Ver. 2. This is the thing which the Lord.] Who must be readily obeyed without evasion, or questioning.
Ver. 3. What man soever.] Whether Israelite or proselyte, (Leviticus 17:8) unless by special dispensation from the lawgiver, as 1 Samuel 7:9,11:15 2Sa 24:18 1Ki 18:22; and then they were to offer upon altars of earth, or rough stone, that might be soon and easily thrown down. (Exodus 20:24,25)
Ver. 4. And bringeth it not unto the door.] To teach, that in the Church alone, and by Christ alone, that is, by faith in him, acceptable service can be performed to God. Christ is the door of the sheep, (John 10:7,9) by whom we come to the Father, (John 14:6) and may everywhere lift up pure hands, without wrath, without doubting.
Ver. 5. Unto the priest.] No man might offer his own sacrifice, though never so good, but must bring it to the priest; and the priest was to offer as well the poor man’s lamb, as the rich man’s ox.
Ver. 6. Shall sprinkle the blood.] See Leviticus 1:9.
Ver. 7. Unto devils.] As they had done in Egypt. (Ezekiel 23:8 Deuteronomy 32:17) And as both Pagans and Papagans do. (1 Corinthians 10:20 Revelation 9:20) The Americans in Canada worship the devil; who, when he is offended with them, flings dust in their eyes. At Calecutta, the chief city of Malabar, they worship Satan with flowers on his altars, and sacrifices of cocks. The Brahmins, or priests, wash his image, sitting in a fiery throne with three crowns and four horns, with sweet water every morning. The king of Calecutta eats no meat till it be first offered by his priests to this idol. When a man lies a dying, they show him the picture of the devil, that he may be the better acquainted with him in the other world. The word here rendered devils signifieth rough ones, satyrs. (Isaiah 34:14) Satan is a rough, rugged, harsh spirit: and such also are his imps, as Esau, Ismael, &c. Synesius saith, the devil is ειδωλοχαρης, an idol lover.
Ver. 8. That offereth a burnt offering.] They were strictly tied to one place, that they might be kept all in one uniform way of God’s worship appointed by himself.
Ver. 9. Shall be cut off,] i.e., Destroyed; not excommunicated only, as some do sense it.
Ver. 10. That eateth any manner of blood.] [See Trapp on “Ge 9:4”]
Ver. 11. And I have given it to you.] I have set it apart for a sacred use: therefore you may not make food of that which is a figure of Christ.
Ver. 12. No soul of you shall eat blood.] Haply because the Magi or wise men of Chaldea did use to eat blood when they conversed with devils; and, by them, foretold things to come. Maimonides.
Ver. 13. Which hunteth.] Though he be as hungry as a hunter. See 1 Samuel 14:32-34.
Ver. 14. Is the blood,] i.e., Is in the blood, and goeth out together with it.
Ver. 15. And every soul that eateth.] Ignorantly eateth.
Ver. 16. Shall bear his iniquity,] i.e., The punishment of it: they are so near akin, that one name serves for both.