Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 11:36
Nevertheless a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.
36. The continuous renewal of water in a well renders the uncleanness inappreciable, but he who takes out the carcase is rendered unclean by touching it. The case of the pit or cistern is not clear. It might be so large that the effect of a small swarming thing could be neglected, or the water might be replenished by rain.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 36. A fountain or pit, c.] This must either refer to running water, the stream of which soon carries off all impurities, or to large reservoirs where the water soon purifies itself the water in either which touched the unclean thing, being considered as impure, the rest of the water being clean.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wherein there is plenty of water; of which no solid reason can be given, whilst such unclean things remain in them, but only the will of the Lawgiver, and his merciful condescension to mens necessities, water being scarce in those countries; and for the same reason God would have the ceremonial law of sacrifices to be offered to God, give place to the moral law of mercy towards men.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Nevertheless, a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty of water,…. Or, “a fountain or pit, a collection of waters”, the copulative being wanting, as some observe, Aben Ezra takes notice of; or it may be by way of apposition, and so may explain what fountain or pit is meant, even such an one where there is a large continence of water, into which, if any carcass of a creeping thing fell, or any part of it, yet it
shall be clean: and fit for use, either because of the abundance of water in it, which could not be affected with the fall of such a creature into it as where there is but a small quantity; or rather this exception was made, because pools of water were of considerable value in these countries, and frequently in use for bathings, c. and therefore for the good of men, and that they might not suffer so great a loss by such an accident, they are declared notwithstanding to be clean and free for use: hence you may learn, says Jarchi, that he that dips in them is pure from his uncleanness that a man might lawfully make use of them for a bath on account of any uncleanness, notwithstanding the carcass of a creeping thing had fallen into it; as a mouse, or rat, or any such creature:
but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean; not the waters which touch the carcass, as Aben Ezra interprets it, for then the whole would be defiled, and unfit for use; but either the man that touched the carcass, laid hold upon it to pluck it out of the fountain or pit, or that which he made use of to get it out, or both these, were unclean in a ceremonial sense: the Targum of Jonathan is,
“but he that toucheth their carcasses in the midst of these waters shall be unclean.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(36) Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water.Better, But wells and cisterns being gatherings together of water. But if the unclean carcase, or any portion of it, happens to fall or to be thrown into wells or cisterns, they are to be treated as large collections of water, such as pools, ponds, and lakes, and hence are exempt from contracting pollution. The constant change of water which takes place in these reservoirs counteracts the effects of the polluting carcase. When it is borne in mind how few are the wells and cisterns in the East, and how scarce water is, the merciful provision of this law will be apparent. According to the canon which obtained during the second Temple, this immunity was only applicable to receptacles of water actually in the ground, but not to collections of water in vessels.
But that which toucheth.Better, but he who toucheth. But though the water into which the carcase has fallen is mercifully exempted, he who comes in contact with the carcase in the water and removes it from the water is unclean, because the carcase itself remains a source of defilement.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. A fountain shall be clean Living water, the means of purity, must be incapable of defilement, or pollution may become universal.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Whole Of Water Sources Are Not Rendered Unclean By Dead Creeping Things, Only The Part Where They Are ( Lev 11:36 ).
Lev 11:36
“Nevertheless a spring or a pit in which is a gathering of water shall be clean, but what touches their carcase shall be unclean.”
Uncleanness does not apply to all the water in a spring or cystern, only to what is actually known to have touched the carcase. This probably meant that they must ladle out the dead rodent or reptile with the surrounding water. It would hardly have been practical in the course of life if every cystern in which a dead rodent or reptile fell had to be treated as permanently unclean in totality until emptied and refilled. Water was too scarce. And the thought was there that the quantity of water would dilute any uncleanness. Wherever people stopped for a length of time cysterns of kinds would be built for storing and catching water (compare Gen 37:24) and they were vital for making the best use of water. They would later be an essential for living in the hill country in Canaan.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Lev 11:36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
Ver. 36. Nevertheless a fountain. ] Because it would cleanse itself, and work out the uncleanness. So will faith.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
plenty. Hebrew = “a gathering together”.
that which = he who.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a fountain: Zec 13:1, Joh 4:14
wherein there is plenty of water: Heb. a gathering together of waters
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 11:36-37. Nevertheless, a fountain or pit shall be clean Of this no reason can be given, but the will of the Lawgiver, and his merciful condescension to mens necessities, water being scarce in those countries; and for the same reason God would have the ceremonial law of sacrifices give place to the law of mercy. Seed Partly because this was necessary provision for man, and partly because such seed would not be used for mans food till it had received many alterations in the earth, whereby such pollution was taken away.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which {k} toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
(k) So much of the water as touched it.