Leviticus 21

Chap. XXI. Ver. 1—24. Law of mourning, &c.—As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers especially must be followers of him; that their example may elucidate and corroborate their instructions, and teach the people in imitating them to imitate the Saviour. He was perfectly superior to all natural affections; and in the business of his heavenly Father, would not be interrupted or dissuaded, even by his regard to his earthly parent. Absolutely dead to the world, and filled with zeal for the glory of the Father and compassion to the souls of men, he was unwearied in his labours, and persevering in his sufferings, till he could say, “It is finished.” Without blemish,

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXI. Ver. 1. Speak unto the priests.—The ministers of religion, in all communions, should be careful to avoid every thing which unfits them for their public duty, or occasions scandal; and the families of such should consider, that any improper conduct in them, is not only offensive to God, but entails disgrace upon their father.—There shall none be defiled.—That is ceremoniously, by touching the dead, &c. but the Hebrew idiom is very remarkable. The word nephesh, here used for dead, is the same translated soul, (Genesis 2:7). and means, properly, “the breathing frame:” i.e. a living person; but it is both here and elsewhere applied to a corpse, which has recently breathed; and in ver. 11.

the word “dead” is connected with it. So we frequently speak of “dead animals;” and Virgil himself uses the Latin anima in the same manner. zt Ver. 4. He shall not defile himself, (being,) &c.—This participle is supplementary, and Ainsworth suggests, that the casual particle for, would be more correct. So Chazkuni, “He shall not defile himself for a chief man” in Hebrew, Baal, a lord, or master; perhaps the head of a tribe. But oe 170 Baa’ also signifies a husband, and therefore our translators have placed in the margin, “* Being a husband among his people, he shall not defile himself for his wife,” &c. But we prefer the second sense; and so Scott. Ver. 5. Baldness, &c.—[This custom is also called rounding the corners of the head, (ch.

xix. 27.) and seems to have been performed in honour of some idol. Herodotus observes that the Arabs shave or cut their hair round, in honour of Bacchus, who, they say, had his hair cut in this way. He also says that the Macians, a people of Libya, cut their hair round, so as to leave a tuft on the top of the head. In this way the Chinese still cut their hair. The hair was much used in divination among the ancients; and for purposes of religious superstition among the Greeks.]—Bagster. Ver. 7. A wife that is a whore.—Or that has been such, or reputed such, though penitent or reformed: not a doubtful or suspicious character. See Ainsworth. Compare ver. 14. Ver. 9. She shall be burnt.—This, it should seem, was not a new law; for when the daughter of Judah was found with child, he cried hypocritically and unfeelingly, “Bring her forth and let her be burnt.”

(Genesis 38:24). It applied, probably, to the daughters of the chiefs, and therefore to the priests? le (being) is daughters, who ranked with them. But we have no instance of the law being executed, nor, indeed, of the penalty being incurred; and when the sentence of burning was executed, it is agreed that it was preceded by strangling, or by stoning. (Joshua 7:25). must be without blemish. Yet the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the Lord. 3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.

4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall and separate from sinners, he executed his priestly office on earth: and being ascended into heaven, he is preparing his church of redeemed sinners, that “not having spot, or blemish, or any such thing,” he may espouse it as a chaste virgin unto himself for ever: and he requires all his family to remember the relation in which they stand unto him, and to act, consistently. What manner of persons then should his ministers be? Surely their characters should be free from scandal; and their hearts from the dominion of sin, and from the love of filthy lucre, worldly honour, and sensual indulgence! They should be unwearied and cheerful in their work, “giving themselves wholly to it,”

and letting nothing divert them from it. They should be patient in tribulations, superior to the power of their passions, circumspect in their walk, cautious in their connexions, and exemplary in the government of their families. Nothing is of more importance to the interests of religion than the sedate, chaste character, and the sober, decent, and respectable conduct and demeanour of the wives and children of ministers: for the people will always think themselves authorized to go farther in conformity to the world, and its vain fashions and customs, and in pursuit of its interests and pleasures, than the minister and his family do; and will interpret Ver. 17. That hath any blemish.—It was very needful that one who typified Him who was without blemish, should himself have none; but we conceive moral or intellectual defects are the only blemishes which incapacitate for the Christian ministry.

St. Paul himself had an infirmity which subjected him to the contempt of many, but by no means incapacitated him. (2 Corinthians 10:10).; Ver. 20. Or a dwarf.—Margin, “Slender.” Ainsworth, who follows the Rabbins, explains it of “a small spot” in the eye; but this interferes with the next blemish. It is very evident, that neither a very short man, nor weak man, could perform the duties of the priest’s office. The heathen were equally particular, to avoid blemishes in their priests, as well as in their sacrifices. Orient. Lit. No. 263. b Ver. 21. That hath a blemish.—In the above list of blemishes, we meet with some that might render the priest contemptible in the eyes of men; and others that would be very great impediments in the discharge of his ministry—that is, perfect and entire, neither having any defect, nor any thing superfluous.”

(Potter’s Greek Ant.) Seneca says, “that Metellus, who had the misfortune to become blind when he saved the Palladium from the flames, on the

12 If the priest’s daughter also be married 1 Hag. 2.13. m ¢.15.5. * unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offer- He. 10.22. ing of the holy things. n ¢.21.22. 13 But if the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is t returned o Ex. 22.31, unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she p Ex. 2.43. shall eat of her father’s meat; but there shall q the purno stranger eat thereof. chase of his mo- 14 And if a man eat of the holy thing * unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part therer Nu. 18.11, of unto it, and shall give it unto the priest, with the holy thing.

t Ge. 38.11. 15 And they shall not profane the holy ’ things u ¢.5.15,16. of the children of Israel which they offer unto y Na. 13.32. the Lord: his preaching by their practising; supposing him accountable for their misconduct, or as giving it the sanction of his approbation.— T. Scott. XXII. Ver. 1-33. Rules for the priests, &c.—Whilst with gratitude we recollect, that our holy and glorious High-Priest is not liable to any incapacitating impediments to mental, but is the discharge of his office, either habitual or inci perfectly such an one as became us; and that his unblemished for “all who come to God sacrifice is of perpetual efficacy through him;” let us also remember, that the Lord requires us likewise to reverence his Name, his truths, his ordinances, and his commandments.

The man who enters into the ministry, and who handles the word of God, or administers his sacraments, out of covetousness or ambition, and those pro either openly or in secret; known, habitual sin fessed Christians who make religion their pretence, or who approach the Lord’s table as a step to their object; or with a heart full of covetousness, malice, or presume to eat of the holy things just;—such persons, I say, with their uncleanness upon them, and must answer for it, te - Let us then beware of hypocrisy; and both examine ourselves, and seek to be purified from our sinful defilements, pal nn RE nee ee ndins of the temple of Vesta, was obliged to lay down the priesthood;”

and he adds, “every priest whose body is not faultless is to be avoided like a thing of bad omen.” M. Sergius, who lost his hand in the defence of his country, ‘At Elis, in Greece, the judges chose could not remain a priest for that reason. the finest looking man to carry the sacred vessels of the deity; he that was next in beauty and elegance led the ox; and the third in personal beauty carried the garlands, bands, wine, and other things used in sacrifice.”– Bagster.