Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so that you don’t die, and so that he will not be angry with all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD has kindled.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Uncover not. Take not off your mitres; (Sept.) let not your hair grow long, (Chal) as the Egyptians do in mourning, nor, yet shave your heads, like the priests of Isis. This God forbids. Calmet. 21:5. And Ezechiel, (44:20,) probably with reference to this law, says, Neither shall they shave their heads, nor wear long hair … and no priest shall drink wine when, and so forth—Garments, sacred vestments, which were worn only in the tabernacle or temple. Calmet.—The high priests are forbidden to tear their garments at funerals, (Calmet. 21:10,) as this would betray a want of fortitude.—Perhaps. This does not imply any doubt. Menochius. See Genesis 3:3.—Indignation of God, punishing the people, while there is none to entreat for them.—Burning of the two priests.