_Looketh. This candlestick stood on the south side, with one branch extending towards the altar of incense, on the east; and the other to the west, so as to give light to the loaves of proposition, on the north, Exodus xxv. 31. (Calmet) --- It was intended to illumine the holy of holies, where a sor... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification. This was the holy water, mixed with the ashes of the red cow, (Numbers xix.) appointed for purifying all that were unclean. It was a figure of the blood of Christ, applied to our souls by his holy sacraments. (Challoner) --- Purification, ( lustr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon them. Some of the princes performed this ceremony, to testify that they gave up the Levites to serve God, (ver. 15,) and would not be answerable, if they were guilty of any irreverence or neglect. (Calmet) --- They offered them as a sort of sacrifice for the people, (Menochius) and gave their... [ Continue Reading ]
_A gift. Hebrew, "he shall heave them as a heave-offering before the Lord." Some assert, that Aaron lifted each of them towards the four quarters of the world; (ver. 21,) or he made them go up towards the altar, and on each side. This ceremony was performed whenever a Levite was taken into the minis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou, Moses, though the Hebrew here seems to refer it to Aaron, "he shall." But the Septuagint and Arabic agree with the Vulgate, and the context shews that Moses is the person (Calmet) who had chiefly to officiate. Aaron also performed his part, ver. 11. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mine. Free from the burdens of the state, and employed in singing and keeping the doors of the sanctuary. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Into, or "towards, about;" for the priests alone could enter in. Hebrew, "the Levites shall go in (or be admitted) to do the service of the tabernacle," and to remove it, &c., ver. 19. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lifted. Hebrew tenupha, Exodus xxix. 24. Perhaps only a few were received at once. (Menochius) --- Prayed. Hebrew means also "to expiate, or redeem," as ver. 19._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Serve, in any laborious functions, as the original imports._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ministers. Hebrew, "to watch over," (Calmet) direct, and "train up their brethren," Samaritan. (Grotius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VIII.... [ Continue Reading ]