Ver. 2. That they separate.] Though priests, yet they may not hold themselves privileged above others to commit sin, but are the rather obliged to duty. Why should any Chrysostom have cause to say, Non arbitror inter sacerdotes multos esse qui salvi fiant, I do not think that many of our ministers can he saved, it is well if any? or any Campian to exclaim, Ministris eorum nihil vilias?
Ver. 3. Cut off from my presence.] Who am omnipresent: Postea nullus erit. Where shall the ungodly and the wicked appear? Surely, nowhere.
Ver. 4. Or hath a running issue.] Seminifluus: especially if it come by contemning that counsel of the wise man. (Proverbs 31:3)
Ver. 5. Or a man.] Whether a leper, or a dead man.
Ver. 6. Unless he wash his face with water.] Whereby he was led to the laver of Christ’s blood, which is opposed to legal washings. (Hebrews 9:9) Run we to that open fountain, (Zechariah 13:1) and be every day washing and cleansing ourselves therein from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Every Jew had his water pots for daily purification. (John 2:6) We have a far better bath.
Ver. 7. ; Because it is his food.] Animantis cuiusque vita in fuga est, and must be preserved by food.
Ver. 8. See on Leviticus 17:15 Ex 22:31.
Ver. 9. And die therefore.] It is no dallying with God. Either do it we must, or die for it.
Ver. 10. There shall no stranger.] The equity of all this was, that ministers should have a comfortable subsistence for them and theirs; and that the things that are appointed to that purpose should not be converted to other uses. (1 Corinthians 9:13) It is certainly a sad complaint that Luther makes: Nisi superisset spolium Aegypti quod rapuimus Papae, omnibus ministris verbi fame pereundum esset, &c. Were it not for such spoils of Egypt as we have won from the Pope, God’s ministers might starve and perish. And if ever it come to that, that they must be maintained by the people’s benevolence, a miserable maintenance they are like to have of it. That little that we have now, diripitur a magistratu, is got from us by the great ones who rob our churches and schools, as if they meant to make an end of us with hard hunger. Thus he. See Haggai 2:14. All the water in Jordan, and the ceremonies in Leviticus, cannot cleanse a man so long as the polluted thing remains in his hand. Luther, in Gen, xlvii.
Ver. 11. He shall eat.] As being a menial servant to the priest.
Ver. 12. Unto a stranger.] That is not a priest, or of the family of the priests.
Ver. 13. And have no child.] Nor is with child.
Ver. 14. [See Trapp on “Le 22:10”]
Ver. 15. Profane.] By suffering the holy things to be eaten of strangers.
Ver. 16. Or suffer them.] From my “other men’s sins,” good Lord deliver me, said one: have we not enough of our own to answer for? See 1 Timothy 5:22, [See Trapp on “1Ti 5:22”] That cannot be wholesome meat that is sauced with the blood of souls, and spiced with the wrath of God.
Ver. 19. At your own will.] Yet observing strictly the law in that case provided, with all the rites appointed. Such will worship is very acceptable.
Ver. 20. It shall not be acceptable.] Nay, it shall be abominable. (Malachi 1:7) God requires the best of the best, fine flour without bran, (Leviticus 2:1, &c.) and curseth that cheat, that having a sound or a fat male in his flock, bringeth to him a corrupt carrion, or a lean starveling, for sacrifice. (Malachi 1:14)
Ver. 21. It shall be perfect to be accepted.] Saints also are perfect in God’s acceptation, if harmless and blameless.
Ver. 23. That mayest thou offer.] Though it have some kind of defect, yet, in free will offerings, it might pass. This was to signify that our imperfect obedience after that we are once in Christ, is accepted by Christ, who is without all blame and blemish.
Ver. 24. Neither shall you make any offering.] No, not a freewill offering. Religion loves to lie clean. God will take up with a poor, but it must be a pure sacrifice.
Ver. 25. Their corruption is in them.] As not having their hearts purified by faith; and therefore not in case to please God.
Ver. 27. It shall be seven days.] As not being man’s meat, till then: but legally impure, and in their blood, as were likewise infants.
Ver. 28. Ye shall not kill it and her young.] Because it bears a show of cruelty, and of adding affliction to the afflicted. See Genesis 32:11 Ho 10:14.
Ver. 29. Offer it at your own will.] God strains upon no man. Virtus nolentium nulla est.
Ver. 30. On the same day.] [See Trapp on “Le 7:15”]
Ver. 31. I am the Lord.] Your rightful Lord, and my reward is with me, to give unto every man according to his works.
Ver. 32. My holy name.] “Holy, and” therefore “reverend.” (Psalms 111:9) Holiness hath honour.