The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 91

EXPOSITION. THE HALLOWING OB' THE LEVITES (vers. them. Rather, " water of sin," so ce.lled 15-23). Ver. 6. -The Lord apake unto because it had to do with the removal of Moses. At some time subsequent to tho sin, just &S "water of separation" (eh. xix. command given in eh. iii. 6-13, and no 9, 13) was that which delivered Crom the doubt before tho passover. legal state of separation. It is not likely to Ver. 6.-And oleanse them. Before they have been prepared in the aame manner as actually entered upon their new duties they this latter (eh. xix. 9), both because of the were to be solemnly he.llowed. This hallow- great difference between the two cases, and ing, however, is not called ~i?, &S is that of because the ordinance of the red heifer be- longed to a later period. Nor is it likely to the priests (Exod. xxix. 1), but -, ijt;), cleans- have resembled that used for cleansing the ing. There was iu their case no ceremonial leper, or the water of jealousy. But it is ~·ashing, no vesting in sacred garments, no rash to conclude that, because we do not anointing with holy oil, or sprinkling with the read o.ny special dil'octions for its preparation, blood of sacrifices. The Levites, in fact, re- it must, thel'efore, have been nothing but mained simply representatives of the con- water from the !aver which stoou. in the gi:egation, whereas the priests were repro- outer court. Thal, wo.ter appears, indeed, to 1entatives also of Christ. be oolled "holy water" in eh. v. 17, which Ver. 7.-Bprinllle water of purifying upon is intelligible enough; but no probable reuo11 I!' 2 68 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [ OH. VIII. Ci-28.