Red — A fit colour to shadow forth the bloody nature of sin, and the blood of Christ, from which this water and all other rites had their purifying virtue. No blemish — A fit type of Christ. Upon which never came yoke — Whereby may be signified, either that Christ in himself was free from all the yo... [ Continue Reading ]
Eleazar — Who was the second priest, and in some cases, the deputy of the high — priest. To him, not to Aaron, because this service made him unclean for a season, and consequently unfit for holy ministrations, whereas the high — priest was, as far as possibly he could, to be preserved from all sorts... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the tabernacle — Or, towards the tabernacle, standing at a good distance from it, even without the camp, yet turning and looking towards it. For here is no intimation that he went into the camp before this work was done, but rather the contrary is implied, Numbers 19:7. And because being defi... [ Continue Reading ]
Burn the heifer — To signify the sharp and grievous sufferings of Christ for our sins. Her blood — All of it, but what was spent in sprinkling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cedar — wood, hyssop, scarlet — All which are here burnt, and as it were offered to God, that they might be sanctified to this holy use for the future; for of these kinds of things was the sprinkle made wherewith the unclean were sprinkled, Leviticus 14:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall be unclean — Partly to teach us the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood, in which the priest himself was defiled by some parts of his work, and partly to shew that Christ himself, though he had no sin of his own, yet was reputed by men, and judged by God, as a sinful person, by reason of... [ Continue Reading ]
For a water — Or, to the water, that is, to be put to the water, or mixed with it. Of separation — Appointed for the cleansing of them that are in a state of separation, who for their uncleanness are separated from the congregation. It is a purification for sin — Heb. a sin, that is, an offering for... [ Continue Reading ]
The stranger — A proselyte.... [ Continue Reading ]
With it — With the water of separation. On the third day — To typify Christ's resurrection on that day by which we are cleansed or sanctified.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever toucheth — If this transgression be done presumptuously; for if it was done ignorantly, he was only to offer sacrifice. Defiled — By approaching to it in his uncleanness: for holy things or places were ceremonially defiled with the touch of any unclean person or thing. Is upon him — He con... [ Continue Reading ]
With a sword — Or by any other violent way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Running water — Waters flowing from a spring or river, which are the purest. These manifestly signify God's spirit, which is oft compared to water, and by which alone true purification is obtained. Those who promise themselves benefit by the righteousness of Christ, while they submit not to the infl... [ Continue Reading ]
That shall not purify himself — Shall contemptuously refuse to submit to this way of purification.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall wash his clothes — Because he is unclean. It is strange, that the same water should cleanse one person, and defile another. But God would have it so, to teach us that it did not cleanse by any virtue in itself, or in the work done, but only by virtue of God's appointment: to mind the laws of t... [ Continue Reading ]
The unclean person — Not he who is so only by touching the water of separation, Numbers 19:21, but he who is so by the greater sort of uncleanness, which lasted seven days, and which was not removed without the use of this water of purification.... [ Continue Reading ]