Leviticus 21

Leviticus 21:1

DEfiled] It is considerable; first, how this uncleannesse was contracted, viz. by touching the dead, lamenting, or being at their buriall, or within the place, or Tent, where any lay dead; by which was contracted a ceremoniall uncleannesse for seven dayes, Numbers 19:14. 16. Secondly, why the Priests were prohibited this approach with reference to the dead; and that was upon reasons, partly generall, belonging to all the religious, as to professe their faith and hope of the resurrection of the dead, 1 Thes. 4. 13. and partly particular, for especiall admonition of puritie to the Priests as being types of Christ, and by neerer and more frequent communion with God professing more godlinesse then other men.

for the dead] Heb. for the soule. The soule is put by a Synecdoche, (of the part for the whole man) and by a Metonymie, one part for another, the soule for the body; so also, vers. 11. See Chap. 17. vers. 15.

Leviticus 21:3

virgine] For if she were married she was of another Family, and to be buried, and mourned for by her kindred of that family; but the Priest was permitted to mourn for his next kindred onely, and of his kindred for onely sixe of both Sexes, viz. his father, and mother, for his sonne, and his daughter, his brother, and sister if she were a virgin, els not; the wife is not mentioned; yet since none of these is so neere as the wife, (for man and wife are one flesh) she is to be conceived as virtually included, or reasonably presupposed in the naming of the rest: and whereas Ezekiel is forbidden to mourn for his wife, Chap. 24. 16, 17, 18. it seemes by the expresse prohibition, to be an extraordinary exception, from an ordinary rule, or practise. And whereas Eleazar and Ithamar were forbidden to lament the death of Nadab and Abihu their brethren, Chap. 10. 6. the reason is, because they died as malefactors, by divine vengeance, in which respect their mourning for them would have been a kind of murmuring against God himselfe; besides, if they had defiled themselves, the service of God must have beene intermitted longer then was meet for their sakes, there being no other at that time to performe service in that kinde.

Leviticus 21:4

being a chiefe man] The preeminence of his place and calling, must exempt him from the common condition of the people. The words are also rendred for a chiefe man, and then the meaning is, that though a chiefe man die, he may not accompany his body to buriall.

Leviticus 21:5

nor shave the corner] See Annot. on Chap. 19. vers. 27. 28.

Leviticus 21:6

the bread] The shew-bread, or meat-offerings; or all the food that came, by way of Oblation, to the Priests his servants, might be called bread; for in Scripture, whatsoever serveth for mans sustenance, is often so called; See vers. 17. 21.

therefore] Holinesse is pressed upon the Priests in especiall manner, because they must both by doctrine, and example, worke upon the people to be holy also; and if they be profane, their scandalous lives bring contempt on the name, and service of God, as if they were profane or common things.

holy] Hebr. holinesse in the abstract; importing an extraordinary degree of holinesse; as if they should not be carnall at all, but meere spirituall, all holy, even as holinesse it self.

Leviticus 21:8

sanctifie him] The sense of these words is varied with reference to the person, to whom they were spoken; if to Moses, the meaning may be, that he was to take care of their holy carriage, as much as in him lay; if to the people, the meaning is, that their opinion of them, and behaviour towards them should be such, as hath a savour of holy reverence with respect of their calling, in reference to God.

Leviticus 21:9

burnt] Burning was the severest kinde of death: to this the Priests daughter was doomed when others were not, for fornication only, to die at all; Exod. 22. 16, 17. now since this penalty was not imposed with any especiall respect to age or sexe, it is like, the Priests wife or son, if guilty of the same sinne, was to be punished in like sort, because of the dishonour done to the Priesthood by their meanes; for which cause the connivence, or indulgence of old Eli to his wicked sons was the more displeasing to God.

Leviticus 21:10

High-priest] The High-priest might not mourn for the dead, though of his neerest kindred; in this he was differenced from the inferiour Priests; as also, first, in that they ministred daily, he but on the solemn day of expiation; Secondly, the holy anointing oyle was poured on his head, Chap. 8. vers. 11. the rest were but sprinkled, and that not with pure oyle, but with oyle mingled with blood, vers. 30. Thirdly, he had eight holy garments, they not so many, nor any so glorious as some of his. The High Priests refraining from mourning, and funeralls, was apishly followed by the Devils priests. Gell. lib. 10. cap. 15. Noct. Attic.

uncover his head] See Annot. on Chap. 10. 16.

