Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 4:6

"and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before Jehovah, before the veil of the sanctuary." — Leviticus 4:6 (ASV)

And the priest shall dip his finger. —The different treatment of the blood is here to be noticed. While in the case of the other sacrifices the priest threw the blood upon the walls of the altar of burnt offering , in the sin offering before us the high priest is first of all to dip his finger seven times in the blood, and sprinkle it before the Lord. The finger, according to the rules that prevailed during the second Temple, was that of the right hand, as the blood was always taken and sprinkled with the right hand. Seven, being a complete number, is used for the perfect finishing of a work.

Hence the seven days of creation (Genesis 2:2–3); seven branches were in the golden candlestick (Exodus 25:37; Exodus 37:23); seven times the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14); seven times the oil was sprinkled upon the altar when it was consecrated (Leviticus 8:11); seven days were required for consecrating the priests (Leviticus 8:35); seven days were necessary for purifying the defiled (Leviticus 12:2; Numbers 19:19); seven times Naaman washed in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:10; 2 Kings 5:14); seven days Jericho was besieged, and seven priests with seven trumpets blew when the walls fell down (Joshua 6:0); the lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God (Revelation 5:6); seven seals are on God’s book (Revelation 1:5), etc.

Before the Lord. —As the Lord was enthroned on the mercy-seat between the cherubim (Exodus 25:22) in the Holy of Holies, the phrase “before the Lord” is used for the place in front of the Holy of Holies, where the altar of incense, the showbread, and the golden candlestick stood (Exodus 27:21; Exodus 28:35; Exodus 30:8; Exodus 34:34, etc.), and towards which the blood was sprinkled.

Before the veil of the sanctuary. —This phrase is simply explanatory of the former phrase. As the veil separated the Holy of Holies, where the Shekinah dwelt, from the holy place, the words are simply used as another expression for “before the Lord.” This clause has, however, been variously interpreted from time immemorial. Since before is not in the original, but is supplied in the translation, some have maintained that the veil itself was sprinkled; while others, who, with the Authorized Version, regard the whole phrase as meaning “before the veil,” declare that the blood was sprinkled on the floor of the sanctuary in front of the veil.