Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 19:22
And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
22. Even the priests, whose duty it is to come near (Lev 21:21) to Jehovah, must sanctify themselves like the rest ( vv. 10, 14), lest He make a breach in them (2Sa 6:8 AV., 1Ch 15:13), i.e. work destruction among them. The word is quite distinct from that rendered ‘break through ’ in v. 21.
It appears from this passage that J recognizes priests before the legislation of Sinai just as he recognizes similarly sacrifices and altars (e.g. Gen 12:7; Gen 13:18; Gen 26:25: in P priests appear first in Leviticus 8); but the representation is hardly consistent with Exo 32:29.
23, 24 Moses reminds Jehovah that the barriers ( v. 12) will effectually prevent the people from trespassing: but he is nevertheless commanded to repeat the warning.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The priests also – Sacrifices had hitherto been offered by firstborn, or the heads of families. See Gen 14:18 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. Let the priests also – sanctify themselves] That there were priests among the Hebrews before the consecration of Aaron and his sons, cannot be doubted; though their functions might be in a considerable measure suspended while under persecution in Egypt, yet the persons existed whose right and duty it was to offer sacrifices to God. Moses requested liberty from Pharaoh to go into the wilderness to sacrifice; and had there not been among the people both sacrifices and priests, the request itself must have appeared nugatory and absurd. Sacrifices from the beginning had constituted an essential part of the worship of God, and there certainly were priests whose business it was to offer them to God before the giving of the law; though this, for especial reasons, was restricted to Aaron and his sons after the law had been given. As sacrifices had not been offered for a considerable time, the priests themselves were considered in a state of impurity; and therefore God requires that they also should be purified for the purpose of approaching the mountain, and hearing their Maker promulgate his laws. See Clarke on Ex 28:1.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For though the Aaronical priesthood was not yet appointed, it is certain, that as there were sacrifices before, so there were priests to offer them, which were either the first-born, who were consecrated to God, and did execute the office of priests, as may be gathered from Exo 13:2; 24:5; Num 3:12; 8:26, or some other persons appointed by God for doing that work till the office was settled in Aarons family.
Which come near to the Lord; not at this time, for both priests and people are now kept at equal distance, Exo 19:24; but usually: q.d. Whose duty and privilege it is to approach unto God, and to present the peoples prayers and sacrifices to him, and therefore are here particularly admonished, because they above all others are obliged to this care, and because they might seem to claim this privilege by their function.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And let the priests also, which come near unto the Lord,…. Either the firstborn, as the Jews generally interpret it, so Jarchi and Aben Ezra; who were sanctified to the Lord, and in whose stead afterwards the Levites were taken; or the sons of Aaron, who should be, and were potentially, though not actually priests, as Ben Gersom expresses it, from an ancient book of theirs called Mechilta; or rather some principal persons, as heads of families and the like, who, before the priesthood was settled in the family of Aaron, officiated as priests, and drew nigh to God, and offered up sacrifices for themselves and others, and were distinguished from others by this character, and therefore do not intend princes, as some interpret the word; for the description of them will not agree to them, but plainly points to a sort of men, to whom it was peculiar to perform that office. These Moses is bid to charge that they
sanctify themselves; in the same manner as the people in general were before ordered, and keep themselves within the same bounds; not daring to transgress them, because they were persons that used to draw nigh to God in the performance of religious actions:
lest the Lord break forth upon them; and smite them, that they die, in like manner as he made a breach on Uzzah afterwards for touching the ark of the Lord, 2Sa 6:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(22) The priests.This has been called an anachronism, since the Levitical priesthood was not as yet instituted. But the Israelites, like all other ancient tribes or races, must have had priests long ere this, appointed upon one principle or another. It is a reasonable conjecture that hitherto the heads of families had exercised sacerdotal functions.
