Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Lev 11:1, What beasts may; Lev 11:4, and what may not be eaten; Lev 11:9, What fishes; Lev 11:13, What fowls; Lev 11:29, The creeping things which are unclean.
Deu 14:3-8; Eze 4:14; Dan 1:8; Mat 15:11; Mar 7:15-19; Act 10:12, Act 10:14; Rom 14:2, Rom 14:3, Rom 14:14, Rom 14:15; Ti1 4:4-6; Heb 9:10, Heb 13:9; Of the laws relative to clean and unclean beasts, which are recorded in this chapter and Deut. 14 the following may be found a useful abstract.
1. In regard to quadrupeds, all beasts that have their feet completely cloven, above as well as below, and at the same time chew the cud, are clean. Those which have neither, or indeed want one of these distinguishing marks, are unclean. This is a systematic division of quadrupeds so excellent, as never yet, after all the improvements in natural history, to have become obsolete, but, on the contrary, to be still considered as useful by the greatest masters of the science.
2. With regard to fishes, Moses has in like manner, made a very simple systematic distinction. All that have scales and fins are clean; all others unclean.
3. Of birds, he merely specifies certain sorts as forbidden, thereby permitting all others to be eaten.
4. Insects, serpents, worms, etc., are prohibited; but with regard, however to those winged insects, which besides four walking legs, also have two longer springing legs (Pedes saltatorii), Moses makes an exception, and under the denomination of locusts, declares them clean in all four stages of their existence.
In Palestine, Arabia, and the adjoining countries, locusts are one of the most common articles of food, and people would be very ill of if they durst not eat them: For, when a swarm of them desolates the fields, they prove in some measure themselves an antidote to the famine which they occasion. They are not only eaten fresh, immediately on their appearance, but the people collect them, and know a method of preserving them for a long time for food, after they have dried them in an oven. - Niebuhr's Description of Arabia, pp. 170-175.
parteth: Psa 1:1; Pro 9:6; Co2 6:17
cheweth: Deu 6:6, Deu 6:7, Deu 16:3-8; Psa 1:2; Pro 2:1, Pro 2:2, Pro 2:10; Act 17:11; Ti1 4:15
unclean unto you: Gen 7:1, Gen 7:2; Deut. 14:1-29; Isa 52:11; Co1 8:13; Th1 5:22; Jo1 3:4
the coney: Shaphan, most probably an animal resembling the rabbit, called by Dr. Shaw, daman (probably for ganam) Israel, "Israel's lamb," and by Bruce, ashkoko, which name he imagines is "derived from the singularity of these long herenacious hairs, which, like small thorns, grow about his back, and which an Amhara are called ashok." This curious animal abounds in Judea, Palestine, Arabia, and Ethiopia; and is described as being about seventeen inches when sitting. It has no tail; and at first sight gives the idea of a rat. Its colour is grey, mixed with reddish brown; the belly white, the body covered with strong polished hairs, for the most part about two inches in length; the ears round, and not pointed; the feet round, of a soft, pulpy, tender substance; the toes projecting beyond the nails, which are rather broad than sharp; the upper jaw is longer than the other; it lives upon grain, fruit, and roots, and certainly chews the cud; and it does not burrow like the hare and rabbit, but lives in clefts of the rocks. Psa 104:18; Pro 30:26
but divideth: Job 36:14; Mat 7:26; Rom 2:18-24; Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19; Ti2 3:5; Tit 1:16
the hare: Deu 14:7
swine: Deu 14:8; Isa 65:4, Isa 66:3, Isa 66:17; Mat 7:6; Luk 8:33, Luk 15:15; Pe2 2:18-22
they are unclean: Lev 5:2; Isa 52:11; Hos 9:3; Mat 15:11, Mat 15:20; Mar 7:2, Mar 7:15, Mar 7:18; Act 10:10-15; Act 10:28, Act 15:29; Rom 14:14-17, Rom 14:21; Co1 8:8; Co2 6:17; Eph 5:7, Eph 5:11; Col 2:16, Col 2:21-23; Heb 9:10
Deu 14:9, Deu 14:10; Act 20:21; Gal 5:6; Jam 2:18; Jo1 5:2-5
they shall be: Lev 7:18; Deu 14:3; Psa 139:21, Psa 139:22; Pro 13:20, Pro 29:27; Rev 21:8
the eagle: In Hebrew, nesher, Chaldee, neshar, Syriac, neshro, and Arabic, nishr, the eagle, one of the largest, strongest, swiftest, fiercest, and most rapacious of the feathered race. His eye is large, dark, and piercing; his beak powerful and hooked; his legs strong and feathered; his feet yellow and armed with four very long and terrific claws; his wings very large and powerful; his body compact and robust; his bones hard; his flesh firm; his feathers coarse; his attitude fierce and erect; his motions lively; his flight extremely rapid and towering; and his cry the terror of every wing. Deu 14:12-20; Job 28:7, Job 38:41, Job 39:27-30; Jer 4:13, Jer 4:22, Jer 48:40; Lam 4:19; Hos 8:1; Hab 1:8; Mat 24:28; Rom 1:28-32, Rom 3:13-17; Tit 3:3
the ossifrage: Peres, from paras to break, probably the species of eagle anciently called ossifraga or bone-breaker (from os, a bone, and frango, to break), because it not only strips off the flesh, but breaks the bone, in order to extract the marrow.
the ospray: Hebrew ozniyah, Arabic azan, and Chaldee azyah, (from azaz, to be strong), a species of eagle, probably the black eagle, so remarkable for its strength.
