Ver. 2. Take of every one of them a rod.] Or, Staff; the ensign of their honour, (Numbers 21:18) and of their civil authority; (Psalms 110:2 Jeremiah 48:16,17) a suificient witness against them, that the priesthood belonged not to them. Uzziah smarted for invading it. George, prince of Anhalt, was a singular example, qui primus et unus ex omni Principum Germanorum numero, subditos suos ipse et viva voce et scriptis editis de via salutis erudiret, who was the first, and the only German prince, that both by preaching and writing taught his subjects. Melch. Adam.
Ver. 5. And I will make to cease.] But then he must do more than work miracles. For such is the habitual hardness of men’s hearts, as neither ministry, nor misery, nor miracle, nor mercy, can possibly mollify. Nothing can do it, but an extraordinary touch from the hand of Heaven.
Ver. 8. And bloomed blossoms.] (1.) For a testimony of Aaron’s calling from God, to the honour of the priesthood; (2) For a type of Christ, the branch growing out of the stem of Jesse; (Isaiah 11:1) (3) For a figure of the ministry of the gospel, which although to profane persons it seem a dry, barren, and vanishing voice, yet it bloometh and flourisheth in the hearts of God’s elect; -and surely fruitfulness is the best argument of our election, and that we are called of God, for not only all the plants of his setting, but the very boughs cut off from the body of them will flourish; (4.) For a lively representation of a glorious resurrection. At the French massacre, Aug. 25, 1572, in the churchyard of St Innocent at Paris, a certain bush suddenly bloomed about the middle time of that bloody day, at an unusual time of the year. The Papists boasted, that God by that miracle showed his good liking of that massacre they had made. But the Protestants took it for a confirmation of their religion, and a testimony of their innocency. Epitome Hist. Gallicae, p. 149.
Ver. 10. And thou shalt quite take away their murmurinus.] Which yet would hardly be done. See on Numbers 17:5. Many men’s lips, like rusty hinges, for want of the oil of grace and gladness, move not without murmuring and complaining.
Ver. 13. Whosoever cometh anything near.] Let them keep further off then who have no sufficient warrant. Why should they meddle with that belongs not to them? Why should they touch the tabernacle? as the Greek here hath it. The fingers of many triflers itch at this day, to be tampering with that tremendous function, the ministry: which if they forbear to touch, it is but as once Mercury is fain to spare Jupiter’s thunderbolts, which he durst not steal, lest they should roar too loud, or at least burn his fingers.