23:23 For there is no spell against 1 Jacob,
nor is there any divination against Israel.
At this time 2 it must be said 3 of Jacob
and of Israel, ‘Look at 4 what God has done!’
5:1 6 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
3:2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, 7 like a launderer’s soap.
1 tn Or “in Jacob.” But given the context the meaning “against” is preferable. The words describe two techniques of consulting God; the first has to do with observing omens in general (“enchantments”), and the second with casting lots or arrows of the like (“divinations” [Ezek 21:26]). See N. H. Snaith, Leviticus and Numbers (NCB), 295-96.
2 tn The form is the preposition “like, as” and the word for “time” – according to the time, about this time, now.
3 tn The Niphal imperfect here carries the nuance of obligation – one has to say in amazement that God has done something marvelous or “it must be said.”
4 tn The words “look at” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
5 tn The Hebrew text has “on the altar,” but since there were seven of each animal and seven altars, the implication is that this means on each altar.
6 sn The fifth chapter falls into four main parts: separation of the unclean (vv. 1-4), restitution for sin (vv. 5-10), the jealousy ordeal (vv. 11-28), and the summary (vv. 29-31). There is a good deal of literature on the biblical theme of holiness (for which see the notes on Leviticus primarily). But with regard to this chapter, see (with caution), Mary Douglas, Purity and Danger; J. Neusner, The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism; and K. Milgrom, “Two Kinds of h£at£t£a„át,” VT 26 (1976): 333-37.
7 sn The refiner’s fire was used to purify metal and refine it by melting it and allowing the dross, which floated to the top, to be scooped off.