Leviticus 21:11

go into] He shall not go into the house where any dead body is.

for his father, or for his mother] Though out of naturall affection he may be sorry for them, he must not by any externall token of mourning professe it, no, not so much as by his presence at their funerall; because he was to be observed, or noted, rather for qualifications of grace and holinesse, then for the affections of flesh and blood.

Leviticus 21:12

prophane my sanctuary] Either by forsaking the Sanctuary for a ceremoniall or immoderate mourning, or by staying from the Sanctuary for a ceremoniall uncleannesse, or by coming to it again before the time of cleansing, prescribed, be expired.

crown] By this crown may be understood, either the Golden plate put upon the Mytre, Exodus 29:6. or the oyl, called by the same name, which served for separation from others, and for prelation above them, especially in reference to typicall representation of Christs royall Priesthood.

Leviticus 21:13

in her virginity] The High Priests wife was therefore to be so pure, because she was a type of the Church, 2 Corinthians 11:2. Revelation 14:4. as the High Priest her husband was of Christ.

Leviticus 21:14

a widow] In this the marriage of the High Priest (for in this particular the prohibition is not given to inferiour Priests) was more precise, then the ministers of the Gospel need to be; but in the other exceptions, there is a morall reason for them, which was not peculiar to the Priesthood, but belongeth to modesty, honesty, and decency of the Evangelicall ministery.

of his own people] Whereby, though it be meant, that usually the Levites should marry within their owne tribes, as the rest did; yet because they had no separate portion of the land of Canaan by themselves, as the other tribes had, but were in a manner mingled among them by their dwellings; this restraint of marriage was not so strictly observed among them, but that they might sometimes marry with daughters that were not of their own tribe; as Jehoiada married Jehoshabeath the daughter of Jehoram king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 22:11.

Leviticus 21:15

prophane his seed] Making them unfit for the holy Priesthood, by marrying any unchast, or defamed woman; that upholding the holinesse, and purity of his Priesthood, he may breed the more reverence in the people, to the religion and worship, wherein he was a principall and most eminent agent: and therefore he was not to marry a woman eitheir corrupted by whoredom, or defamed by report; no, nor an honest widow, (but a virgin only) unlesse her deceased husband were a Priest, Ezekiel 44:22. nor a woman divorced for what cause soever.

Leviticus 21:17

any blemish] For as the sacrifice by death was a type of Christ, and therefore must be without blemish; Exodus 12:5. Leviticus 22:19. 1 Pet. 1. 19. so the Priest by oblation was a type of Christs free-offering up of himself, and therefore he was to be without blemish also: And now though such blemishes do not disable men from the ministery of the Gospel, such remarkable deformities as apparently procure contempt, should discourage any from undertaking that calling; especially when they are to be set up to the publike view, and there withall to disdain; whereby the ministery is neither so awfull or fruitfull as by another it might be: but that which in the Evangelicall ministery is most liable to exception, is such blemishes in the minde, or manners, as make them unable to be teachers, unfit to be examples to their flocks, as is required, 1 Pet. 5. 2, 3.

bread] By which is meant all Oblations allowed for food, especially the Shew-bread, which the inferiour Priests every sabbath, brought new, and set upon the table of the Shew-bread, and took away the old. See vers. 6.

Leviticus 21:18

flat nose] The originall word Bharum in the radicall sense of it, signifieth rather cut off, then depressed or flat.

Leviticus 21:22

he shall eat] Though the blemished Priest may not offer, he may eat of the offerings; because eating was no type of Christs person, or his actions: in not being allowed to offer, hee was in worse condition then other Priests; in being allowed to eate, he was in a better state then they that were unclean, for they might not. chap. 22. vers. 3.

both of the most holy] There was a difference, and kinde of preeminence in things dedicated to God; but if they were to be eaten, he was to have his part, how holy soever they were.

Leviticus 21:23

nor come nigh] The altar was without the Tabernacle, and by the door of it, he that had a blemish might not come so farre as to the Altar, much lesse might he come into the Sanctuary, or doe any Priestly office there, though by birth he were of the Priestly kindred.