Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 11:24
And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.
24 28. Uncleanness caused by Dead Bodies
(See introductory note on Lev 11:20-23.)
Lev 11:24-25 are a general introduction. ‘And by these’ ( Lev 11:24) refers to what follows, not to the ‘winged creeping things’ of Lev 11:23.
( a) touching or bearing the carcase of ( ) beasts specified in Lev 11:26-27 or ( ) swarming things specified in Lev 11:29-30 caused uncleanness till the even; if they were carried, the clothes must also be washed.
( b) further cases of defilement were caused by a carcase, ( ) a vessel (Lev 11:32-33), ( ) food (Lev 11:34), ( ) ovens, etc. (Lev 11:35), ( ) water in a pit (Lev 11:36), ( ) seed (Lev 11:37-38).
Carrying part of the carcase involves uncleanness of a higher degree than that caused by mere contact. Note the difference in the regulations of Lev 11:24-25 ; Lev 11:27-28.
In Lev 11:26-27 the beasts are specified by their characteristics; in Lev 11:29-30 by their names.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Unclean – If the due purification was omitted at the time, through negligence or forgetfulness, a sin-offering was required. See Lev 5:2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And such were excluded both from the courts of Gods house, and from free conversation with other men.
Until the even; which possibly might signify that even the smallest defilements could not be cleansed but by the death of Christ, who was to come and offer up himself in the evening, or end, or declining age of the world, as the prophets signify, and the apostle expresseth, Heb 9:26.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And for these ye shalt be unclean,…. That is, for eating them; or should they eat them they would be unclean:
whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even; not only he was unclean that ate them, but he that even touched their dead bodies was reckoned unclean; might not go into the tabernacle, nor have conversation with men, nor eat of the holy things, which were forbid men in any uncleanness; and though there is no mention of his washing himself, it may be understood, this being a short or concise way of speaking, as Aben Ezra observes; who adds, that it was necessary that he should wash himself in water; which was typical of washing and cleansing by the grace and blood of Christ, without which a man cannot be cleansed from the least sin, and pollution by it; and may signify that during the legal dispensation there was no proper cleansing from sin, until the evening of the world, when Christ came and shed his blood for the cleansing of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In Lev 11:24-28 there follow still further and more precise instructions, concerning defilement through contact with the carcases (i.e., the carrion) of the animals already mentioned. These instructions relate first of all (Lev 11:24 and Lev 11:25) to aquatic and winged animals, which were not to be eaten because they were unclean (the expression “ for these ” in Lev 11:24 relates to them); and then (Lev 11:26-28) to quadrupeds, both cattle that have not the hoof thoroughly divided and do not ruminate (Lev 11:26), and animals that go upon their hands, i.e., upon paws, and have no hoofs, such as cats, dogs, bears, etc.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 24-28:
This is an extension of the warning given in verse 8. The touch of the carcass of any unclean creature, as well as the eating of it, was defiling.
“Whatsoever goeth upon his paws” adds another class of unclean creatures. This includes all felines, as well as canines.
Any person being defiled by any unclean creature in any way must wash his clothing, and be considered unclean until the evening.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
TEXT 11:2443
24
And by these ye shall become unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even;
25
and whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26
Every beast which parteth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, is unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
27
And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.
28
And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29
And these are they which are unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind,
30
and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon.
31
These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.
32
And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.
33
And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean, and it ye shall break.
34
All food therein which may be eaten, that on which water cometh, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35
And everything whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.
36
Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.
37
And if aught of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.
38
But if water be put upon the seed, and aught of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean unto you.
39
And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.
40
And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
41
and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
43
Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 11:2443
212.
In touching a dead body a person became uncleanfor what purpose was he unclean? Why only until evening?
213.
Supposing a farmer found the dead body of an unclean animal upon his property. What is he to do?
214.
If the animal was touched while yet alive was the person yet unclean?
215.
What animal would be included among those that go on their paws?
216.
Why classify the weasel, the mouse and the great lizard, etc., in a separate category?
217.
If a person dropped his coat on one of the unclean animals what is he to do with his coat?
218.
Why break the earthen vessels? Supposing such a vessel was not broken?
219.
It would be sad to bring any part of the dead carcass into your kitchen. Why?
220.
A cistern or a spring is not unclean if a part of the unclean animal fell into it. Why?
221.
Seed for sowing can be made unclean only under certain conditions. What were they?
222.
