him that has the issue, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And if he that has the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And what saddle soever he rideth upon, that has the issue, shall be unclean.

And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him, shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And whomsoever he toucheth that has the issue, (and has not rinsed his hands in water) This may be understood, either, 1. Of the person touching, if he that has an issue toucheth another with unwashen hands. Thus most take it. But why then should it be limited to his hands? for if he had touched him by any other part, as suppose by kissing him, he had defiled him, though his hands had been washed. Or rather 2. Of the person touched, to whom the washing of his hands is prescribed as an easier way of cleansing himself, if speedily used, but if that was neglected or delayed, a more laborious course was enjoyned him. And thus the Syriack interpreter understands it., he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And the vessel of earth that he toucheth, which has the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

And when he that has an issue is cleansed of his issue When his issue is not only stopped in part or for a season, but has wholly ceased., then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing To wit, for the use of the ceremonies prescribed in such cases. See Numb. 19. 11, 12., and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean i. e. Admitted to converse with men and with God in publick ordinances..

And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest.

And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and the priests shall make an atonement for him Not as if this was in it self a sin, but only a punishment of sin, though oft-times it was sinful as being a fruit of a mans intemperance, and immoderate lust. See Levit. 14. 12. before the LORD, for his issue.

And if any mans seed of copulation go out from him Not through weakness of the parts, as that ver. 3. but in his sleep, which is called nightly pollution, which though involuntary, might arise from some lustful dream or imagination. But if it was voluntary and by a mans own procurement when awake, it was esteemed abhominable and a degree of murder. See Gen. 38. 9., then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

And every garment, and every skin whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

The woman also with whom man Or, The man, to wit, that had such an issue, which is plainly to be understood out of the whole context. For though in some special cases relating to the Worship of God, men were to forbear the use of the marriage-bed, as Exod. 19. 15. and 1 Sam. 21. 4. yet to affirm that the use of it in other cases did generally defile the persons and made them unclean till even is contrary to the whole current of Scripture, which affirm, the marriage-bed to be undefiled, Heb. 13. 4. to the practise of the Jews, which is a good comment upon their own laws, and to the light of nature and reason. shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood Heb. And a woman when she shall have an issue of blood, (and because that might be at her nose or other parts, he addes) and her issue shall be in her flesh, i. e. in her secret parts, as the word flesh, is taken ver. 2. So it notes her monethly disease., she shall be put apart Not out of the camp, as the lepers and some others, but from converse with her husband and others, and from access to the house of God. seven days For sometimes it continues so long, and it was but decent to allow some time for purification after the ceasing of her issue.: and whosoever To wit, of grown persons. For the infant, to whom in that case she might give suck, was exempted from this pollution by the greater law of necessity, and by that antecedent law which required women to give suck to their own children. toucheth her, shall be unclean until the even.

And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.

And whosoever toucheth her bed, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sate upon, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days If he did this unwittingly; but if the Man and Woman did this knowingly, this was a gross sin, Ezek. 18. 6. and they being accused and convicted were punished with death, Levit. 20. 18. for as there was a turpitude in the action, so it was very prejudicial to the children then begotten, who were commonly weak, or leprous or otherwise disordered, which was also an injury to the Commonwealth of Israel, and redounded to the dishonour of God and of the true Religion, that the professours thereof gave such publick evidence of their intemperance.: and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation To wit, the seven days mentioned, Levit. 12. 2. as suppose she had the Emerods, &c.; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.

Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue, shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon, shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to her self seven days From the stopping of her issue, as it is apparent. And this was for trial, whether it was only a temporary obstruction, or a real cessation., and after that she shall be clean.

And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And the priest shall offer the one for a sinoffering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD, for the issue of her uncleanness.

Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle Which they did both ceremonially, by coming into it in their uncleanness, and morally by the gross neglect and contempt of Gods express and positive command to cleanse themselves., that is among them.

This is the law of him that has an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that has an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her which is unclean.