Observance. Hebrew, "ceremony." Septuagint, "distinction, ( diastole, St. Augustine, q. 33,) or ordinance." (Calmet) --- Victim. Hebrew, "the ordinance of the law." (Du Hamel) --- A red cow, &c. This red cow, offered in sacrifice for sin, and consumed with fire without the camp, with the ashes of wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Of all. Hebrew, "before his face." Septuagint, "they shall bring her out, slay and burn her before him," which must be referred to some other priests, who accompanied Eleazar on this occasion, ver. 8. (Calmet) --- Aaron did not perform this office, as the sacrifice was not solemn, but sorrowful, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And. Hebrew, "And Eleazar, the priest, shall take part of her blood with his finger." He looked from the pile of wood, where he was standing, towards the west, and sprinkled the blood, and wiping his fingers upon the skin of the cow, waiting till the fire was kindled, before he opened her belly; he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dyed. With which the cedar and hyssop were tied together, as being deemed most proper instruments of purifications, Leviticus xiv. 4, 49. St. Paul informs us (Hebrews ix. 19,) that Moses thus sprinkled the people and the book: and branches of this description were probably used when the people took... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strangers. Even those who had not embraced the Jewish religion. (Grotius) --- Thus, the baptism of Christ brings salvation both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seventh. If he neglect to be sprinkled on the third day, his purification will be protracted till the 10th. As this was the only means of removing the legal uncleanness contracted by touching a dead body, some of the ashes must have been reserved in various parts of the country, after the Israelite... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon him, unless he be excused by ignorance, (Leviticus v. 3, 6,) he shall be slain._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days. Almost all nations seem to have considered themselves defiled by the presence of a corpse. Virgin (\'c6neid, vi. 149,) writes, Præterea jacet exanimum tibi corpus amici---Heu nescis! totamque incestat funere classem._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cover. Samaritan, "neither chains nor bands." Formerly boxes were tied down. (Homer, Odyssey viii.) If the covering of any hollow vessel was off, when a corpse was present, it became unclean. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grave. The Hebrews buried it at a distance from towns, and set up some mark to apprise all people, that they might not be defiled for seven days. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Burning of the red cow, which was also a sin-offering, ver. 9. (Haydock) --- Upon the ashes they poured some running or spring water. The pagans generally preferred the water of the sea; or if they could not procure any, they mixed salt with common water. Ovid (Fast iv,) mentions a lustration made... [ Continue Reading ]
_Church, or assembly of the people. (Haydock) --- He shall be put to death by the judges, or by God. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evening. The victims which were appointed for the expiation of sin, communicated a legal uncleanness to those who were employed about them. They were looked upon as so holy, that the most pure were guilty of a sort of irreverence by touching them. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is unclean, by touching the dead, must remain defiled seven days. But those whom he touches, as well as all who may have communication with them in infinitum, may be purified in the evening. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIX.... [ Continue Reading ]