Albert Barnes Commentary Leviticus 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 16
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Jehovah, and died;" — Leviticus 16:1 (ASV)
The reference to the death of Nadab and Abihu is a notice of the occasion on which the instructions were given, well calculated to add point and emphasis to the solemn admonition to the high priest in the second verse. The death of his sons (Leviticus 10:2), for drawing near to Yahweh in an unauthorized manner, was to serve as a warning to Aaron himself never to transgress in this respect.
"and Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat." — Leviticus 16:2 (ASV)
The holy place within the veil — See Exodus 26:33-34; Hebrews 9:3.
The cloud — Compare Exodus 16:10 note.
The mercy seat — See Exodus 25:17 note.
"Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering." — Leviticus 16:3 (ASV)
Holy place - This name here denotes the sanctuary, the whole sacred enclosure, the court of the tabernacle. The offerings were for Aaron and his sons, supplied by himself.
"He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on." — Leviticus 16:4 (ASV)
The high priest, when he changed his dress on this day, was required to bathe himself. In his “golden garments” he had, on this day and for the previous week, to offer the regular daily sacrifices and to perform the other sacerdotal duties of the sanctuary, which were usually performed by a common priest. The dress of white linen, which he now put on, appears to have been like the ordinary dress of the common priests, except in the substitution of a linen mitre for the bonnet (or cap), and of a plain linen girdle for the variegated one (Exodus 28:40–43, notes).
In preparing to enter the holy of holies, he attired himself in spotless white as a token of the holiness without which none, in a spiritual sense, can enter the divine presence. He thus became a more distinct foreshadow of the greater high priest (Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 6:19–20). This significance belonged to the high priest only in his official capacity as mediator: in his own person he had infirmity and was required to offer up sacrifice, “first” for his own sins, and then for the people’s. (Hebrews 7:27). See the notes at Leviticus 9:7-14.
It was on the same ground that, although as a mediator he had to enter the most holy place, as sinful man he needed the cloud of incense as a veil to come between him and the holiness of Yahweh. See Leviticus 16:13.
"And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering." — Leviticus 16:5 (ASV)
Take of the congregation - that is, they were to be supplied at the public cost.
Two kids of the goats - This should be, two shaggy he-goats (Leviticus 4:23 note), of the same color, size, and value.
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