Verse 7
7. Water of purifying Literally, sin-water, or water sin-purging. The Hebrew word for sin or sin offering is involved in this term. This water is nowhere explained. It must not be confounded with the water prescribed for the cleansing of the leper, (Leviticus 14:5;) and, also, it must be distinguished from the water of separation for purifying both persons and houses defiled by a corpse. Numbers 19:9. It cannot be simply clean water that is denominated “sin-water,” but water specially provided in the tabernacle for the cleansing of the priests for their duties.
Shave all their flesh Literally, cause a razor to pass over all their flesh. Cutting the hair in the regular way of adorning the body is all that is enjoined. A different word is used for shaving to baldness.
Wash their clothes This was generally enjoined as a preparation for worship, (Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10,) but was not required of the priests, because they received holy vestments. The Levites were not commanded to wash their bodies, because they were not leprous nor corpse-defiled. The priests washed themselves often because they handled the most holy things. Since robes symbolize character, (Jude 1:23,) their cleansing is emblematic of heart-purification. See Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:14.
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