“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Beast. All wild beasts were deemed unclean; but domestic clean cattle, though slain, did not defile; ( Calmet.) while some of the unclean did, even alive. Calmet. 11:26. 31. Bible.—Fishes are comprised under the name reptiles; yet some were not unclean. Calmet. 11:9. The Septuagint neglect reptiles, and put “the carcasses of impure abominations;” by which they probably mean dogs, and such things as the Egyptians adored. This verse does not regard those who had only touched something unclean, as such were to be purified at night, by washing their garments; but it refers to those who, having neglected that ordinance, had still ventured to touch something sacred, and were therefore required to offer the sacrifice, assom, ( Calmet.) as for an irreligious behaviour towards God. Tirinus.