John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And Moses said unto Aaron , etc.] Upon this awful occasion, and in order to quiet and humble him under the mighty hand of God: this [is it] that the Lord spoke, saying ; but when he spoke it, and where it is said and recorded, is not so very clear; it might have been said, and yet not recorded, or the substance of it may be recorded, though not in the express words here delivered; it may refer, as some think, to ( Exodus 19:22) or else to ( Exodus 29:43) which seems to come nearest to what follows, so Jarchi: I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me ; in the priests that drew nigh to him, and offered sacrifice and burnt incense to him; by these he expected to be sanctified, not to be made holy, but to be declared to be so, and obeyed and worshipped as such; as he is, when his commands and ordinances are observed, as he would have them be, in faith and fear, which were not done by these sons of Aaron; and therefore the Lord, by the punishment he inflicted, showed himself to be an holy, righteous, and jealous God: and before all the people I will be glorified ; as he is when he is believed and trusted in; when his worship is carried on in his own house, according to his will; when his ordinances are kept as they were delivered, and when he is reverenced in the assembly of his saints; all which were wanting in this case. And this may also have respect to the glory of divine justice, in the public punishment of the sin of those men, that since he was not glorified by them before the people in the way of their duty, he would glorify himself in their punishment: and Aaron held his peace : was in a stupor, as the Septuagint, quite amazed, thunderstruck, as we say; he was silent, said not one word against what was done; murmured not at the providence, nor complained of any severity, but was patient under the hand of God, and resigned to his will; and since God was sanctified and glorified, he was contented.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-7 - The most quieting considerations under affliction are fetched from the word of God. What was it that God spake? Though Aaron's heart must have been filled with anguish and dismay, yet with silent submission he revered the justice of the stroke. When God corrects us or ours for sin, it is our duty to accept the punishment, and say, It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good. Whenever we worship God, we come nig unto him, as spiritual priests. This ought to make us very serious in all acts of devotion. It concerns us all, when we come nigh to God, to do every religious exercise, as those who believe that the God with whom we have to do, is a holy God. He will take vengeance on those tha profane his sacred name by trifling with him.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 משׁה4872 אל413 אהרן175 הוא1931 אשׁר834 דבר1696 יהוה3068 לאמר559 בקרבי7138 אקדשׁ6942 ועל5921 פני6440 כל3605 העם5971 אכבד3513 וידם1826 אהרן׃175