Break forthi.e., punish in some open and manifest way. Compare the breach upon Uzzah (2Sa. 6:8).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. The priests also Here we trace the existence of priests before the institution of the Levitical priesthood . This is no more strange than that there were ceremonial ablutions and purifications (compare Exo 19:10) before those which were instituted at Sinai . Probably the firstborn of each family held this honour . Comp . Exo 13:2. There was danger that those honoured members of families who were wont to act as priests might presume to pass the bounds set about the mount, and go up to the Lord in the mountain . Exo 19:24. And so every precaution was taken to impress upon all classes a deep sense of the unapproachable sanctity of Jehovah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And let the priests also who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them.’
This refers to Moses and Aaron. They are the priests who approach Yahweh at this time (Exo 19:24). Moses especially (Exo 17:15), and Aaron with him, are the ones who at this stage mainly act as priests on behalf of the people. There were secondary priests, heads of their fathers’ houses, but they were not to be allowed to approach on this holy mountain (Exo 19:24). Yahweh is reminding the people of the exalted position of Moses and Aaron.
But before they do so even they must sanctify themselves. For they cannot come without that. So once he has gone down the mountain and been with the people Moses, before returning, must again wash his clothes, to remove the earthiness of being with the people, as must Aaron. Then they may again approach Yahweh.
“Let the priests who approach Yahweh.” This is emphasising that Moses and Aaron, as those who are to approach Yahweh, have their privileged access as priests to the people. This is the reason that they come before Him, because they are mediators for the people. Yet in this case they alone of all the priests are to be allowed this access. This brings out the unique holiness of this situation. But because of this very fact they must re-sanctify themselves.
But behind the specific situation is a general situation. All priests who approach Yahweh at any time must sanctify themselves. Indeed the words may be a quotation of words already given to Moses and written down in the statutes previously laid down (Exo 15:25). The simple approach confirms their primitive form. They will soon be replaced by a more complex situation.
“Lest Yahweh break forth on them.” They too will be destroyed if they do not obey Yahweh’s requirements (compare Exo 4:24) or if they seek to approach him covered in earthiness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Exo 19:22. Let the priests also It is very extraordinary to observe how some expositors have perplexed themselves and others, in settling what is meant by the word priests here: for, as Aaron and his sons were not consecrated to the priestly office, or the tribe of Levi set apart, they have imagined, that therefore the Israelites, though so vast a multitude, and though the descendants of those patriarchs who always possessed the true knowledge of God, had now no priests or regular religious services; a notion, which the tenor of our observations serves amply to explode. And upon this supposition, that there were no priests before the consecration of Aaron, &c. some have absurdly imagined, that the priests here mentioned, were the first-born devoted to God, ch. 13: Strange! that they did not recollect that this command, for the sanctification of the first-born, had not yet been in force fifty days. Struck, most likely, with the absurdity of this, others have conceived, that the word rendered priests, signifies here, as it sometimes does, princes; though it is plain, that the following words very fully explain its meaning, and confine it to such as ministered in holy things: let the priests, who come near to the Lord; i.e. who approach him ordinarily in the common services of religion; let even these, sanctify themselves; keep themselves in a state of peculiar purity and elevation of mind.
Lest the Lord break forth upon them As the words break through are used in the former verse, it is to be wished that peretz, had been rendered, as it signifies, burst forth with violence:Lest the Lord burst forth with violence upon them; causing the dreadful fire, wherewith he is surrounded, to rush violently upon them, and consume them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 6:6-7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Ver. 22. And let the priests. ] The firstborn of the family, which before the Levitical law had the priesthood.
Sanctify themselves.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the priests: Exo 24:5, Lev 10:1-3, Isa 52:11
sanctify: Exo 19:5, Exo 19:14, Exo 19:15
break: 2Sa 6:6-8, 1Ch 13:9-11, 1Ch 15:13, 2Ch 30:3, 2Ch 30:15, 2Ch 30:18, 2Ch 30:19, Act 5:5, Act 5:10, 1Co 11:30-32
Reciprocal: Exo 19:24 – lest Lev 10:3 – I will be Psa 68:17 – as in Sinai Joe 2:16 – sanctify