Even a clean animal can be counted as unclean if it does not die in the right way. Discuss.
223.
What did God say about snakes?
PARAPHRASE 11:2443
Anyone touching their dead bodies shall be defiled until the evening, and must wash his clothes immediately. He must also quarantine himself until nightfall, as being ceremonially defiled. You are also defiled by touching any animal with only semi-parted hoofs, or any animal that does not chew the cud. Any animal that walks on paws is forbidden to you as food. Anyone touching the dead body of such an animal shall be defiled until evening. Anyone carrying away the carcass shall wash his clothes and be ceremonially defiled until evening; for it is forbidden to you. These are the forbidden small animals which scurry about your feet or crawl upon the ground: the mole, the rat, the great lizard, the gecko, the mouse, the lizard, the snail, the chameleon. Anyone touching their dead bodies shall be defiled until evening, and anything upon which the carcass falls shall be defiledany article of wood, or of clothing, a rug, or a sack; anything it touches must be put into water, and is defiled until evening. After that it may be used again. If it falls into a pottery bowl, anything in the bowl is defiled, and you shall smash the bowl. If the water used to cleanse the defiled article touches any food, all of it is defiled. Any drink which is in the defiled bowl is also contaminated. If the dead body of such an animal touches any clay oven, it is defiled and must be smashed. If the body falls into a spring or cistern where there is water, that water is not defiled; yet anyone who pulls out the carcass is defiled. And if the carcass touches grain to be sown in the field, it is not contaminated; but if the seeds are wet and the carcass falls upon it, the seed is defiled. If an animal which you are permitted to eat dies of disease, anyone touching the carcass shall be defiled until evening. Also, anyone eating its meat or carrying away its carcass shall wash his clothes and be defiled until evening. Animals that crawl shall not be eaten. This includes all reptiles that slither along upon their bellies as well as those that have legs. No crawling thing with many feet may be eaten, for it is defiled. Do not defile yourselves by touching it.
COMMENT 11:2443
Lev. 11:24-28 It is not only important to avoid the unclean animals while they are alive, it is just as important to not touch them when they are dead. This uncleanness would prevent anyone from attending ceremonies at the tabernacle or from bringing an offering to the tabernacle. It also separated them from others who wished to attend the tabernacle service. Notice the very careful specifics in these prohibitions: (1) touching the dead body, (2) carrying any portion of the carcass, (3) touching a live unclean animal, (4) carrying the total carcass. Notice the very specific cleansing regulations: (1) carrying any portionwash your clothes, (2) carrying the whole carcasswash your clothes, (3) in all other circumstances reckon yourself as unclean until sundown. Disease was easily passed to those who handled dead bodies. God was teaching not only an aversion to the uncleanbut an abhorrence of it! When will we learn to hate sin? It will happen when we begin to see moral distinctions in the this and the that of daily living.
Lev. 11:29-31 Among the considerable number of reference works consulted, only Andrew Bonar comments on these verses in any extended form with any practical application. He says:
A man of Israel, within the limits of his own field and farm, has on every hand memorials of sin; the mole, working up the earth in search of its prey below, attracts his eye in the heaving ground; or the mouse (jerboa)of the same race that afterward devoured the Philistines cornfields (1Sa. 6:4)is seen burrowing in the sandy soil as he approaches. Or near some stream, the slow-moving tortoise drops down into the water at the sound of mans footsteps; and then the doleful cry of the gecko-lizard (not ferret), that by its very touch injures the victuals over which it passes its cold body; and the strong lizard forcing its way into the sand to escape its pursuer; and the poisonous, filthy lizard, that wallows in dirt and rubbish,all these keep before him the great truth that he is in a fallen world, where not only the birds of the sky above, and the animals that roam at liberty around, and the insects of the air, but even the reptiles which his foot might crush, are polluted. Look up, or look around, or look down, memorials of sin abound.
Then, the snail and the chameleon (Bochart has been followed by most writers in the opinion that this name describes the chameleon, which has lungs of such vast dimensions, that, when filled, the body is made to appear transparent. It alters the colour of the skin by thus exposing more or less of the blood to the air, Travellers mention it.) on the trees or shrubs; the one filthily spreading its slime over every leaf, the other hanging from a twig, greedily intent on drawing into its mouth the gnats and almost invisible insects that play in the web of the sunbeams, and changing colour according to the green or yellow hue of the leaf;these are memorials of uncleanness to the Israelite, held up before him by the sides of his house, or among the tender branches which he is examining. At every point he is startled with some object that speaks of the difference between the clean and the uncleanthe holiness of God and the sin of man.
