Ver. 1. He shall bear his iniquity,] i.e., He shall suffer for his sinful silence; because he could, but would not, help the truth in necessity, but stand as if he were gagged by Satan, -possessed with a dumb devil.
Ver. 2. And if it be hidden from him.] Debt is debt, whether a man know of it or not.
Ver. 3. Then he shall be guilty.] Guilty he was before, (Leviticus 5:2) but now shall see himself so, and be ready to say, as Proverbs 5:14, “I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and the assembly.” “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
Ver. 4. To do evil.] As David did to slay Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:22) Or to do good.] As the same David did to do good to Mephibosheth, and yet he was not so good as his oath. And it be hid from him.] As is usual with your common swearers, who will swear that they swear not. If men had such distempers of body, as their excrements come from them when they knew not of it, it would trouble them; but they swear, and let go much filth, and it is hid from them.
Ver. 5. He shall confess.] Homo agnoscit, Deus ignoscit, Man confesseth, and God pardoneth. In the courts of men it is the safest plea to say, Non feci, quoth Quintilian; “I am not guilty”: not so here; but ego feci, miserere, ” I did it; have mercy upon me.” “ Per miserere mei tollitur ira Dei. ”
Ver. 6. For his sin which he hath sinned.] Bending his thoughts upon that particular sin. It is charged upon Israel, that they “remembered not that they lay in their blood.” (Ezekiel 16:22)
Ver. 7. Two turtle doves.] [See Trapp on “Le 1:14”]
Ver. 8. For the sin offering first.] For till sin be expiated, no sacrifice or service can be accepted. Therefore “Wash you, cleanse you,” and then, “Come, and let us reason.” (Isaiah 1:16-18)
Ver. 9. Upon the side of the altar.] The north side, and not upon the east: (1.) that Israel might not symbolise with the heathens, who worshipped toward the east; (2.) To signify that they had no more under the law than dark “shadows of good things to come,” (Hebrews 10:1) “until the time of reformation.” (Hebrews 9:10)
Ver. 10. According to the manner.] That is, the forms and rites prescribed. So, (Amos 8:14) “The manner of Beersheba,” i.e, the forms and rites of worshipping in Beersheba, as the Chaldee paraphraseth it.
Ver. 11. But if he be not able.] So low doth the Most High stoop to man’s meanness, that he will accept of a very small present from him that would bring a better, if it were in the power of his hand. Lycurgus enjoined his Lacedemonians to offer small sacrifices; for God, said he, respecteth more the internal devotion, than the external oblation.
Ver. 12. Even a memorial.] This is spoken after the manner of men who have need of remembrancers. God sometimes seems to lose his mercy, and then we must find it for him, as they in Isaiah 63:15; sometimes to forget, sleep, delay, &c., and then we must in mind, awaken, quicken him. (Isaiah 62:7)
Ver. 13. And it shall be forgiven him.] See a like promise made to our ministry, James 5:15.
Ver. 15. In the holy things of the Lord.] Things consecrate to him, by robbing and wronging of God and his priests; be it but through ignorance or error. For to do such a thing presumptuously was death, (Numbers 15:30) and by the laws of the twelve tables in Rome, such were to be punished as parricides. Sacrum qui clepserit, rapseritve, parricida esto.
Ver. 16. And he shall make amends.] No remission without restitution. God abhors holocaustum ex rapina. And if ye make no restitution, ye shall cough in hell, said Father Latimer. Latimer’s Sermons.
Ver. 17. Though he wist it not.] Ignorance, though invincible and unavoidable, well may excuse a tanto, but not a toto (Luke 12:48)
Ver. 18. Shall make an atonement.] [See Trapp on “Le 4:20”]
Ver. 19. It is a trespass offering.] “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 Hebrews 10:10,11)