The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 224

HOMILETICS. Y~rs. _1-40.-:f.'he tr1.U and only Pnestlwod. It is quite clear that the homiletic .application of this passage turns upon a question whicb ia strongly controverted-a question which it is alike impossible (save at the cost of honesty and truth) to ahirk or to take for granted one way or the other. That the rebellion of Korab was directed 1.lllder specious pretences against a divinely-ordained _priesthood vested in one man ?Jld his ~uc?essors is of coui:ie undenie~, but is of little interest ~r value apart from its a.pphca.t1on to our own times and circumstances. The practical question which immediately arises, and arises only to be disputed, is this, What priesthood now corresponds to that assailed in Aaron? It may no doubt be said that there is nothing which now answers to it, nothing of which that was a shadow and a type; that Judaism ,vas a. sacerdotal religion, but that Christianity is not. If that were true then Korab was after a.U right ; his only error was that he held opinions in advance of his age. But apart from that, such a position simply robs both the incident and record of any value for ourselves, and is point-bla.nk opposed to the Apostolic teaching in such places as 1 Cor. x. 11, and Jude 11. In the latter the "gainsaying of Korab" is specified as one of those typical acts of wickedness in which a virulent form of moral evil active in the days of the apostle had been anticipated both as to sin and _Punish- ment; the bad men of whom he speaks (vers. 4, 8, 10) had already met their doom in a figure when Korab and hie company perished. It is clear that Holy Scripture recognises, both generally and specifically, a teaching value for Christian times in this record. The most useful and honest plan will therefore be to set forth the -elementB of the question impartially, and to leave them to the consideration of the reader. Some points will come out with sufficient clearness to command general (if not universal) assent; and others will at least be cleared of misleading arguments 11.nd false associations. I. The first position which we can take up with authority and certainty is the positive position that TS:E PRIESTHOOD OF AARON AND HIS SONS WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT TYPE A.ND SHADOW OF TS:E PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST CONFERRED UPON HIM IN HIS BUMAN NATURE AS THE SON OF MAN. This is argued and proved with many illus- trations by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (see especially eh. v. 4, 5; vii. 11-28; viii 1-4; x. 11-14, 21). The elaborate companson of the two priest- hoods, the old and the new, which was also infinitely older,-and especially the nssertion that the Levitical priestB were many only because death deposed them from office (eh. vii. 23), whilst Christ abidetli for ever,-forbid us to regard any other priesthood than that of our Lord as the Christian analogue of the Jewish priesthood . .As far as the type went Aaron lived on in all his priestly race, just ae he had lived before in his chosen ancestor .Abraham (Heh. vii. 10): there was but one Jewish high-priest, and unto him corresponds in the kingdom of heaven Jesus and Jesus alone. Herein all will be substantially agreed who loyally accept the testimony of Scripture, and herein (if it be clearly and devoutly held) is the real heart of the matter, and the sufficient safeguard against superstition. II. The second position which we can take up on purely Scriptural grounds, and '\\'hich is not fairly assailable, is the negative position THAT NO ARGUMEN'r AGAINST 1111NISTER1AL oa SACERDOTAL ASSUMPTIONS OR CLAIMS IB VALID WHICH IS BASED UPON THE llOLINESS AND PRIESTLY CHARACTER OF ALL THE FAITEFUL. It ie perfectlycleur that Korah and his company had both Scripture and fact on their side when they said tbat all the congregation were holy and all were priests. They erred in taking for granted that the priesthood of all Israelites we.a really inconsistent with the apecial priesthood of Aaron. As thin~!' were, it is certain that the universal priest- hood of Israel could best express ilself, best translate itself into worship, through the mi.uisteria.l acts of A:.ron and his sons. A spiritually-millded Jew, who recognised CU. XVI, J-40.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 206