Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 7:16
But if the sacrifice of his offering [be] a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
The vow-offering appears to have been a peace-offering vowed upon a certain condition; the voluntary-offering, one offered as the simple tribute of a devout heart rejoicing in peace with God and man offered on no external occasion (compare Lev 22:17-25).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Be a vow; offered in performance of a vow, the man having desired some special favour from God, and vowed the sacrifice to God if he would grant it. A
voluntary offering, which a malt freely offered to God, in testimony of his faith and love to God, without any particular injunction from God, or design of his own special advantage thereby. See Lev 22:23; Eze 46:12.
On the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten, which was not allowed for the thankoffering; the reason of which difference is to be fetched only from Gods good pleasure and will, to which he expects our obedience, though we discern not the reason of his appointments.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow,…. Be on account of a vow made, as, that if he was favoured with such and such benefits, or delivered out of such and such troubles and distresses, then he would offer such a sacrifice:
or a voluntary offering; without any condition or obligation; what from the mere motion of his mind he freely offered, not being directed to it by any command of God, or under any necessity from a vow of his own, and without any view to; any future good to be enjoyed: Aben Ezra describes both the one and the other thus; a “vow” which he uttered with his lips in his distresses, a “voluntary offering”, which his spirit made him willing to bring, a sacrifice to God neither for a vow nor for thanksgiving:
it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice; that is, it shall be begun to be eaten then, and if all is eaten up it is very well, but they were not obliged in either of these cases, as in the preceding, to eat up all, and leave none to the morning, for it follows:
and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten; some of it, if thought fit, and could not be conveniently eaten, might be kept till the day after the sacrifice, but no longer.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. But if the sacrifice of his offering. I have observed a little above that it is not a conditional but a simple vow which is here meant; because, if a person were under the obligation of a vow, (287) his payment was an act of thanksgiving, and thus his sacrifice was comprised under the first head. But it would not be without absurdity that similar things should be distinguished as if they differed. But inasmuch as many made gratuitous vows, Moses combines this kind of sacrifice with the free-will-offering, as standing in the same rank. It has also been stated that the consecrated meats were not kept too long, lest they should become tainted or putrified, and thus religion should fall into contempt. Perhaps, too, vainglory was thus provided against; for if it had been allowable to eat the meats salted, many would have made ostentatious offerings without expense. God, therefore, imposed a restraint, that they might offer their sacrifices more sparingly and reverently. The penalty is added, that; the sacrifice would not be acceptable to God, but rather abominable; and hence all who ate of them would be guilty. Moreover, when Moses says that polluted sacrifices would not be “imputed,” we may infer that those which are duly offered come into account before God, so that He reckons them as things expended for Himself. Still we must not, imagine them to be merits which lay Him under obligation; but because He deigns to deal so liberally with us, that no duty which we pay Him is useless.
(287) Lat., “ damnatus esset.” Fr., “ si quelqu’un avoit voue, et obtenu ce qu’il demandoit;” if any one had vowed, and obtained what he asked.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) Be a vow or a voluntary offering.The vow and the voluntary offering which constitute the second class of peace offerings are both entirely voluntary. The distinction between them, as defined by the canon law, which obtained in the time of Christ, is as follows :A vow (ndr) is an obligation voluntarily imposed upon oneself with the formula, Behold, I take it upon myself to bring a bullock, &c., for a peace offering. This undertaking is binding upon the person till he fulfils it. Hence, if the bullock in question dies, or is stolen, or becomes disqualified for a sacrifice, he must bring another. A free-will offering (nedabah) simply pledges voluntarily a certain animal for a peace offering, with the formula, Behold, this animal I devote for a peace offering. Hence, if the animal in question dies, or is stolen, or has otherwise become disqualified for sacrifice, the obligation ceases, since it does not extend beyond the animal thus devoted.
It shall be eaten the same day.As both these votive offerings were an indirect mode of supplication having respect to future favours, and hence were not a spontaneous expression of pious devotion, they were not so sacred as the former. They were, therefore, allowed to be eaten both on the day of presentation and on the following day.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. A vow, or a voluntary offering See Lev 7:11, note. Since these were inferior offerings, they were considered less sacred. Hence two days were allowed for eating them. There was little difficulty in this matter where friends were numerous and near. The requirement to eat within one or two days would often induce the offerer to invite the poor to this religious banquet. Theodoret, Clericus, and others, assert that the limit of two days was designed to compel the worshipper to invite the poor to his religious banquet. It is more probable that it is a safeguard against the desecration of holy things.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 7:16. If the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering We find in chap. Lev 22:23 the votive and voluntary offerings plainly distinguished; but it is not easy for us to assign the reasons of the different rites enjoined for these and the gratulatory offerings.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Lev 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering [be] a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
Ver. 16. And on the morrow also. ] This was not allowed in a thank offering. Lev 7:15 Hereby God would teach them, that he must be worshipped as himself appointeth, and not as they in their reason should think fit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
be a vow: Lev 22:18-21, Lev 23:38, Num 15:3, Deu 12:6, Deu 12:11, Deu 12:17, Deu 12:26, Psa 66:13, Psa 116:14, Psa 116:18, Nah 1:15
a voluntary: Lev 22:23, Lev 22:29, Deu 12:6, Eze 46:12
also the: Lev 19:5-8
Reciprocal: Lev 1:3 – his own Lev 27:2 – a singular vow Num 29:39 – beside your vows Deu 23:18 – any vow Ezr 2:63 – should not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 7:16. If the sacrifice be a vow Offered in performance of a vow, the offerer having desired some special favour from God, and vowed the sacrifice to God if he would grant it. A voluntary offering, which a person offered freely to God, in testimony of his faith and love, not being under the obligation of any particular vow of his own, or command from God. On the morrow also the remainder shall be eaten Which was not allowed in the case of the thank-offering. The reason of which is to be fetched only from Gods good pleasure and will, to which he expects our obedience, though we discern not the reason of his appointments.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering [be] a {h} vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
(h) If he makes a vow to offer: or else the flesh of the peace offerings must be eaten the same day.