Bible Commentaries

And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and [is] a witness, whether he hath seen or known [of it]; if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.

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.

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Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether [it be] a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and [if] it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

And if it be hidden from him. — Debt is debt, whether a man know of it or not.

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Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness [it be] that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth [of it], then he shall be guilty.

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

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Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with [his] lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever [it be] that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth [of it], then he shall be guilty in one of these.

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.

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And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these [things], that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that [thing]:

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. ”

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And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

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

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And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

Two turtle doves. — See Trapp on " Leviticus 1:14 "

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And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer [that] which [is] for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide [it] asunder:

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

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