X. (1) AND NADAB AND ABIHU. — Immediately after the Divine manifestation of God’s acceptance of the services connected with the institution of the priesthood, and whilst the congregation are still giving utterance to their profound expressions of thankfulness and joy, the assembled people see a mos... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WENT OUT FIRE FROM THE LORD. — By fire they sinned, and by fire they died. The Divine fire which issued forth to consume the sacrifices as a token of acceptance, now descended as the avenger of sin to consume the sacrificers, just as the same gospel is to one a savour of life unto life, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MOSES SAID... THIS IS IT THAT THE LORD SPAKE. — Here we have another instance of a reference to a well-known Divine communication made through Moses, which has not been previously recorded in the Pentateuch. Moses adduces this declaration to explain to the bereaved father the judgment of God. I... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES CALLED... THE SONS OF UZZIEL. — Uzziel was the son of Kohath, the younger brother of Amram. As Amram was the father of Aaron, Uzziel was the uncle of Aaron. Uzziel had three sons, of whom Mishael and Elzaphan were two (Exodus 6:18; Exodus 6:22). Eleazar and Ithamar, as ordinary priests, mi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CARRIED THEM IN THEIR COATS. — Better, _and they carried them in their tunics,_ the long white, garments in which they ministered, and which were the most characteristic part of the sacerdotal vestments. In ordinary cases the cast-off dresses of the priests were converted into wick for the lamps... [ Continue Reading ]
UNCOVER NOT YOUR HEADS. — Better, _let not your heads be dishevelled._ It was the custom for mourners to let their hair grow long, and let it fall in a disorderly and wild manner over the head and face. (See Leviticus 13:45; Leviticus 21:10; 2 Samuel 15:30; 2 Samuel 19:4, &c.) For this reason the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. — Better, _away from the entrance of the tent of meeting._ (See Leviticus 1:3.) But Aaron and his sons are not to quit the court of the sanctuary to take part in the burial. FOR THE ANOINTING OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU. — The reason why they are not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO AARON. — As half of the staff of the priesthood had thus been struck down, and the other half were not allowed to mourn over the departed, the chief of the survivors might have thought that God was altogether displeased with the newly created pontificate. To comfort him, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT DRINK WINE. — As the command that the priests are to abstain from any intoxicating liquors when performing their sacred functions follows so closely upon the death of Nadab and Abihu, the opinion obtained as early at least as the time of Christ that there is a connection between the specific... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT YE MAY PUT DIFFERENCE. — The motive here assigned for their abstinence from intoxicating liquor is, that by keeping sober they might be able to discriminate between the legal and illegal points in the prescribed observances, which required the greatest care. Thus, for instance, the rules as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT YE MAY TEACH. — The priests were not only to keep sober to be able to decide the questions of ritual, but they were to teach the people, since the ceremonial law affected domestic life and social intercourse (Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:7). For neglecting these duties, the prophet charges... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO AARON. — This communication, which refers to the sacrifices offered on the eighth day, or the day after the consecration was finished, Moses made to Aaron and his two surviving sons immediately after the calamity that had befallen them. As Aaron lost his two eldest sons in conse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL EAT IT IN THE HOLY PLACE. — Better, _and ye shall eat it in a holy place,_ that is, in any part of the holy court; it was not to be taken out of the precincts of the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WAVE BREAST AND HEAVE SHOULDER. — That is, of the peace offering which was offered by the nation. (See Leviticus 9:18.) As they were given to the priests for the maintenance of their families (see Leviticus 7:34), these portions might be eaten anywhere within the camp, provided the place was... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVE SHOULDER AND THE WAVE BREAST SHALL THEY BRING. — That is, the offerers who devoted these portions of the peace offering to the Lord, are to bring them to the officiating priests. (See Leviticus 7:29.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES DILIGENTLY SOUGHT THE GOAT. — That is, the flesh of the goat of the sin offering which was offered by the nation on the eighth day. (See Leviticus 9:15.) AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS BURNT. — Being overwhelmed with grief at the loss of their brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar could not eat, and as none... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HAVE YE NOT EATEN?... — As enjoined in Leviticus 6:26. GOD HATH GIVEN IT. — That is, He has given to you the flesh of the sin offering to cat. (See Leviticus 6:29.) TO BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE CONGREGATION. — Better, _to remove the iniquity of the congregation,_ which the priests did by m... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE BLOOD OF IT. — According to the sacrificial law, the flesh of the sin offerings (_the_ blood of which was not carried into the sanctuary) had to be eaten by the priests alone, in a holy place, as a part of the expiatory rites. (See Leviticus 6:25; Leviticus 10:17.) It was the flesh of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AARON SAID. — Though, according to Leviticus 10:16, Moses only blamed Eleazar and Ithamar for this transgression of the law, yet there can hardly be any doubt that Aaron was included in this censure, and that the lawgiver abstained from expressing his anger against the pontiff because of the sup... [ Continue Reading ]
AND... HE WAS CONTENT. — He acknowledged Aaron’s plea to be just, and that he had himself spoken hastily. This is a remarkable instance of Moses’ humility, and of the human side of his nature as a lawgiver. (See also Numbers 32:6, &c.) Hence Jewish tradition from time immemorial ascribes the mistake... [ Continue Reading ]