Gen 8:7; Kg1 17:4, Kg1 17:6; Pro 30:17; Luk 12:24
Deu 14:15-18; Psa 102:6; Isa 13:21, Isa 13:22, Isa 34:11-15; Joh 3:19-21; Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3, Eph 4:18, Eph 4:19, Eph 5:7-11; Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19; Th1 5:5-7; Rev 18:2
Lev 11:23, Lev 11:27; Deu 14:19; Kg2 17:28-41; Psa 17:14; Mat 6:24; Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19; Ti2 4:10; Jo1 2:15-17; Jde 1:10, Jde 1:19
Exo 10:4, Exo 10:5; Isa 35:3; Mat 3:4; Mar 1:6; Rom 14:1, Rom 15:1; Heb 5:11; Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13
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; Co1 15:33; Co2 6:17; Eph 2:1-3, Eph 5:11; Col 2:16, Col 2:17, Col 2:20; Heb 9:26; Jo1 1:7
and be unclean: Lev 11:28, Lev 11:40, Lev 14:8, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:7-11, Lev 15:13, Lev 16:28; Exo 19:10, Exo 19:14; Num 19:8, Num 19:10, Num 19:19, Num 19:21, Num 19:22; Num 31:24; Psa 51:2, Psa 51:7; Zac 13:1; Joh 13:8; Act 22:16; Heb 9:10, Heb 10:22; Pe1 3:21; Jo1 1:7; Rev 7:14
shall wash: Lev 11:14
creeping things that creep: Lev 11:20, Lev 11:21, Lev 11:41, Lev 11:42; Psa 10:3, Psa 17:13, Psa 17:14; Hag 2:6; Luk 12:15, Luk 16:14; Joh 6:26; Joh 6:66; Eph 4:14; Phi 3:19; Col 3:5; Ti2 3:2-5; Heb 13:5
Lev 11:8, Lev 11:24, Lev 11:25
it must be put into water: Lev 6:28, Lev 15:12; Tit 2:14, Tit 3:5
ye shall break it: Lev 11:35, Lev 14:45; Jer 48:38; Co2 5:1-8; Phi 3:21
Pro 15:8, Pro 21:4, Pro 21:27, Pro 28:8; Tit 1:15
they shall be: Lev 11:33, Lev 6:28, Lev 15:12; Co2 5:1-7
a fountain: Zac 13:1; Joh 4:14
wherein there is plenty of water: Heb. a gathering together of waters
sowing seed: Co1 15:37; Pe1 1:23; Jo1 3:9, Jo1 5:18
Lev 11:24, Lev 11:28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:7; Num 19:11, Num 19:16
eateth: Lev 11:25, Lev 17:15, Lev 17:16, Lev 22:8; Exo 22:31; Deu 14:21; Isa 1:16; Eze 4:14, Eze 36:25; Eze 44:31; Zac 13:1; Co1 6:11, Co1 10:21; Jo1 1:7
shall wash: Lev 11:28, Lev 14:8, Lev 14:9, Lev 15:5-10, Lev 15:27, Lev 16:26, Lev 16:28; Num 19:7, Num 19:8, Num 19:19
Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23, Lev 11:29
goeth upon the belly: Gen 3:14, Gen 3:15; Isa 65:25; Mic 7:17; Mat 3:7, Mat 23:23; Joh 8:44; Co2 11:3, Co2 11:13; Tit 1:12
hath more feet: Heb. doth multiply feet
Ye shall: Lev 11:41, Lev 11:42, Lev 20:25
yourselves: Heb. your souls
I am the: Exo 20:2
ye shall: Lev 10:3, Lev 19:2, Lev 20:7, Lev 20:26; Exo 19:6; Deu 14:2; Sa1 6:20; Psa 99:5, Psa 99:9; Isa 6:3-5; Amo 3:3; Mat 5:48; Th1 4:7; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16, Pe1 2:9; Rev 22:11
that bringeth: Exo 6:7; Psa 105:43-45
be holy: Lev 11:44; Exo 6:7, Exo 20:2; Psa 105:43-45; Hos 11:1; Th1 4:7
This: The distinction of clean and unclean animals (see note on Lev 11:2) existed even before the flood, though it probably then only related to sacrifices; but at this time we find there were very particular laws enacted respecting the diet of the people, and the ceremonial uncleanness contracted by touching the carcases of unclean animals. The reasons for the enactment of these laws seem to be:
1. As a test of obedience, and to teach the Israelites habits of self-denial, and the government of their appetites.
2. To keep them distinct from other nations, and consequently from their idolatrous usages, by throwing hindrances in the way of their social intercourse; for these distinctions were applicable both to persons and things. The Canaanites not only ate the animals prohibited by Moses, which we usually eat, but others also, among which dogs were one. Besides, many of those declared unclean were sacred among the heathen, and sacrificed to their gods.
3. Because those prohibited were innutritive and unwholesome; as the swine, the flesh of which being strong and difficult to digest, affords a very gross aliment, and produces, especially in hot climates, cutaneous, scrophulous, and scorbutic disorders, as the itch, leprosy, etc.
Lev 7:37, Lev 14:54, Lev 15:32; Eze 43:12
Lev 10:10; Eze 44:23; Mal 3:18; Rom 14:2, Rom 14:3, Rom 14:13-23