John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Or if a soul touch any unclean thing , etc.] Meaning an Israelite, for only such were bound by this law, which pronounced a person unclean that touched anything that was so in a ceremonial sense; this is the general, including whatsoever by the law was unclean; the particulars follow: whether [it be] a carcass of an unclean beast , as the camel, the coney, the hare, and the swine, ( Leviticus 11:2-3) or a carcass of unclean cattle ; as the horse, and the ass, which were unclean for food, and their dead carcasses not to be touched, ( Leviticus 11:26-28) or the carcass of unclean creeping things : such as are mentioned in ( Leviticus 11:29-31) and if it be hidden from him ; that he has touched them; or the uncleanness contracted by touching, he having inadvertently done it; or being ignorant of the law concerning such uncleanness: he also shall be unclean ; in a ceremonial sense, by thus touching them: and guilty ; of a breach of the command which forbids the touching of them: this is by way of prolepsis or anticipation; for as yet the law concerning unclean beasts, and creeping things, and pollution by touching them, was not given: Jarchi and Gersom interpret this guilt, of eating of holy things, and going into the sanctuary when thus defiled: in the Jewish Misnah it is said, the word “hidden” is twice used, to show that he is guilty, for the ignorance of uncleanness, and for the ignorance of the sanctuary.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - The offences here noticed are, 1. A man's concealing the truth, when he was sworn as a witness to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothin but the truth. If, in such a case, for fear of offending one that ha been his friend, or may be his enemy, a man refuses to give evidence or gives it but in part, he shall bear his iniquity. And that is heavy burden, which, if some course be not taken to get it removed will sink a man to hell. Let all that are called at any time to be witnesses, think of this law, and be free and open in their evidence and take heed of prevaricating. An oath of the Lord is a sacred thing not to be trifled with. 2. A man's touching any thing that wa ceremonially unclean. Though his touching the unclean thing only mad him ceremonially defiled, yet neglecting to wash himself according to the law, was either carelessness or contempt, and contracted mora guilt. As soon as God, by his Spirit, convinces our consciences of an sin or duty, we must follow the conviction, as not ashamed to own ou former mistake. 3. Rash swearing, that a man will do or not do such thing. As if the performance of his oath afterward prove unlawful, or what cannot be done. Wisdom and watchfulness beforehand would preven these difficulties. In these cases the offender must confess his sin and bring his offering; but the offering was not accepted, unles accompanied with confession and humble prayer for pardon. The confession must be particular; that he hath sinned in that thing Deceit lies in generals; many will own they have sinned, for that all must own; but their sins in any one particular they are unwilling to allow. The way to be assured of pardon, and armed against sin for the future, is to confess the exact truth. If any were very poor, the might bring some flour, and that should be accepted. Thus the expens of the sin-offering was brought lower than any other, to teach that n man's poverty shall ever bar the way of his pardon. If the sinne brought two doves, one was to be offered for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering. We must first see that our peace be mad with God, and then we may expect that our services for his glory wil be accepted by him. To show the loathsomeness of sin, the flour, when offered, must not be made grateful to the taste by oil, or to the smel by frankincense. God, by these sacrifices, spoke comfort to those wh had offended, that they might not despair, nor pine away in their sins Likewise caution not to offend any more, remembering how expensive an troublesome it was to make atonement.
Original Hebrew או176 נפשׁ5315 אשׁר834 תגע5060 בכל3605 דבר1697 טמא2931 או176 בנבלת5038 חיה2416 טמאה2931 או176 בנבלת5038 בהמה929 טמאה2931 או176 בנבלת5038 שׁרץ8318 טמא2931 ונעלם5956 ממנו4480 והוא1931 טמא2931 ואשׁם׃816