Lev. 11:32-35 These verses discuss uncleanness as it relates to the ordinary tasks of the household. We can catch just a glimpse of the spotless kitchen, living room and bedroom area in the tents of Israel. To follow these regulations would produce germ-free living quarters. Any unclean dead bodyanimal, fish, fowl or insect falling upon a wooden bowl, article of furniture, or or upon any garment, a skin or a sack, any vessel used for any purpose, must be put into the water for a washing and left until sundown. Any dead body of the above falling into a vessel of wood or earth is to be broken and thrown outif a dead insect falls on your foodthrow out your food! Throw out your drink and smash the cup. Any unclean body on your stove or oven and you need a new stove and oven. The regulations of hygiene here given were only discovered for our use in modern times. The population of Israel must have been strong and healthy and could have lived to a ripe old age.
Lev. 11:36 There is an exception hereor what seems to be an exception: if an unclean body falls or is thrown into a spring or cistern, the water is not unclean, i.e. the flow of the water in the spring and the quantity of the water in the cistern will purify itself. However, anyone reaching into the spring or cistern to pull out the dead body is counted unclean by his contact with the body.
Lev. 11:37-38 The very practical application of these regulations should be obvious. When seed is being sown and no water has reached it the shell or husk of the seed would protect it from pollution, but not so if it has begun to sprout after water has been used. Israel was taught the danger of coming in contact with sin. You must be shielded from its touch; the husk taught that. You must shrink back from all appearances of itthe soaking water taught this. (Ibid.) We suppose such moral applications were used by many a rabbi in later years.
Lev. 11:39-40 Even clean beasts were unclean if they died by disease or in some other manner. It is easy to see the potential danger in such cases. A provision is made for those animals which were obviously edible: they can be eaten but precautions must be taken none-the-less. The clothes must be washed and the Israelite is unclean until evening. The burial of the animal produces a sundown uncleanness, i.e. if the body of the animal is handled. The remembrance of sin was constantly before Israel. Or perhaps the emphasis was upon the interest and concern of God in all the affairs of daily life.
Lev. 11:41-43 Besides the eight reptiles which defile by touching their carcass, and which are enumerated in Lev. 11:29-30 all other creeping things upon the earth with the exceptions of those specified in Lev. 11:21-22, are to be treated as an abomination, and must not be eaten, though their carcasses do not defile by coming in contact with them. From the fact that the creeping things here described are called those creeping upon the earth, it has been thought that this refers to something larger than the small worms found in fruit and vegetables and refers to only those who actually make contact with the earth.
This is the last of the list of those created beings which defile. It seems interesting to conclude the list with whatsoever goeth on its belly since this is where all defilement began. We hope many were taught of the promised seed of the woman who would make us all clean and cleanse away all defilement of flesh and spirit.
FACT QUESTIONS 11:2443
266.
What exclusions were involved as a result of touching an unclean body?
267.
Show the specific sins and the specific cleansing related to touching a dead body.
268.
Discuss the practical application made by Andrew Bonar on Lev. 11:29-31.
269.
The homes of Israel must have been very clean. How do we know?
270.
Discuss the minute care used in the household for preventing disease.
271.
Show how Lev. 11:36 is an exceptionand yet is not. Does this relate to the shortage of water in Palestine?
272.
What possible moral lesson is taught in the regulations concerning the seed?
273.
Discuss the very practical application of the use of dead animals who had not been killed in the usual manner.
274.
What was included and what was excluded in the phrase those creeping upon the earth?
275.
What is the significance of the last item in the list of those things that defile?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(24) And for these ye shall be unclean.Rather, and by these ye shall be defiled, that is, the beasts and animals specified in Lev. 11:26-27.
Shall be unclean until the even.For coming in contact with the dead body of the animals contracts defilement for the rest of the day, and till the beginning of a new day, which took place after sunset (comp. Lev. 23:32). During these hours of legal uncleanness he was not allowed to enter the sanctuary, touch any sacred thing, or have intercourse with those who were legally clean, since contact with one who has contracted legal defilement imparted defilement to both persons and things.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Unclean until the even The slighter degrees of uncleanness were merely “until even,” and were removed by bathing and washing the clothes at the end of it; meanwhile the person was excluded from certain religious privileges. See Lev 5:2, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Contact With The Dead Bodies Of Unclean Animals Renders Unclean ( Lev 11:24-28 ).
