Numbers 17
DOYLY— shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary:] Shall be liable to punishment for the profanation of the sanctuary, of which you have the charge. Bp. Patrick.
— shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.] Shall suffer punishment, if you permit any person, not of the line of Aaron, to offer incense, or perform any part of the priest’s office; or if you do not faithfully discharge your office. This was some comfort to the people, who were afraid they should die for every error committed in their approaches to the sanctuary; whereas God assures them He would punish the priests and Levites: and it also served to remove the people’s envy towards the priests, whose dignity they saw accompanied with such danger. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 17:12
- — we die, &c.] We all see how deadly a thing it is for us to offer to meddle with any of the sacred affairs of the tabernacle. But, O Lord, what shall become of us? Some of us are swallowed up of the earth; others of us are consumed by fire; others, by the sudden stroke of Thy hand. O God, wilt not Thou be entreated to take off Thy revenging hand from us, till we be all utterly consumed? Bp. Hall. By this miracle they are convinced of their danger, if they should at any time invade the office of the priesthood, or press beyond their allowed limits. Bp. Kidder.
Chap. XVIII. ver. 1. And the Lord said unto Aaron, &c.] Having wrought several miracles to establish Aaron in the priesthood, God now instructs him, that the honour conferred upon him was an office of great
your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.