Levítico 10
John Calvin · Citado em PreceptAustin
Levítico 10
Calvin comments on then Moses said to Aaron - Moses restrains his brother from giving way to excessive grief; for this was a very bitter stroke after their recent joy to see himself at once deprived of two sons on the same day, and at the same moment, he might, too, have been disposed to murmur against God for the cause of their death. Lest, therefore, He should give way to such want of self-control, Moses reminds him that he must submit to the just judgment of God. We shall, however, seek in vain for what is here referred to, “I will be glorified in them that come nigh me.” He had often threatened the priests with death if they departed in the least degree from the prescribed rule: He had often set before them the sacredness of their office, lest they should defile themselves by any sacrilegious act; in a word, He had chosen them to be His ministers in holy things, on the condition that they should know themselves to be subject to greater guilt and punishment than the rest of the people. By this consolation, then, Aaron’s grief is quieted, that God had not dealt cruelly with his sons, but had shown forth in them a just and profitable example, in order that their successors might be more attentive in their duties; for thus should the sentence be paraphrased: In order that I may be glorified before the whole people, I must be sanctified by those of the highest degree and consequence; or, When I shall have been sanctified by the priests themselves, whose dignity is the highest, my glory will shine forth before the whole people. And, in point of fact, although God may punish whole bodies of obscure persons, such lessons have but little effect; but the punishment of men of more noble and illustrious condition draws almost all eyes to the judgments of God. For God is said to be sanctified in us in many ways, whether He shows Himself to be a merciful or a severe (albeit righteous) Judge. This declaration, then, is an exhortation to those whom he has dignified with peculiar honor, to walk in fear and trembling; for, since “judgment begins at the house of God,” 1Pe 4:17-note) the greater are the gifts and the higher the pre-eminence is with which any one is blessed, the greater is his obligation to God, and his ingratitude worthy of severer punishment. THE REQUIREMENT FOR PRIESTS Those who come near to me I will be treated as holy - This clearly refers to the Levitical priests, but the principle applies to EVERY NT believer, because EVERY believer is a PRIEST! As Peter teaches all believers "are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1Pe 2:9-note, cp Rev 1:6-note, Rev 5:10-note, Rev 20:6-note). Tony
Levítico 10
Calvin has a good application - Much is this silence of Aaron to be applauded, whereby he confessed that his sons were slain by the just judgment of God; for Moses indicates that he yielded to his admonition, and was thus restrained from complaining against. God. Thus Paul teaches us that Scripture is given to teach us patience. (Romans 15:4.) Wherefore, whenever our passions are too much excited, let us learn that this is the best remedy for quieting and repressing them, to submit ourselves to God, and to humble ourselves beneath his mighty hand. David invites us to this by his own example in Ps 39:9. Richard Hawker - Observe also the pious frame of Aaron's mind. No doubt his soul was convulsed with agony. It must have been visible in his very appearance: yet Aaron held his peace. Dear LORD! Grant both to him that writes, and to him that reads, grace, in all our lesser sorrows, to bend in holy submission to Thy will. Ps 39:9 ( David says “I have become dumb [Heb = alam = to be bound, to be speechless from awe or fright, even as was the Messiah in Isa 53:7, as was Daniel in Da 10:15], I do not open my mouth, Because it is Thou who hast done [it.]"). Observe also, how GOD enjoins (instructs with authority, admonishes with urgency) a sanctification of soul in all that approach him. Read Exodus 19:22 Kept silent (01826)(damam) is a verb meaning to be silent or be still. To stand still, in a state of motionlessness (1Sa 14:9; Jer 47:6). Joshua spoke to the sun to "stand still" and it did (Josh. 10:12, 13). Here in Lev 10:3 the idea is primarily to refrain from speech. "The prudent person keeps silent." (Amos 5:13). Damam can refer to persons being traumatized or frozen from fear (Ex 15:16 = "as motionless as a stone", Jer. 8:14; 48:2; 49:26; 50:30). Damam can also describe the absence of emotional distress, instead describing the ability to be quiet and relax (Job 30:27; Ps. 4:4; 30:12; 131:2). In most uses of damam there is a context of upheaval or great distress (Lam 2:10). In the first use we read "Terror and dread fall upon them (Israel's enemies - Ex 15:15); By the greatness of Thine arm they are motionless (Heb = damam; Lxx = apolithoo = to become petrified, "turn into stone") as stone; Until Thy people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom Thou hast purchased." (Ex 15:16) In Ezek 24:17 Ezekiel was forbidden by Yahweh to show the normal signs of mourning in face of the death of his wife. He could groan but he was to "groan silently" which is an interesting description. In the Psalms damam often conveys the sense of a holy or reverential stillness in the presence of Yahweh (Ps 4:4, Ps 37:7, Ps 62:5) And in Ps 30:12 the psalmist says there is a time NOT to be silent (See Spurgeon's note below). Brown-Driver-Briggs' summary - to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb (Qal) = to be silent, to be still, die, to be struck dumb; (Niphal) to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed; (Poal) to make quiet; (Hiphil) to make silent (cause to die) TWOT - dāmam is often found in a context of catastrophe and mourning. Aaron and Ezekiel had to keep quiet in spite of the death of loved ones (Lev 10:3; Ezk 24:17). The elders of Judah sit silently with dust on their heads (Lam 2:10). Damam in NAS - ceasing(1), destroyed(1), doomed(1), have… rest(1), keeps silent(1), kept silent(3), made silent(1), motionless(1), perish(1), quieted(1), relax(1), rest(1), silenced(4), silent(5), silently(1), stand still(1), stay still(1), still(1), stood still(1), wait(1), wait in silence(1). Damam - 29v - Ex 15:16; Lev 10:3; Josh 10:12-13; 1Sam 2:9; 14:9; Job 29:21; 30:27; 31:34; Ps 4:4; Ps 30:12; Ps 31:17; 35:15; 37:7; 62:5; 131:2; Isa 23:2; Jer 8:14; 25:37; 47:6; 48:2; 49:26; 50:30; 51:6; Lam 2:10, 18; 3:28; Ezek 24:17; Amos 5:13 (Lxx = siopao = be silent, make no sound). Here are all the uses of daman in the Psalms (book with most uses) Ps 4:4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still (Lxx = katanussomai = be pierced, be pained sharply in one's mind). Selah.