We now move on to dead carcasses. These are necessarily outside their proper sphere. They are always unclean apart from when offered when still alive, and then slain in sacrifice (when they are in their proper, God-given sphere) to God. This provision is now not a question of whether we can eat them, but of what should not even be touched and handled.
Lev 11:24-28
“And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even; and whoever bears anything of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. Every beast which parts the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Every one who touches them shall be unclean. And whatever goes on its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he who carries the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. They are unclean to you.”
The list of unclean animals is now extended to include those with paws. All these unclean animals and birds were not only not to be eaten, all their dead carcasses were to be strictly avoided. They would bring the taint of death, and the taint of death should not be transferred to the people of God. Thus any of the people who themselves did have contact with such must immediately afterwards (until the evening) avoid the tabernacle. They would not be fit to approach God until they were clean. They must not go directly to the tabernacle while unclean. Nor must they eat of holy meat. They have temporarily gone outside their sphere, the sphere of life. The taint of death must not be brought into contact with the holy. But it was only mild uncleanness, lasting until the evening. This would enable the ‘uncleanness’ to wear off and give the opportunity to see if there were any ill effects. For avoiding the touching of carcasses was also hygienically wise. They could easily pass on disease.
It is never suggested that working with camels and asses renders men unclean, thus the emphasis here would appear to be on dead carcasses. Notice that it is only those who actually carry a carcase who also have to wash their clothes, for they will thereby have contracted defilement on their clothes which needs to be removed. Otherwise time is the cleanser. Water does not cleanse people (except for the water of purification which has been mixed with the ashes of the heifer), it merely washes from earthiness prior to cleansing. It is the passage of time that cleanses.
Included under this heading would be Samson’s lion (Jdg 14:8-9). Also included would be cats and dogs. But we have no evidence of cats among the Israelites, although they were well known as pets in Egypt. And while dogs were domesticated elsewhere, all references to dogs in Scripture tend to be of wild dogs which acted furtively and savagely and banded together in packs as scavengers, especially around cities (see Exo 22:31; Deu 23:18; 1Ki 14:11 ; 1Ki 16:4; 1Ki 21:19; Psa 22:16; Psa 59:6; Isa 56:10-11; Jer 15:3; Rev 22:15).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Lev 11:24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
Ver. 24. Whosoever toucheth the carcass. ] This and the like signified that all, even the least sins, are to be purged through Christ, and carefully cast away.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 11:8, Lev 11:27, Lev 11:28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:38-40, Lev 17:15, Lev 17:16, Isa 22:14, 1Co 15:33, 2Co 6:17, Eph 2:1-3, Eph 5:11, Col 2:16, Col 2:17, Col 2:20, Heb 9:26, 1Jo 1:7
Reciprocal: Lev 5:2 – touch Lev 7:19 – General Lev 7:21 – any unclean Lev 11:39 – General Lev 14:46 – shall be unclean Lev 22:5 – whosoever Lev 22:6 – General 1Sa 20:26 – he is not clean
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 11:24-42. Second Prohibition.The dead bodies of unclean animals are not to be touched; scrupulous dread could hardly go further. The distinction is repeated from Lev 11:1-23, but a special list of unclean insects is given, corresponding to the list of clean insects in Lev 11:22. If the dead body, or any part of one, is carried or touched, the clothes must be washed, and the person remains unclean himself for the rest of the day. Utensils which touch the dead body are to be washed, and then they remain unclean the rest of the day; earthenware is to be broken. Water which may be used for drinking is not to be regarded as affected, nor seeds, unless the seeds have been moistened, and so spoilt. These regulations are plainly ruled by considerations of convenience, though the existence of the taboo is preserved. The touch of the dead body of a clean animal will cause uncleanness for the rest of the day, as the blood will be in it, and the blood is untouchable. The section closes with a prohibition of insects that creep (cf. Lev 11:29 f.).
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
Pollution by animals and its treatment 11:24-47
The rest of this chapter addresses questions arising from human contact with unclean animals. Only dead animals polluted human beings (Lev 11:24; Lev 11:27; Lev 11:31; Lev 11:39). No living unclean animal did. Death is an abnormal condition for living beings, and it caused pollution.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
In this section Moses passed along more specific directions concerning defilement from carrion (animal carcasses). Walking on paws, which look like hands, appears unnatural (to some). This may be the reason land animals that move that way were unclean.