Leviticus 9

Le 9:1-24.

THE

PRIESTS'

ENTRY INTO

OFFICE.

1-7. Moses called . . . Take thee a young calf for a sin

offering--The directions in these sacred things were still given by

Moses, the circumstances being extraordinary. But he was only the

medium of communicating the divine will to the newly made priests. The

first of their official acts was the sacrifice of another sin offering

to atone for the defects of the inauguration services; and yet that

sacrifice did not consist of a bullock--the sacrifice appointed for

some particular transgression, but of a calf, perhaps not without a

significant reference to Aaron's sin in the golden calf

[Ex 32:22-24].

Then followed a burnt offering, expressive of their voluntary and

entire self-devotement to the divine service. The newly consecrated

priests having done this on their own account, they were called to

offer a sin offering and burnt offering for the people, ending the

ceremonial by a peace offering, which was a sacred feast. This

injunction, "to make atonement for himself and for the people"

(Septuagint, "for thy family"), at the commencement of his

sacred functions, furnishes a striking evidence of the divine origin of

the Jewish system of worship. In all false or corrupt forms of

religion, the studied policy has been to inspire the people with an

idea of the sanctity of the priesthood as in point of purity and favor

with the Divinity far above the level of other men. But among the

Hebrews the priests were required to offer for the expiation of their

own sins as well as the humblest of the people. This imperfection of

Aaron's priesthood, however, does not extend to the gospel

dispensation: for our great High Priest, who has entered for us into

"the true tabernacle," "knew no sin"

(Heb 10:10, 11).

8. Aaron . . . went unto the altar, and slew the calf of

the sin offering--Whether it had been enjoined the first time, or

was unavoidable from the divisions of the priestly labor not being as

yet completely arranged, Aaron, assisted by his sons, appears to have

slain the victims with his own hands, as well as gone through all the

prescribed ritual at the altar.

17-21. meat offering . . . wave offering--It is

observable that there is no notice taken of these in the offerings the

priests made for themselves. They could not bear their own sins: and

therefore, instead of eating any part of their own sin offering, as

they were at liberty to do in the case of the people's offering, they

had to carry the whole carcasses "without the camp and burn them

with fire"

[Ex 29:14;

Le 4:12].

22. Aaron lifted up his hand . . . and blessed

them--The pronouncing of a benediction on the people assembled in

the court was a necessary part of the high priest's duty, and the

formula in which it was to be given is described

(Nu 6:23-27).

came down from offering--The altar was elevated above the level

of the floor, and the ascent was by a gentle slope

(Ex 20:26).

23. Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle--Moses, according

to the divine instructions he had received, accompanied Aaron and his

sons to initiate them into their sacred duties. Their previous

occupations had detained them at the altar, and they now entered in

company into the sacred edifice to bear the blood of the offerings

within the sanctuary.

the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people--perhaps in a

resplendent effulgence above the tabernacle as a fresh token of the

divine acceptance of that newly established seat of His worship.

24. there came a fire out from . . . the Lord--A flame

emanating from that resplendent light that filled the holy place

flashed upon the brazen altar and kindled the sacrifices. This

miraculous fire--for the descent of which the people had probably been

prepared, and which the priests were enjoined never to let go out

(Le 6:13)

--was a sign, not only of the acceptance of the offerings and of the

establishment of Aaron's authority, but of God's actual residence in

that chosen dwelling-place. The moment the solemn though welcome

spectacle was seen, a simultaneous shout of joy and gratitude burst

from the assembled congregation, and in the attitude of profoundest

reverence they worshipped "a present Deity."