Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. No, conformably to Leviticus 6:27. Menochius.—What the linen covered could not render other things sacred. The victim must come in immediate contact with them, to have this effect. Bible.—Those who had touched the dead, rendered both holy and common things unclean for others. There were two sorts of sanctified meat: the victims for sin, which the priests on duty alone could eat, (Leviticus 7:1, 6.) and the peace-offerings, of which all who were clean might partake. ib. 19. The former alone sanctified what they touched. Both must be burnt if they touched any thing unclean, while ordinary food in the same predicament might be consumed by people in mourning, and so forth Calmet.—That which touched a holy things was sanctified, (Leviticus 6:18) but that thing did not sanctify others; so the people, by touching the sacrifices, were only legally holy, and therefore their victims were not acceptable to the Lord as long as they did not comply with their duty of building his temple. Worthington.