_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ The institution of the yearly day of atonement for the whole nation. The whole service is committed to the high-priest, who is, (1,) _ Then only to come into the holy of holies, in his linen garments, with a young bullock, Leviticus 16:1._ (2,) _ To offer a goat and a bull... [ Continue Reading ]
This chapter would naturally have followed the tenth, where the death of Aaron's sons is related, if that event had not given occasion for declaring the forementioned laws about those uncleannesses that disqualified an Israelite for approaching the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That he come not at all times_ Not whensoever he pleaseth, but only when I shall appoint. Into the holy place without the veil, the high- priest, or one of the inferior priests, went every morning and evening when they offered incense but into this holy place within the veil, commonly called the _h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus shall Aaron come_ Preparatory to his entering on this solemn service the high-priest was to offer two sacrifices in behalf of himself and his family. These were, 1st, A bullock for a sin-offering, (no other sacrifice being allowed for the sin of a high-priest,) in confession of his own infirmi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall put on the holy linen coat_ Upon other days, when the high-priest officiated, he was bound to put on all the garments mentioned Exodus 28:4, four of which were called _golden garments_, because there was a mixture of gold in them; but on this day he put on only the four linen garments here... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall present them before the Lord_ The scape-goat was presented at the door of the tabernacle before the Lord, as well as the other goat, to signify that they were both consecrated to him; indeed they both made but one sin-offering, Leviticus 16:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_One lot for the Lord_ To be sacrificed to him upon his altar. Both this and the other goat typified Christ; this in his death and passion for us, that in his resurrection for our deliverance. _The other lot for the scape-goat_ The Jewish doctors tell us that this goat, on which the sins of the nati... [ Continue Reading ]
_For a scape-goat_ This seems to be the most literal and obvious meaning of the original word אזאזל, _Azazel_, evidently derived from עז, _ez_, or _gnez_, a _goat_, and אזל, _azel_, to _go away._ In this sense the Seventy understand it, rendering the word αποπομπαιος, _sent away;_ Aquila also, who t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The bullock_ Mentioned in general, Leviticus 16:6; the ceremonies respecting which are here particularly described. This was a very different sacrifice from that of the red heifer spoken of Numbers 19., as evidently appears upon comparing the two places. _He shall kill the bullock which is for hims... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall put the incense upon the fire_ The high-priest, having begun the solemn service with slaying the bullock, as a sin-offering of deprecation and atonement for himself and the other priests, lighted his incense-vessel, or censer, at the great altar of burnt-offering, and at his entrance into... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall take of the blood_ He went out of the holy place, and then entered it a second time. We must observe, that as the burning of the incense preceded the sprinkling of the blood, it was hereby signified that he was to be prepared for entering into the most holy place by prayer, and was to ente... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall he kill the goat_ He went out of the holy of holies and killed it, and then returned thither again with its blood. And whereas the high-priest is said to be allowed to enter into that place but _once in a year_, that is to be understood of one day in a year, but there was occasion of goi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of the uncleanness of Israel_ For though the people did not enter into that place, yet their sins entered thither, and would have hindered the effects of the high-priest's mediation on their behalf, if God had not been reconciled to them. _In the midst of their uncleanness_ In the midst of... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall be no man in the tabernacle_ In the holy place, where the priests and Levites were at other times. This was commanded for the greater reverence to the divine majesty, then in a more special manner appearing, and that none of them might cast an eye into the holy of holies, as the high-pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The altar before the Lord_ That is, the altar of incense, where the blood of sacrifices was to be put, particularly the blood of the sin- offerings offered upon this day of atonement, and which is most properly said to be _before the Lord;_ that is, before the place where God in a special manner dw... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven times_ To signify its perfect cleansing (seven being a number of perfection) and our perfect reconciliation by the blood of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the iniquities_ He mentions _iniquities, transgressions_, and _sins_, to denote sins of all sorts, and that a free and full confession was to be made, and that the smallest sins needed, and the greatest sins were not excluded from, the benefit of Christ's death here represented. _On the head _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto a land not inhabited_ ארצ גזרה _erets gezra_, a land _cut off separated, remote_ from intercourse with men. The Seventy render it αβατον, _untrod, unpassable_, a land through which none travelled. The sending away into this desert land the goat, over which the sins of the people had been humbl... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall put off the linen garments_ Having finished the solemn expiatory and deprecatory offering, he was to put off those garments which were appropriated to this service, and to leave them there. And Maimonides and others say they were never to be used more, either by him or any one else, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall wash in the holy place_ That is, in the court of the tabernacle, where stood the altar of burnt-offering, and the sacred laver. Here he was to wash or sprinkle his whole body, that he might purify himself after he had touched the goat which bare their iniquities, just as the man that carri... [ Continue Reading ]
_The seventh month_ Answering part to our September and part to our October; when they had gathered in all their fruits, and were most at leisure for God's service. This time God chose for this and other feasts, herein graciously condescending to men's necessities and conveniences. This fast began i... [ Continue Reading ]
_A sabbath_ Observed as a sabbath day, by cessation from all servile works, and in diligent attendance upon God's worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priest whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate _ This ought to be translated, _who shall be anointed_, and _who shall be consecrated_, as the Vulgate hath it. For an active verb without a person is frequently in Scripture to be taken passively; the well observing whereof will tend to... [ Continue Reading ]
_This shall be an everlasting statute_ By which were typified the two great gospel privileges; remission of sins and access to God, both which we owe to the mediation of the Lord Jesus. He shall _make an atonement for all their sins_ Meaning all such sins as could be expiated by the law, which were,... [ Continue Reading ]