Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Priesthood. If you transgress, or if you neglect to instruct and watch over those who are employed about the sanctuary, you shall be responsible for it. Calmet.—You must resist those strangers who would intrude themselves into the office, which I have confirmed to you by miracles. Menochius.
Verse 2. Sceptre. Hebrew shebet, denotes also “tribe, family,” and so forth The princes of families probably bore a sceptre, as we find all magistrates did in the days of Homer. Iliad i. Æneid xii. Calmet.—All the other children of Aaron’s father, were to be in the order of the Levites, among whom even Moses left his own family, though he was himself an extraordinary priest. Bible.
Verse 4. Stranger; even born of a woman of the tribe of Levi. Maimonides.
Verse 7. Priests. Hebrew “you shall serve in the ministry of priests which I have given you.” The office was not due to them on account of any superior merit. Bible.
Verse 8. Charge, as stewards or dispensers ( Calmet.) of what is offered to me; part of which I abandon to your use, as long as your republic shall subsist. Menochius.—First-fruits, or “heave-offerings,” which comprised also the victims, first-born, and so forth over which the high priest had a general inspection.—Office. Hebrew “unction.” Septuagint “as a reward,” or salary for your labour, in performing the duty of priest. Calmet.
Verse 9. And are. Hebrew “This shall be thine, of the most holy things, from the fire.” Some parts of the victims for sin and of the libations were to be consumed, while the rest was given to the priests. These libations were not properly styled holy of holies, (which were to be eaten only in the holy place, by those who were in actual service) no more than the peace-offerings were, of which even women might partake, verse 11. 12. Leviticus 10:14.
Verse 11. House, perpetually. Hired servants were not admitted to eat of them. Leviticus 22:10. Calmet.
Verse 12. The best, (medullam.) Lit. “the marrow.” Bible.—The fattest and most delicious. Menochius.
Verse 13. First-ripe, (initia.) “The beginnings” ( Bible.) of the fruit of trees, in the fourth year. Leviticus 19:24. It may also comprise all the fruits of the earth. Calmet.—First-fruits must be distinguished from tithes, which were only the tenth part. The former were offered immediately to the Lord, but the latter to the priests, and so forth for their support. Besides the first-fruits of ears of corn at the Passover, and of bread at Pentecost, and at every weekly baking, first-fruits were to be given in the 7th month of the harvest and of the vintage, according to each person’s generosity, provided he gave between the 40th and the 60th part of his revenue; and these last are commonly the first-fruits meant in Scripture.—Lord, in sacrifice. If they were given to the priest, the unclean might partake of them. Menochius.
Verse 14. Vow. Hebrew cherem, “anathema:” man, beast, or land might be thus consecrated to God, either for sacrifice, or for the benefit of his priests. Leviticus 27:28. Bible.
Verse 15. Beast. The Rabbins restrain this to the ass alone, which they pretend was deemed the only unclean animal by the Israelites, in Egypt, when this law was established; and Moses indeed specifies it alone. Exodus 13:13. Abenezra.—But we cannot doubt but that camels, and all other unclean animals, were to be included, if the Hebrews kept them; ( Calmet.) and those which were rendered impure by some defect, were also to be redeemed. Menochius.
Verse 16. Of it; the first-born of man. The child might be redeemed sooner, and sometimes they waited till after the purification of the mother, or 40 days, as our blessed Lady did. Lu. 2:22. Calmet.—Five sicles of silver, or about 11s. 6d. Eng. were then to be paid, unless poverty obliged them to give only two turtles or pigeons. Bible.—Beasts might be redeemed after they were eight days old. Exodus 13:12. Leo of Modena, (p. 1. chapter 9,) informs us, that when a child is to be redeemed, at present, the father sends for a descendant of Aaron, who, after enquiring of the mother, if she have had no child before; and of the father, if he wish to redeem the infant, says aloud, “This child, being the first-born, belongs to me; as it is said, (Numbers 18:16,) Thou shalt redeem the child of a month old for five sicles. But I take this (about two crowns of gold) instead.” Calmet.—But how can these priests prove their genealogy, since the distinction of the tribes has been so long lost?—Of silver. Hebrew “according to thy estimation, for the money of five sicles, by the sicle of the sanctuary, which hath 20 geras.” Bible.
Verse 18. Thine. So that thy wife and children, if clean, may eat the flesh. Calmet.
Verse 19. A covenant of salt. It is a proverbial expression, signifying a covenant not to be altered or corrupted; as salt is used to keep things from corruption; a covenant perpetual, like that by which it was appointed that salt should be used in every sacrifice. Levit. 2:3. Challoner.—Thus God gave the kingdom to David for ever, by a covenant of salt, 2 Chronicles 13:5. Salt is an emblem of eternity. Oleaster believes, that salt was used in the ratification of all solemn covenants, to denote their stability. Calmet.
Verse 20. Nothing. No portion of land, like the other tribes; but only some towns and suburbs, allotted to thy children in the midst of the Israelites. They might purchase land as well as others, and might obtain a property by the vows of their brethren. Leviticus 27:14. Jeremias (32:7) and S. Barnaby had land. Acts. 4:37. God had provided for his ministers abundantly, without exposing them to much trouble. The Levites enjoyed the tithes of all the produce of the country, besides the first-fruits of corn, dough, and so forth and some parts of each beast that was killed in the town. Deuteronomy 18:3. The priests, who were still fewer in number, enjoyed the 100th part of the revenue of all Israel, receiving tithes from the Levites, and innumerable accidental offerings of wine, and so forth which made Philo say (de præm. Sacerd.) that “the law of Moses gave the priests all the splendour of kings.” They might, therefore, be zealous to preserve religion for their own temporal advantages.—I am, and so forth God promises to reward those who serve him with fidelity. Deuteronomy 18:1. Joshua 13:14. The priests of the new law ought more particularly to serve him with disinterestedness, for his own sake. Calmet.—Of this they are reminded, when they take the first step towards holy orders. The bishop cuts off some of their hair in the form of a cross, while they recite, The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup: it is Thou that will restore my inheritance to me. Psalms 15:5. Pontif. Rom. Bible.—“Some possess riches, while they serve Christ, who appeared in the garb of poverty.” S. Jerom ad Nepot.
Verse 22. Deadly sin. That is, sin which will bring death after it. Challoner.—Hebrew “lest they bear sin unto death,” and fall like their brethren. Calmet. 17:13. Bible.
Verse 23. People; or the Hebrew may be also “they shall bear their own iniquity.” If they prove negligent in performing their duty they shall be punished; and if they do not restrain the people from approaching the tabernacle, they shall be answerable for their offence, and both shall incur death. Calmet.—They shall, however, save their own souls, if they have not been deficient in instructing the people, and in doing their utmost to prevent any profanation. Bible.
Verse 27. As an. Thus you will perform your duty, as well as if you gave corn and wine of your own growth. Menochius.—Presses. Hebrew yakeb, means also the tub where wine was kept. Jonathan translates, “as the ripe (old) wine of the tub of your wine-press;” insinuating that the wine must be fit for use. Calmet. 5:29. 30.
Verse 32. By, and so forth Hebrew “when you have made a heave-offering of the best of it; nor shall you profane the holy things of,” and so forth Bible.—This they would do, if they gave the worst only to the priests. D.—There were only three at this time; yet they received the 100th part of the produce of so many thousands. Well therefore might God say, I will fill the souls of the priests with fatness: and my people shall be filled with good things. Jeremiah 31:14. Tirinus.
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.
A gerah is about 0.5 grams or about 7.7 grains.