Albert Barnes Commentary Leviticus 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 9
"And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; and he said unto Aaron, Take thee a calf of the herd for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and offer them before Jehovah. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a he-goat for a sin-offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without blemish, for a burnt-offering; and an ox and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice before Jehovah; and a meal-offering mingled with oil: for to-day Jehovah appeareth unto you. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tent of meeting: and all the congregation drew near and stood before Jehovah. And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded that ye should do: and the glory of Jehovah shall appear unto you." — Leviticus 9:1-6 (ASV)
(Leviticus 9:1) On the eighth day – that is, on the first day after the week of consecration.
(Leviticus 9:2) A young calf – a bull calf, which might have been what we would call a yearling ox.
(Leviticus 9:3) A kid of the goats – a shaggy he-goat. See note on Leviticus 4:23.
(Leviticus 9:6) The glory of the Lord – Compare to Exodus 16:7.
"And Moses said unto Aaron, Draw near unto the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people; and offer the oblation of the people, and make atonement for them; as Jehovah commanded." — Leviticus 9:7 (ASV)
It should be noted that Aaron offers no peace-offering for himself. It was enough that he should participate in the peace-offerings of the consecration (Leviticus 8:31), and in the two peace-offerings about to be sacrificed for the people.
His sin-offering was probably regarded not so much as a sacrifice for his own actual sins as a typical acknowledgment of his sinful nature and of his future duty to offer for his own sins and those of the People. See marginal references. The law makes men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated (in the margin perfected, see Leviticus 8:22 note) forevermore (Hebrews 7:28).
"And the sons of Aaron presented the blood unto him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar:" — Leviticus 9:9 (ASV)
Aaron did not act according to the ordinary Law (Leviticus 4:5–7, Leviticus 4:16–18), but as Moses had done in the sin-offering of the consecration ceremony (Leviticus 8:15; compare also Leviticus 4:25, Leviticus 4:30, Leviticus 4:34). The probable reason for this was that he had not yet been formally introduced as the high priest into the holy place of the tabernacle.
Brought the blood – They most likely held the basins in which the blood was received as it ran from the victim, and then handed them to their father. See Leviticus 1:5.
"And he presented the people`s oblation, and took the goat of the sin-offering which was for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance. And he presented the meal-offering, and filled his hand therefrom, and burnt it upon the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning. He slew also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron`s sons delivered unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about, and the fat of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covereth [the inwards], and the kidneys, and the caul of the liver: and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar: and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah; as Moses commanded." — Leviticus 9:15-21 (ASV)
In this first complete series of offerings made by the high priest, the sacrifices take their appointed order; first, the sin-offering to make atonement; then the burnt-offering, to signify the surrender of the body, soul and spirit to Yahweh in heaven; and lastly the peace-offering, to show forth the communion vouchsafed to those who are justified and sanctified. See the note on Leviticus 8:14.
"And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings." — Leviticus 9:22 (ASV)
Aaron having completed the offerings, before he came down from the stage surrounding the altar on which the priests used to stand to officiate , turned toward the people, and blessed them; probably using the form which became the established one for the priests (Numbers 6:24–26), and which is still maintained in the synagogues.
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