Numbers 19 - Introduction
_A.M. 2533. B.C. 1471._ Of preparing the water of purification with the ashes of a red heifer burnt without the camp, Numbers 19:1. Of the way of using it, Numbers 19:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2533. B.C. 1471._ Of preparing the water of purification with the ashes of a red heifer burnt without the camp, Numbers 19:1. Of the way of using it, Numbers 19:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
The people had complained of the strictness of the law which forbade their near approach to the tabernacle, (Numbers 17:13,) and the sudden death of so many by the late plague had put such numbers of their friends and relations into a state of legal uncleanness, which rendered them incapable of appr... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the law which the Lord hath commanded_ Or rather, _had commanded._ For it is probable that the water of purification had been made before, although the manner of making it is here first described. _That they bring thee a red heifer_ Provided at the expense of the congregation, because they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall give her unto Eleazar_ Who was the second priest, and in some cases the deputy of the high-priest. To him this service was committed, and not to Aaron, because it was not fit that Aaron should be engaged in any thing that would render him ceremonially unclean, although but _till the evenin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle_ This made it in some sort an _expiation_ of sin; for the _sprinkling of the blood_ before the Lord was the chief solemnity in all the sacrifices of atonement: therefore, though this was not done at the altar, yet, being done toward the sanctuary... [ Continue Reading ]
_One shall burn the heifer in his sight_ This typified the extreme sufferings of our Lord, both in soul and body, as a sacrifice made by fire. _Cedar-wood, hyssop, and scarlet_ These were used in the cleansing of lepers, (Leviticus 14:6,) and were all here burned, and, as it were, offered to God, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priest 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 show 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man shall gather up the ashes_ The ashes of the heifer were separated as well as they could be from the ashes of the wood wherewith it was burned, were pounded and sifted, and laid up for the use of the congregation as there was occasion, not only for that generation, but for posterity; for the a... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall purify himself 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 a sacrifice. _Defileth the tabernacle_ By approaching to it in his uncleanness: for holy things or places were ceremonially defiled with the touch of any unclean person or thing. _I... [ Continue Reading ]
_With a sword_ Or by any other violent way. _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, through the sacrifice of Christ, true purification is obtained. Those who promise themse... [ Continue Reading ]
_A clean person shall take hyssop_ In allusion to this David prays, _Purge me with hyssop._ Faith is the bunch of hyssop, wherewith the conscience is sprinkled and the heart purified. And the blood of Christ, being applied by faith, is termed, (Hebrews 12:24,) the blood of sprinkling, and with it we... [ Continue Reading ]
_That shall not purify himself_ Shall contemptuously refuse to submit to this way of purification. _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 vi... [ Continue Reading ]