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Annotations.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here beginneth (after the Hebrewes ••••count) the one and thirtieth section or Lecture of the Law. See Gen. 6. 9.
THe Priests] After the generall rules of holines for all the people, here followeth a speciall [unspec 1] law for the holinesse of the Priests: their office was to make atonement for the people, and to sanctifie them; therefore must they have a care to sanctifie themselves. And as when God forbiddeth his people to seeke unto such as have familiar spirits, &c. he telleth them of a Prophet, whom he would raise up unto them, by whom they might know his will; Deut. 18. 10. 11. 15. so it is observed here by the Hebrewes, (as Baalhatturim, and Chazku∣ni,) that immediately after the Law against famili∣ar spirits, and wizards, Levit. 20. 27. this Law is given for the Priests; that the people might have no occasion to seeke unto the former, but might come unto the Priests, and they should inquire for them by Vrim and Thummim. the sonnes of Aaron] Targum Ionathan addeth, the males; and Sol. Iarchi saith, the sonnes and not the daughters of Aaron; because the lawes following concerned not the women. So in the Hebrew canons it is said, Aarons daughters are not forewarned pollution by the dead; but the Priests the sonnes of Aaron. Likewise the prophane (Priests) might defile themselves; for this is but for the sonnes of Aaron that may execute the Priests office. A yong Priest is to bee warned by the elder (Priests,) not to defile himselfe, &c. and his father is to traine him up in holinesse. Maimony tom. 4. treat. of Mourning, chap. 3. sect. 11. 12. for a soule] to weet, of the dead, as is expressed in verse 11. else-where called a dead soule, Numbers 6. 6. meaning a dead bodie: for properly at death the soule de∣parteth, Gen. 35. 18. and the dead defileth not till his seale be departed, saith Maimony, tom. 3. in Tu∣math meth, chap. 1. sect. 15. wherefore the Chal∣dee here translateth for the dead; and Targum Io∣nathan, for the sonne of man that is dead. But the Greeke retaineth the Hebrew phrase, for soules. So before in Levit. 19. 28. hee shall not] that is, any Priest, shall not defile himselfe: in Greeke, they shall not be defiled. This pollution might be by the funerall of the dead; for who so touched any dead body, or came into a tent (or house) where any dead body lay, or touched a grave; he was uncleane seven daies, Numbers 19. 14. 16. so by bearing the dead hee was uncleane, by proportion from the Law, in Levit. 11. 25. And by the Hebrew canons, if a man came within foure cubits (that is, sixe f••••••) of the dead, he was uncleane. Maimony, treat. of Mourning, chap. 3. sect. 13. among his peo∣ples] in Greeke, among their nation: that is, as Chaz∣kuni explaineth it, among all Israel, for they are his peoples. So peoples are used for the tribes of Israel, in Deut. 33. 3. Iudg. 5. 14. Act. 4. 27.
Vers. 2. his neere-kin] those of his consanguini∣ty: [unspec 2] see this word in Lev. 18. 6. Sol. Iarchi here un∣derstandeth the Priests wife by it; as one for whom hee might defile himselfe. See the notes on verse 3. This law is for the inferiour Priests: but the high Priest might not defile himselfe for these, verse 10. 11.
Vers. 3. not beene to any man] which the Greeke [unspec 3] explaineth, not given to (or not bestowed on) a man; meaning, which hath had no husband. For such as had husbands, were to be buried and mourned for by them, as Abraham mourned for Sarah, Genes. 23. 2. These sixe, Father, and Mother, and Sonne, and Daughter, and Brother, and Sister that hath had no husband, are againe mentioned in Ezek. 44. 25. &c. that for them the Priests might be defiled, and after their cleansing, and dayes appointed, to bring their Sin-offring. And it seemeth they were to doe the like for their wives, because Ezekiel the Priest was commanded as an extraordinary case, not to mourne for his wife when sheedied, Ezek. 24. 16. 17. 18. So the Hebrew canons say, Every Priest that is defiled for the dead, except for those sixe dead which are expressed in the Law, or for his wife: if it bee proved by witnesses, he is to be beaten: Leviticus 21. 1. And whether hee touch the dead, or come into the tent, or beare him, and whether it bee the dead person himselfe, or any other uncleannesse about him: and so if a Priest touch a grave, he is to be beaten. And every Priest that commeth within foure cubits of the dead, is to be chastised with stripes: Maimony treat. of Mour∣ning, chap. 1. sect. 1. 2. 13. he shall defile him-selfe] in Greek, they shall be defiled, meaning all and every of the Priests. This is understood not as a permission, but a dutie, for them to bury and mourne for these their neere kin. The Hebrewes say; Very weighty is the charge of mourning, for even the Priest is driven to be uncleane, for his neere-kinne, must busie himselfe about them, and mourne for them, Leviiicus 21. 2. It is a commandement; so that if hee would not be defiled, they are to cause him to bee defiled against his will. So for his wife, (but this is not but by the doctrine of the Scribes,) because she hath no heire but him, &c. And he is to be defiled for his maried wife onely, but not for a betrothed wife. Likewise for o∣thers, which are not to be mourned for, as such as are put to death by the Synedrion (or Magistrates,) and such as are Apostate from the wayes of the Church, and untimely births, and such as wittingly kill themselves; the Priest is not to defile himself for them. And how long is he commanded to defile himselfe for his neere-kinred? Vntill the cover of the grave be closed upon them: for af∣ter that, they are as all other dead persons, that if a Priest be defiled, he is to be beaten. Maimony, treat. of Mourning, chap. 2. sect. 6. 7. 8.
Vers. 4. being a chiefe-man] or, for a chief-man, [unspec 4] that is, for any other of his house, or out of his house, save for those before specified. So Chazku∣ni citeth this as a common exposition of this place; A common Priest shall not defile himselfe for a chiefe man among his peoples; be he the high Priest among his people. Although I permit thee to defile thy selfe for thy neere-kinne, thou shalt not defile thy selfe for the high Priest, who is not of thy neere-kinne. The Hebrew Baal, signifieth a Lord, Master, or chiefe man, Iudg. 9. 51. Esa. 60. 8. and so the Chaldee translateth it here Rabba; that is, a master, or chiefe-man: (but the Greek expoundeth it Suddenly, as if it were written