Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 10:6

6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar, and unto Ithamar his sons, Uncover not your heads , neither rend your clothes , lest you die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled .

Either 1. by putting off your Miters and Bonnets, or Ornaments, and going bare-headed, as mourners sometimes did. See Lev. 13. 45. Ezek. 24. 17, 23. Or 2. by shaving off the hair of your heads and beards, as mourners did. See Iob 1. 20. Ier. 7. 29. and 41. 5. Ezek. 4[illegible: 1+ letters]. 20. Mich. 1. 16. This latter may seem to be principally intended, 1. because this ceremony of uncovering the head being used by the people as well as by the Priests in case of mourning, as the places now alledged shew, and the other ceremony here joyned with it of rending the clothes, being also common to the people, seems to imply that he speaks not of that uncovering the head which was peculiar to the Priests, but to that which was common both to Priests and people, especially seeing that which is here forbidden to these Priests is in the following words allowed to the people, to bewail their death, which as at other times it was, so now probably might be performed by these same ceremonies. 2. because the High-priest is forbidden to uncover his head in way of mourning for the dead▪ not onely at that time when he was in actual ministration, but at all times, even when he had neither his miter nor any of the holy garments upon him, Lev. 21. 10.

Give no signification of your sorrow, mourn not for them, partly lest you should seem to justifie and approve of your brethren and tacitly reflect upon God as too severe in his proceedings with them; and partly least thereby you should be diverted from or disturbed in your present service, which God expects should be done chearfully.

Not so much in compassion to them against whom I have shewed such great and just indignation, as in sorrow for the tokens of Divine displeasure.

Marginal references: Num. 6. [illegible: 1+ letters].