Exodus 29:36

offer Heb. do : see on Exodus 10:25.

the bullock a bullock(so the Heb.): upon independent grounds, also, the bullock of vv.1, 10 14 can hardly be meant; for vv.1, 10 speak only of atonement for the priests; and the ceremonies enjoined in v.12 are in particular those prescribed in Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:18; Leviticus 4:25; Leviticus 4:30; Leviticus 4:34 for persons. It is true, two clauses referring to the altar (-and un-sinned the altar," -and sanctified it by making atonement for it") are found in Leviticus 8:15 (the " to v.12 here); but the absence of any corresponding instructions in Exodus 29:12 raises the suspicion that they are later additions to the text, based upon vv.36 f. here.

cleanse the altar free the altar from sin, or, if it is permissible to coin a word, corresponding approximately to the single word ḥiṭṭç"(see G.-K. § 52h) of the Heb., un-sin the altar. Either cleanseor purge(RVm.) leaves out a distinctive part of the Heb. idea: the Hebrew understood -sin" in a wider sense than we do, and regarded it as capable of infecting even a material object. The word occurs in the same sense Leviticus 8:15 (of the altar, as here), Leviticus 14:49 (of a leprous house), Leviticus 14:52; Numbers 19:19 (RV. purify); Ezekiel 43:20; Ezekiel 43:22 (twice), 23 (all of the altar, Ezekiel 45:18 (of the sanctuary); Psalms 51:7 (purge)†; and in the reflexive conj., Numbers 8:21; Numbers 19:12 (twice), Numbers 19:13; Numbers 19:20; Numbers 31:19-20; Numbers 31:23 †.

by thy making (marg.) atonement for it on account of its being regarded as infected with sin. For other cases of -atonement" being made for a material object regarded either as affected by the natural impurity of human workmanship, or as tainted by contact with a sinful people see (of the altar of burnt-offering) Exodus 8:15; Exodus 8:15 (the execution of the present injunction), Ezekiel 43:20; Ezekiel 43:26; Leviticus 16:18; Leviticus 16:20; Leviticus 16:33; (of the altar of incense) ch. Exodus 30:10 b; (of the sanctuary) Ezekiel 45:20; Leviticus 16:16; Leviticus 16:20; Leviticus 16:33; (of a leprous house) Leviticus 14:53 (DB.iv. 131 b).

thou shalt anoint it Cf. Exodus 8:11; Exodus 8:11 (in the insertion referred to on v.7 above, between the words corresponding to v.7a and v.7b here). See on Exodus 30:26-29 (at the end).