*H Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seven lamps, let the candlestick be set up on the south side. Give orders therefore that the lamps look over against the north, towards the table of the loaves of proposition, over against that part shall they give light, towards which the candlestick looketh.
Ver. 2. Looketh. This candlestick stood on the south side, with one branch extending towards the altar of incense, on the east; and the other to the west, so as to give light to the loaves of proposition, on the north. Ex. xxv. 31. C. — It was intended to illumine the holy of holies, where a sort of feast was prepared for God, and where no windows were found. M. — Heb. simply, "When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against," upon, or near to "the candlestick." H. — The lamps might be separated from the branches and stem of the candlestick. D.
*H According to this rite: Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification, and let them shave all the hairs of their flesh. And when they shall have washed their garments, and are cleansed,
Ver. 7. Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification. This was the holy water, mixed with the ashes of the red cow, (Num. xix.) appointed for purifying all that were unclean. It was a figure of the blood of Christ, applied to our souls by his holy sacraments. Ch. — Purification, (lustrationis) or "expiation." The water, mixed with ashes, was taken and sprinkled round about the houses, and upon those persons who wished either to be cleansed from some defilement, or to advance in virtue and purity. We use salt instead of ashes. Theocritus (Idyl. xxiv. 100,) puts these words in the mouth of Tiresias, "then mixt with salt, according to the law, with a green branch sprinkle the honoured and pure water, and sacrifice to the supreme Jupiter a hog, if you wish to gain the victory over your adversaries." — Flesh, to remind them that they must cut off all superfluous thoughts, the roots of which they will however never be able to destroy entirely, as S. Greg. (Mor. v. 23,) says, "The flesh always produces superfluities, which the spirit must always cut away with the sword of solicitude." See Lev. xiv. 8. xxi. 5. 10. H. — The priests serving in the temple were obliged to cut their hair every month; and the Levites probably observed the same regulation, to acknowledge, that they who approached to God, must be pure and detached from earthly cares, (C.) and particularly from the works of sin; to remind them of which, they were to be sprinkled with water, their garments washed, and they were to offer two oxen by the hands of Aaron, and to be lifted up or offered to God, to serve in his court. T.
*H And when the Levites are before the Lord, the children of Israel shall put their hands upon them:
Ver. 10. Upon them. Some of the princes performed this ceremony, to testify that they gave up the Levites to serve God, (v. 15,) and would not be answerable, if they were guilty of any irreverence or neglect. C. — They offered them as a sort of sacrifice for the people, (M.) and gave their approbation to them, setting them at liberty. D. v. 14. 20.
*H And Aaron shall offer the Levites, as a gift in the sight of the Lord from the children of Israel, that they may serve in his ministry.
Ver. 11. A gift. Heb. "he shall heave them as a heave-offering before the Lord." Some assert, that Aaron lifted each of them towards the four quarters of the world; (v. 21,) or he made them go up towards the altar, and on each side. This ceremony was performed whenever a Levite was taken into the ministry. 2 Par. xxix. 34.
*H The Levites also shall put their hands upon the heads of the oxen, of which thou shalt sacrifice one for sin, and the other for a holocaust to the Lord, to pray for them.
Ver. 12. Thou, Moses, though the Heb. here seems to refer it to Aaron, "he shall." But the Sept. and Arab. agree with the Vulg. and the context shews that Moses is the person (C.) who had chiefly to officiate. Aaron also performed his part, v. 11. H.
*H And shalt separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, to be mine.
Ver. 14. Mine. Free from the burdens of the state, and employed in singing and keeping the doors of the sanctuary. M.
*H And afterwards they shall enter into the tabernacle of the covenant, to serve me. And thus shalt thou purify and consecrate them for an oblation of the Lord: for as a gift they were given me by the children of Israel.
Ver. 15. Into, or "towards, about;" for the priests alone could enter in. Heb. "the Levites shall go in (or be admitted) to do the service of the tabernacle," and to remove it, &c. H. v. 19.
* Footnote * Exodus 13 : 2
Sanctify unto me every firstborn that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are all mine.* Footnote * Luke 2 : 23
As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:*H And they were purified, and washed their garments. And Aaron lifted them up in the sight of the Lord, and prayed for them,
Ver. 21. Lifted. Heb. tenupha, Ex. xxix. 24. Perhaps only a few were received at once. M. — Prayed. Heb. means also "to expiate, or redeem," as v. 19.
*H And when they shall have accomplished the fiftieth year of their age, they shall cease to serve:
Ver. 25. Serve, in any laborious functions, as the original imports.
*H And they shall be the ministers of their brethren in the tabernacle of the covenant, to keep the things that are committed to their care, but not to do the works. Thus shalt thou order the Levites touching their charge.
Ver. 26. Ministers. Heb. "to watch over," (C.) direct, and "train up their brethren." Sam. Grot.