Leviticus 8:15

(d) the sacrificial part of the rite, consisting of:

(i) The Sin-Offering(Leviticus 8:14, cp. Exodus 29:10-14)

A bullock, the most costly animal, appointed for -the anointed priest," or for -the whole congregation" (Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 4:14), on which Aaron and his sons laid their hands (see on Leviticus 1:4). It appears that the selection of the animal indicates the sacred office to which Aaron and his sons are to be admitted, but until they are consecrated, the ritual of the offering is the same as that prescribed in the case of private individuals (cp. Leviticus 4:30; Leviticus 4:34). Some of the blood is put on the horns of the altar, and the rest is poured out at the base of the altar.

15. And he slew it Comparison with Exodus 29:11 shews that Moses slew it, but the text here might be interpreted, and he (Aaron) slew it, especially as it is followed by -and Moses took.…" The same remark applies to Leviticus 8:19 and Leviticus 8:23; cp. Exodus 29:16; Exodus 29:20. In all the verses here cited, the Heb. verb is the same, but is rendered by both -kill" and -slay."

at the base of the altar see on Leviticus 4:7.

and purified the altar … and sanctified it by making atonement for it These clauses are not found in Exodus 29:12, but occur in Exodus 29:36-37 of that ch. The altar had already been anointed (Leviticus 8:11); it is now further sanctified by the blood of the Sin-Offering.

The words -purify" here, and -cleanse" (purgeR.V. mg.) in Exodus 29:36 are translations of the same Heb. verb. As in English -to stone plums" means to remove the stones, so in Heb. a verb corresponding to a noun is sometimes used in the same way. Here the Heb. verb corresponds to the noun -sin," and means to -remove sin"; it occurs also in Leviticus 14:49; Leviticus 14:52 (of a leprous house), and Ezekiel 43:20-23 with reference to the altar (see note on Exodus 29:36). The rendering -by making atonement" is like R.V. mg. of the passage in Exodus 29:36.