XIX. (2) THIS IS THE ORDINANCE OF THE LAW... — This combination of the two words denoting “law” and “statute or ordinance” is peculiar. It occurs once more in Numbers 31:21, and seems to imply the importance of the law which was about to be given. The extraordinary mortality which the Israelites had... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELEAZAR THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE OF HER BLOOD... — The appointed rites were to be discharged by Eleazar, not by Aaron, who would otherwise have been temporarily disqualified by legal impurity from the discharge of his high-priestly functions. BEFORE THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION... — _i.e.,_... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE CEDAR WOOD, AND HYSSOP, AND SCARLET. — According to the Targum of Jonathan, another priest was to do this, but the reference seems to be to Eleazar. Cedar-wood may be regarded as the emblem of fragrance and incorruption; hyssop as the emblem of purification; and scarlet (or... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE PRIEST... — The Targum of Jonathan refers these words to the priest who killed the heifer, and Ibn Ezra to the priest who burnt it; but the reference is more probably, as in the preceding verse, to Eleazar.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND UNTO THE STRANGER... — So the promise of the remission of sins through Christ Jesus was not only to the Jews and to their children, but also to all that were afar off. (See Acts 2:39.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT TOUCHETH THE DEAD BODY... — The defilement caused by touching the dead body of a beast lasted only until _the_ evening (Leviticus 11:24). The death of man was the wages of sin; and hence contact with the dead body of a man was attended by ceremonial defilement of longer duration.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL PURIFY HIMSELF... — The verse may be rendered thus: _He shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day;_ so _shall he be clean; but if he purify not himself on the third day and on the seventh day,_ then _he shall not be clean:_ so the LXX. and Vulg. (See Numbers 19:19... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE ASHES OF THE BURNT HEIFER OF PURIFICATION FOR SIN. — Better, _of the ashes of the burnt sin-offering;_ literally, _of the burning of the sin-offering._... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL PURIFY HIMSELF, AND WASH... — The rendering should be, _he_ (_i.e.,_ the clean person) _shall purify him_ (_i.e.,_ the unclean person), and _he_ (the unclean person) _shall wash_...... [ Continue Reading ]