Among his people — None of the priests shall touch the dead body, or assist at his funeral, or eat of the funeral feast. The reason of this law is evident, because by such pollution they were excluded from converse with men, to whom by their function they were to be serviceable upon all occasions, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Near to him — Under which general expression his wife seems to be comprehended, though she be not expressed. And hence it is noted as a peculiar case, that Ezekiel, who was a priest, was forbidden to mourn for his wife, Ezekiel 24:16, &c. These exceptions God makes in condescension to human infirmit... [ Continue Reading ]
That is nigh him — That is, by nearness not of relation, (for that might seem a needless addition) but of habitation, one not yet cut off from the family. For if she was married, she was now of another family, and under her husband's care in those matters.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being — Or, seeing he is a chief man, for such not only the high — priest, but others also of the inferior priests were. He shall not defile himself for any other person whatsoever. To profane himself — Because such defilement for the dead did profane him, or make him as a common person, and consequ... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall not make baldness — In funerals, as the Heathens did. Though I allow them to defile themselves for some of the dead, yet in no case shall they use these superstitious rites, which also the people were forbidden to do; but the priests in a more peculiar manner, because they are by word and... [ Continue Reading ]
Holy unto their God — Devoted to God's service, and always prepared for it, and therefore shall keep themselves from all defilements. The name of their God — Which they especially bear. The bread of their God — That is, the shew — bread: or rather, all the other offerings, besides burnt — offerings:... [ Continue Reading ]
Profane — Or defiled, or deflowered, though it were done secretly, or by force: because the priest must take care that all the members of his family be free not only from gross wickedness, but from all suspicions of evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou — O Moses, and whosoever shall succeed in thy place, to whom it belongs to see my laws observed, shall take care that the priest be holy, and do not defile himself by any of these forbidden marriages.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the daughter — And by analogy his son also, and his wife, because the reason of the law here added, concerns all. And nothing is more common than to name one kind for the rest of the same nature, as also is done Leviticus 18:6. She profaneth her father — Exposeth his person and office, and conse... [ Continue Reading ]
The garments — Those holy garments, which were peculiar to him. Shall not uncover his head — This being then the posture of mourners, Leviticus 10:6, though afterwards the custom was changed and mourners covered their heads, 2 Samuel 15:30, Esther 6:12. Nor rent his clothes — Another expression of m... [ Continue Reading ]
Go in — Into the chamber or house where they lie. This and divers other rites here prescribed were from hence translated by the Heathens into their use, whose priests were put under the same obligations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of the sanctuary — To attend the funerals of any person: for upon other occasions he might and did commonly go out. Nor profane the sanctuary — Either by the performance of a civility, or by entering into the sanctuary before the seven days allotted for his cleansing, Numbers 19:11, were expired... [ Continue Reading ]
In her virginity — Or, a virgin, partly because as he was a type of Christ, so his wife was a type of the church, which is compared to a virgin, and partly for greater caution and assurance that his wife was not a defiled or deflowered person. Most of these things are forbidden to all the priests; a... [ Continue Reading ]
I the Lord sanctify him — I have separated him from all other men for my immediate service, and therefore will not have that race corrupted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of thy seed — Whether the high priest, or the inferior ones. That hath — In all successive ages, any defect or excess of parts, any notorious deformity or imperfection in his body. The reason hereof is partly typical, that he, might more fully represent Christ, the great high — priest, who was typif... [ Continue Reading ]
A flat nose — Most restrain this word to the nose, and to some great deformity relating to it. But according to others, it signifies more generally, a person that wants some member or members, because the next word, to which it is opposed, signifies one that hath more members than he should.... [ Continue Reading ]
A blemish — Any notorious blemish whereby he is disfigured, though not here mentioned.... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall eat — Which a priest having any uncleanness might not do whereby God would shew the great difference between natural infirmities sent upon a man by God, and moral defilements which a man brought upon himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
To the veil — To the second veil which was between the holy and the most holy place, to burn incense, to order the shew — bread, and to dress the lamps, which were nigh unto that veil though without. My altar — The altar of burnt — offering, which was without the sanctuary. The sense is, he shall no... [ Continue Reading ]