Leviticus 5:2

“Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, etc.] Meaning an Israelite, for only such were bound by this law, which pronounced a person unclean that touched anything that was so in a ceremonial sense; this is the general, including whatsoever by the law was unclean; the particulars follow: whether [it be] a carcass of an unclean beast, as the camel, the coney, the hare, and the swine, (<031102>Leviticus 11:2-3) or a carcass of unclean cattle; as the horse, and the ass, which were unclean for food, and their dead carcasses not to be touched, (<031126>Leviticus 11:26-28) or the carcass of unclean creeping things: such as are mentioned in (<031129>Leviticus 11:29-31) and if it be hidden from him;…”

“TOUCHING ANY THING UNCLEAN. (Lev 5:2-3) if a soul touch any unclean thing--A person who, unknown to himself at the time, came in contact with any thing unclean, and either neglected the requisite ceremonies of purification or engaged in the services of religion while under the taint of ceremonial defilement, might be afterwards convinced that he had committed an offense.”

“Special occasions are mentioned on which sin-offerings are to be made with a particular confession of the offence for which atonement is sought Leviticus 5:5. Leviticus 5:1 Swearing - Adjuration. The case appears to be that of one who has been put upon his oath as a witness by a magistrate, and fails to utter all he has seen and heard (compare the marginal references. and Proverbs 29:24; Numbers 5:21). Leviticus 5:2-3 Hid from him - Either through forgetfulness or indifference, so that purification had been neglected. In such a case there had been a guilty negligence, and a sin-offering was required. On the essential connection between impurity and the sin-offering, see Leviticus 12:1.…”

“If it be hidden from him - If he do it unawares, yet that would not excuse him, because he should have been more circumspect to avoid all unclean things. Hereby God designed to awaken men to watchfulness against, and repentance for, their unknown, or unobserved sins. He shall be clean - Not morally, for the conscience was not directly polluted by these things, but ceremonially. Leviticus 5:3”

“5:2 ceremonially unclean: “Clean” and “unclean” did not pertain to hygiene (see 11:1–15:33) but to suitability for participating in worship or, in the case of animals, suitability for sacrifice or human consumption. A list of clean and unclean animals is found in 11:1-47. The requirement for becoming clean after touching an unclean animal was merely to wash one’s clothes and remain apart from the community until evening (11:25). Most likely, therefore, the requirement of this sin offering indicates that the person had failed to follow the prescription for cleansing (11:27-28).”

“touch: Lev 7:21, Lev 11:24, Lev 11:28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:39; Num 19:11-16; Deu 14:8; Isa 52:11; Hag 2:13; Co2 6:17 hidden: Lev 5:4, Lev 5:17; Psa 19:12; Luk 11:44 and guilty: Lev 5:17, Lev 4:13 Leviticus 5:3”