Verse 2–3. Opened. No man perfectly understands the Scriptures but the Son of God. Matthew 11:27. Saint Jerome—This also insinuates, that Mary ever remained a pure virgin. Saint Augustine and so forth Worthington.—Shut, even for the prince. Some ( Bible.) kings of Juda claimed the privilege of entering by it at any time, and passed through a part of the court assigned to the priests. 2 Chronicles 6:12 and 4 Kennicott. 16:18. This shall be no longer tolerated. The gate might be opened in the week days if the prince wished to offer sacrifice, but not else, except on the sabbaths. Calmet. 46:1, 12.—Lord, in peace offerings and religious feasts.—Porch. Each had two doors. Calmet. 46:2. Calmet.
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Verse 4. Face. This astonishment and attention (verse 5) intimate the mysteries of the Church, prefigured by the Jewish rites. Worthington.
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Verse 5. Ways, or “the going in,” and all that concerns the temple and sacrifices.
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Verse 7. Flesh. People of this description were not to enter the temple, which is here called the sanctuary, even though they adored God. In some cases pagans were admitted into any part, except the most holy. Epiphanes ( Calmet.) and Pompey forced their passage thither, to the great sorrow of the Jews. Jos. Bel. i. 5. See Sirach 52. Acts 21:28.—During the plundering of the city, the Chaldees did the like; (Lamentations 1:10. Bible.) and while idols were set up, all rules were neglected.—Doings. You observe the exterior, and not the spirit of religion.
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Verse 8. Yourselves, out of ambition, contrary to the regulations of David. Calmet.
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Verse 10. Levites, or priests, ( Bible.) who were seduced by Jeroboam, or offered victims on the high places. 4 Kennicott. 23:9. Such lost their privileges and were condemned to serve in the meanest offices. It seems the race of Ithamar was alone guilty, and the threat against his house was now put in execution. 1 Kennicott. 2:27. and 3:14. Leviticus 21:17 and 2 Ezra 7:64. Calmet.
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Verse 11. Slay. Levites might do this, but the priests poured the blood round the altar. verse 15. They could not well slay all the victims.
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Verse 15. And Levites, of the higher order. Bible.—No simple Levites wee of this family. It enjoyed the high priesthood from the time of Solomon.
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Verse 17. Court; that is to do duty.—Linen. Wool might have been taken from a dead sheep, which would render the person unclean. Calmet.
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Verse 18. Sweat, or so as to make them perspire. Septuagint “girded violently.” Bible.—They must have liberty to move, (Saint Jerome) and have the girdle about their breast. Braun.
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Verse 19. Sanctify, by exposing them to the danger of touching the sacred vestments, which none were to touch but they that were sanctified. Challoner.—Sanctify here means to defile. Exodus 30:29. Calmet. and 29:37. Holy things must be done in holy places. Worthington.—Divine religion has different clothing for the ministry, from what is used in common life. Saint Jerome Exodus 28:40. Calmet.
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Verse 20. Shave, like the priests of Isis. Juv. vi.
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Verse 21. Wine. Leviticus 10:9. The priests on duty abstain from wine. Jos. Bel. vi. 15.
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Verse 22. Widow. Moses laid this restraint upon the high priest. Leviticus 21:13. Calmet.
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Verse 25. Unclean, attending the funeral, which inferior priests alone might do. Leviticus 21:10. Menochius.
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Verse 27. Day, after the seven first, ( Calmet.) though this would be a new regulation. Menochius.
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Verse 28. No. This is omitted in Hebrew Septuagint and so forth God was their portion. Calmet.—They had no land but what lay near their cities. Bible.