19: 27, 28). The prohibition to eat blood or fat may have been in part sanitary, but probably was also anti-idolatrous. The distinction between things clean and unclean helped to make them a peculiar people, and may have been so intended. * * * * * 2. _Perjury._ The law of Sinai tacitly indicates that the Lord himself would take the perjurer in hand, would never hold him guiltless, and would be responsible for his punishment. The statutes touch only a single case――“A false witness rising up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong”――ordaining that the case be brought before the judges who are to make diligent inquisition. If found guilty, the evil he thought to bring upon another must be visited upon himself (Deut. 19: 16–21).――――In general the sanctity of the sacred oath was shielded by Jehovah himself, searching out and punishing the guilty. Oaths seem to have been far less frequent than in the modern administration of law――less frequent, but more sacred, this binding force being laid on every conscience and left to the awful sanctions of Jehovah. * * * * * 3. _Presumptuous sins._ The law against such sins sought to impress due reverence for God’s authority. A broad distinction was made between sins of ignorance and sins where knowledge of duty was presupposed and the offense involved deliberate contempt of God. The external act was of smallest consequence. The law said, “The soul that doeth _aught_ presumptuously”――no matter what it be. Certain cases are specified having these common elements――that the law was plain; the duty palpable; and innocent ignorance not even supposable;――_e. g._ the law of the Sabbath against all [needless] work (Ex. 31: 14, 15 and 35: 2, 3). The case (Num. 15: 32–36) of the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath, stands in the closest connection with the law against “presumptuous sins,” showing that the offense was seen in that light. The most emphatic condemnation of presumptuous sins immediately precedes (vs. 30, 31) in these words: “The soul that doeth aught presumptuously, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people” (_i. e._ by capital punishment). “Because he hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.” He must bear it himself, with no atonement provided for his pardon.――――Other cases specified are――the eating of unleavened bread during the Passover (Ex. 12: 15); neglect of the Passover when its observance was practicable (Num. 9: 13); eating certain sacrificial offerings while unclean (Lev. 7: 20, 21); eating fat or blood (Lev. 7: 23–27).