15. Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy
gates--Every animal designed for food, whether ox, goat, or lamb, was
during the abode in the wilderness ordered to be slain as a peace
offering at the door of the tabernacle; its blood to be sprinkled, and
its fat burnt upon the altar by the priest. The encampment, being then
round about the altar, made this practice, appointed to prevent
idolatry, easy and practicable. But on the settlement in the promised
land, the obligation to slay at the tabernacle was dispensed with. The
people were left at liberty to prepare their meat in their cities or
homes.
according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given
thee--The style of living should be accommodated to one's condition
and means--profuse and riotous indulgence can never secure the divine
blessing.
the unclean and the clean may eat thereof--The unclean here are those
who were under some slight defilement, which, without excluding them
from society, yet debarred them from eating any of the sacred meats
(Le 7:20).
They were at liberty freely to partake of common articles of food.
of the roebuck--the gazelle.
and as of the hart--The Syrian deer (Cervus barbatus) is a species
between our red and fallow deer, distinguished by the want of a
bis-antler, or second branch on the horns, reckoning from below, and
for a spotted livery which is effaced only in the third or fourth year.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible