1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9 And the sons of Aaron brought 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 bottom of the altar:
10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
1 And it came to pass on the eighth H8066 day, H3117 that Moses H4872 called H7121 Aaron H175 and his sons, H1121 and the elders H2205 of Israel; H3478
2 And he said H559 unto Aaron, H175 Take H3947 thee a young H1241 H1121 calf H5695 for a sin offering, H2403 and a ram H352 for a burnt offering, H5930 without blemish, H8549 and offer H7126 them before H6440 the LORD. H3068
3 And unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 thou shalt speak, H1696 saying, H559 Take H3947 ye a kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering; H2403 and a calf H5695 and a lamb, H3532 both of the first H1121 year, H8141 without blemish, H8549 for a burnt offering; H5930
4 Also a bullock H7794 and a ram H352 for peace offerings, H8002 to sacrifice H2076 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 and a meat offering H4503 mingled H1101 with oil: H8081 for to day H3117 the LORD H3068 will appear H7200 unto you.
5 And they brought H3947 that which Moses H4872 commanded H6680 before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and all the congregation H5712 drew near H7126 and stood H5975 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
6 And Moses H4872 said, H559 This is the thing H1697 which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 that ye should do: H6213 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 shall appear H7200 unto you.
7 And Moses H4872 said H559 unto Aaron, H175 Go H7126 unto the altar, H4196 and offer H6213 thy sin offering, H2403 and thy burnt offering, H5930 and make an atonement H3722 for thyself, and for the people: H5971 and offer H6213 the offering H7133 of the people, H5971 and make an atonement H3722 for them; as the LORD H3068 commanded. H6680
8 Aaron H175 therefore went H7126 unto the altar, H4196 and slew H7819 the calf H5695 of the sin offering, H2403 which was for himself.
9 And the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 brought H7126 the blood H1818 unto him: and he dipped H2881 his finger H676 in the blood, H1818 and put H5414 it upon the horns H7161 of the altar, H4196 and poured H3332 out the blood H1818 at the bottom H3247 of the altar: H4196
10 But the fat, H2459 and the kidneys, H3629 and the caul H3508 above H4480 the liver H3516 of the sin offering, H2403 he burnt H6999 upon the altar; H4196 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
11 And the flesh H1320 and the hide H5785 he burnt H8313 with fire H784 without H2351 the camp. H4264
12 And he slew H7819 the burnt offering; H5930 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 presented H4672 unto him the blood, H1818 which he sprinkled H2236 round about H5439 upon the altar. H4196
13 And they presented H4672 the burnt offering H5930 unto him, with the pieces H5409 thereof, and the head: H7218 and he burnt H6999 them upon the altar. H4196
14 And he did wash H7364 the inwards H7130 and the legs, H3767 and burnt H6999 them upon the burnt offering H5930 on the altar. H4196
15 And he brought H7126 the people's H5971 offering, H7133 and took H3947 the goat, H8163 which was the sin offering H2403 for the people, H5971 and slew H7819 it, and offered it for sin, H2398 as the first. H7223
16 And he brought H7126 the burnt offering, H5930 and offered H6213 it according to the manner. H4941
17 And he brought H7126 the meat offering, H4503 and took H4390 an handful H3709 thereof, and burnt H6999 it upon the altar, H4196 beside H905 the burnt sacrifice H5930 of the morning. H1242
18 He slew H7819 also the bullock H7794 and the ram H352 for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 which was for the people: H5971 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 presented H4672 unto him the blood, H1818 which he sprinkled H2236 upon the altar H4196 round about, H5439
19 And the fat H2459 of the bullock H7794 and of the ram, H352 the rump, H451 and that which covereth H4374 the inwards, and the kidneys, H3629 and the caul H3508 above the liver: H3516
20 And they put H7760 the fat H2459 upon the breasts, H2373 and he burnt H6999 the fat H2459 upon the altar: H4196
21 And the breasts H2373 and the right H3225 shoulder H7785 Aaron H175 waved H5130 for a wave offering H8573 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 as Moses H4872 commanded. H6680
22 And Aaron H175 lifted up H5375 his hand H3027 toward the people, H5971 and blessed H1288 them, and came down H3381 from offering H6213 of the sin offering, H2403 and the burnt offering, H5930 and peace offerings. H8002
23 And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 went H935 into the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and came out, H3318 and blessed H1288 the people: H5971 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto all the people. H5971
24 And there came H3318 a fire H784 out from before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and consumed H398 upon the altar H4196 the burnt offering H5930 and the fat: H2459 which when all the people H5971 saw, H7200 they shouted, H7442 and fell H5307 on their faces. H6440
1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 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.
3 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;
4 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.
5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tent of meeting: and all the congregation drew near and stood before Jehovah.
6 And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded that ye should do: and the glory of Jehovah shall appear unto you.
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.
8 So Aaron drew near unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which was for himself.
9 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:
10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul from the liver of the sin-offering, he burnt upon the altar; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
11 And the flesh and the skin he burnt with fire without the camp.
12 And he slew the burnt-offering; and Aaron's sons delivered unto him the blood, and he sprinkled it upon the altar round about.
13 And they delivered the burnt-offering unto him, piece by piece, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14 And he washed the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt-offering on the altar.
15 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.
16 And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
17 And he presented the meal-offering, and filled his hand therefrom, and burnt it upon the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning.
18 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,
19 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:
20 and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21 and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah; as Moses commanded.
22 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.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto all the people.
24 And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
1 And it cometh to pass on the eighth day, Moses hath called for Aaron and for his sons, and for the elders of Israel,
2 and he saith unto Aaron, `Take to thyself a calf, a son of the herd, for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, perfect ones, and bring near before Jehovah.
3 `And unto the sons of Israel thou dost speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin-offering, and a calf, and a lamb, sons of a year, perfect ones, for a burnt-offering,
4 and a bullock and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice before Jehovah, and a present mixed with oil; for to-day Jehovah hath appeared unto you.'
5 And they take that which Moses hath commanded unto the front of the tent of meeting, and all the company draw near and stand before Jehovah;
6 and Moses saith, `This `is' the thing which Jehovah hath commanded; do `it', and the honour of Jehovah doth appear unto you.'
7 And Moses saith unto Aaron, `Draw near unto the altar, and make thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people, and make the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Jehovah hath commanded.'
8 And Aaron draweth near unto the altar, and slaughtereth the calf of the sin-offering, which `is' for himself;
9 and the sons of Aaron bring the blood near unto him, and he dippeth his finger in the blood, and putteth `it' on the horns of the altar, and the blood he hath poured out at the foundation of the altar;
10 and the fat, and the kidneys, and the redundance of the liver, of the sin-offering, he hath made a perfume on the altar, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses;
11 and the flesh and the skin he hath burnt with fire, at the outside of the camp.
12 And he slaughtereth the burnt-offering, and the sons of Aaron have presented unto him the blood, and he sprinkleth it on the altar round about;
13 and the burnt-offering they have presented unto him, by its pieces, and the head, and he maketh perfume on the altar;
14 and he washeth the inwards and the legs, and maketh perfume for the burnt-offering on the altar.
15 And he bringeth near the offering of the people, and taketh the goat of the sin-offering which `is' for the people, and slaughtered it, and maketh it a sin-offering, like the first;
16 and he bringeth near the burnt-offering, and maketh it, according to the ordinance;
17 and he bringeth near the present, and filleth his palm with it, and maketh perfume on the altar, apart from the burnt-offering of the morning.
18 And he slaughtereth the bullock and the ram, a sacrifice of the peace-offerings, which `are' for the people, and sons of Aaron present the blood unto him (and he sprinkleth it on the altar round about),
19 and the fat of the bullock, and of the ram, the fat tail, and the covering `of the inwards', and the kidneys, and the redundance above the liver,
20 and they set the fat on the breasts, and he maketh perfume with the fat on the altar;
21 and the breasts, and the right leg hath Aaron waved -- a wave-offering before Jehovah, as He hath commanded Moses.
22 And Aaron lifteth up his hand towards the people, and blesseth them, and cometh down from making the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings.
23 And Moses goeth in -- Aaron also -- unto the tent of meeting, and they come out, and bless the people, and the honour of Jehovah appeareth unto all the people;
24 and fire cometh out from before Jehovah, and consumeth on the altar the burnt-offering, and the fat; and all the people see, and cry aloud, and fall on their faces.
1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, [that] Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel,
2 and said to Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and present [them] before Jehovah;
3 and to the children of Israel shalt thou speak, saying, Take a buck of the goats for a sin-offering, and a calf and a lamb, yearlings, without blemish, for a burnt-offering;
4 and a bullock and a ram for a peace-offering, to sacrifice before Jehovah; and an oblation mingled with oil; for to-day Jehovah will appear to you.
5 And they brought what Moses commanded before the tent of meeting; and all the assembly approached and stood before Jehovah.
6 And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah has commanded that ye should do; and the glory of Jehovah shall appear to you.
7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go to the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Jehovah has commanded.
8 And Aaron went to the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin-offering which was for himself;
9 and the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put [it] on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar.
10 And the fat, and the kidneys, and the net above the liver, of the sin-offering, he burned on the altar, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
11 And the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.
12 And he slaughtered the burnt-offering; and Aaron's sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar round about.
13 And they delivered the burnt-offering to him, in the pieces thereof, and the head; and he burned [them] on the altar.
14 And he washed the inwards and the legs, and burned [them] upon the burnt-offering, on the altar.
15 And he presented the people's offering, and took the goat of the sin-offering which was for the people and slaughtered it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16 And he presented the burnt-offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
17 And he presented the oblation, and took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning.
18 And he slaughtered the bullock and the ram of the sacrifice of peace-offering which was for the people. And Aaron's sons delivered to him the blood, and he sprinkled it on the altar round about;
19 and the pieces of fat of the bullock and of the ram, the fat tail and what covers [the inwards], and the kidneys, and the net of the liver;
20 and they put the pieces of fat on the breast-pieces, and he burned the pieces of fat on the altar;
21 and the breast-pieces and the right shoulder Aaron waved as a wave-offering before Jehovah, as Moses had commanded.
22 And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and came down after the offering of the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offering.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out and blessed the people; and the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people.
24 And there went out fire from before Jehovah, and consumed on the altar the burnt-offering, and the pieces of fat; and all the people saw it, and they shouted, and fell on their face.
1 It happened on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 and he said to Aaron, "Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before Yahweh.
3 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Yahweh; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today Yahweh appears to you.'"
5 They brought what Moses commanded before the Tent of Meeting: and all the congregation drew near and stood before Yahweh.
6 Moses said, "This is the thing which Yahweh commanded that you should do: and the glory of Yahweh shall appear to you."
7 Moses said to Aaron, "Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them; as Yahweh commanded."
8 So Aaron drew near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar:
10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of the sin offering, he burned upon the altar; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
11 The flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.
12 He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it on the altar round about.
13 They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head: and he burned them upon the altar.
14 He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar.
15 He presented the people's offering, and took the goat of the sin offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first.
16 He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
17 He presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it upon the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning.
18 He also killed the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar round about,
19 and the fat of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the innards, and the kidneys, and the cover of the liver:
20 and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar:
21 and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses commanded.
22 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.
23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people.
24 There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
1 And on the eighth day Moses sent for Aaron and his sons and the responsible men of Israel;
2 And he said to Aaron, Take a young ox for a sin-offering and a male sheep for a burned offering, without a mark, and make an offering of them before the Lord.
3 And say to the children of Israel: Take a he-goat for a sin-offering, and a young ox and a lamb, in their first year, without any mark on them, for a burned offering;
4 And an ox and a male sheep for peace-offerings, to be put to death before the Lord; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for this day you are to see the Lord.
5 And they took the things ordered by Moses, before the Tent of meeting, and all the people came near, waiting before the Lord.
6 And Moses said, This is what the Lord has said you are to do; and you will see the glory of the Lord.
7 And Moses said to Aaron, Come near to the altar and make your sin-offering and your burned offering to take away your sin and the sin of the people, and make the people's offering to take away their sin; as the Lord has given orders.
8 So Aaron came near to the altar and put to death the ox for the sin-offering for himself;
9 And the sons of Aaron gave him the blood and he put his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar, draining out the blood at the base of the altar;
10 But the fat and the kidneys and the fat on the liver of the sin-offering were burned by him on the altar as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
11 And the flesh and the skin were burned with fire outside the tent-circle;
12 And he put to death the burned offering; and Aaron's sons gave him the blood and he put some of it on and round the altar;
13 And they gave him the parts of the burned offering, in their order, and the head, to be burned on the altar.
14 And the inside parts and the legs, when they had been washed with water, were burned on the burned offering on the altar.
15 And he made an offering for the people and took the goat of the sin-offering for the people and put it to death, offering it for sin, in the same way as the first.
16 And he took the burned offering, offering it in the ordered way;
17 And he put the meal offering before the Lord, and taking some of it in his hand he had it burned on the altar, separately from the burned offering of the morning.
18 And he put to death the ox and the sheep, which were the peace-offerings for the people; and Aaron's sons gave him the blood and he put some of it on and round the altar;
19 And as for the fat of the ox and the fat tail of the sheep and the fat covering the inside parts and the kidneys and the fat on the liver;
20 They put the fat on the breasts, and the fat was burned on the altar.
21 And Aaron took the breasts and the right leg, waving them for a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses gave orders.
22 And Aaron, lifting up his hands to the people, gave them a blessing; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burned offering, and the peace-offerings.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of meeting, and came out and gave the people a blessing, and the glory of the Lord was seen by all the people.
24 And fire came out from before the Lord, burning up the offering on the altar and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they gave a loud cry, falling down on their faces.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 9
Commentary on Leviticus 9 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; Entrance of Aaron and his Sons upon their Office. - Leviticus 9:1-7. On the eighth day, i.e., on the day after the seven days' consecration, Aaron and his sons entered upon their duties with a solemn sacrifice for themselves and the nation, to which the Lord had made Himself known by a special revelation of His glory, to bear solemn witness before the whole nation that their service at the altar was acceptable to Him, and to impress the divine seal of confirmation upon the consecration they had received. To this end Aaron and his sons were to bring to the front of the tabernacle a young calf as a sin-offering for themselves, and a ram for a burnt-offering; and the people were to bring through their elders a he-goat for a sin-offering, a yearling calf and yearling sheep for a burnt-offering, and an ox and ram for a peace-offering, together with a meat-offering of meal mixed with oil; and the congregation (in the persons of its elders) was to stand there before Jehovah, i.e., to assemble together at the sanctuary for the solemn transaction (Leviticus 9:1-5). If, according to this, even after the manifold expiation and consecration, which Aaron had received through Moses during the seven days, he had still to enter upon his service with a sin-offering and burnt-offering, this fact clearly showed that the offerings of the law could not ensure perfection (Hebrews 10:1.). It is true that on this occasion a young calf was sufficient for a sin-offering for the priests, not a mature ox as in Leviticus 8:14 and Leviticus 4:3; and so also for the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings of the people smaller sacrifices sufficed, either smaller in kind or fewer in number than at the leading feasts (Numbers 28:11.). Nevertheless, not one of the three sacrifices could be omitted; and if no special peace-offering was required of Aaron, this may be accounted for from the fact, that the whole of the sacrificial ceremony terminated with a national peace-offering, in which the priests took part, uniting in this instance with the rest of the nation in the celebration of a common sacrificial meal, to make known their oneness with them.
After everything had been prepared for the solemn ceremony, Moses made known to the assembled people what Jehovah had commanded them to do in order that His glory might appear (see at Exodus 16:10). Aaron was to offer the sacrifices that had been brought for the reconciliation of himself and the nation.
Accordingly, he offered first of all the sin-offering and burnt-offering for himself, and then (Leviticus 9:15-21) the offerings of the people. The sin-offering always went first, because it served to remove the estrangement of man from the holy God arising from sin, by means of the expiation of the sinner, and to clear away the hindrances to his approach to God. Then followed the burnt-offering, as an expression of the complete surrender of the person expiated to the Lord; and lastly the peace-offering, on the one hand as the utterance of thanksgiving for mercy received, and prayer for its further continuance, and on the other hand, as a seal of covenant fellowship with the Lord in the sacrificial meal. But when Moses says in Leviticus 9:7, that Aaron is to make atonement for himself and the nation with his sin-offering and burnt-offering, the atoning virtue which Aaron's sacrifice was to have for the nation also, referred not to sins which the people had committed, but to the guilt which the high priest, as the head of the whole congregation, had brought upon the nation by his sin (Leviticus 4:3). In offering the sacrifices, Aaron was supported by his sons, who handed him the blood to sprinkle, and the sacrificial portions to burn upon the altar. The same course was adopted with Aaron's sin-offering (Leviticus 9:8-11) as Moses had pursued with the sin-offering at the consecration of the priests (Leviticus 8:14-17). The blood was not taken into the sanctuary, but only applied to the horns of the altar of burnt-offering; because the object was not to expiate some particular sin of Aaron's, but to take away the sin which might make his service on behalf of the congregation displeasing to God; and the communion of the congregation with the Lord was carried on at the altar of burnt-offering. The flesh and skin of the animal were burnt outside the camp, as in the case of all the sin-offerings for the priesthood (Leviticus 4:11-12).
The burnt-offering was presented according to the general rule (Leviticus 1:3-9), as in Leviticus 8:18-21. המציא (Leviticus 9:12): to cause to attain; here, and in Leviticus 9:18, to present, hand over. לנתחיה , according to its pieces, into which the burnt-offering was divided (Leviticus 1:6), and which they offered to Aaron one by one. No meat-offering was connected with Aaron's burnt-offerings, partly because the law contained in Numbers 15:2. had not yet been given, but more especially because Aaron had to bring the special meat-offering commanded in Leviticus 6:13, and had offered this in connection with the morning burnt-offering mentioned in Leviticus 9:17; though this offering, as being a constant one, and not connected with the offerings especially belonging to the consecration of the priests, is not expressly mentioned.
Of the sacrifices of the nation, Aaron presented the sin-offering in the same manner as the first, i.e., the one offered for himself (Leviticus 9:8.). The blood of this sin-offering, which was presented for the congregation, was not brought into the holy place according to the rule laid down in Leviticus 7:16., but only applied to the horns of the altar of burnt-offering; for the same reason as in the previous case (Leviticus 9:8.), viz., because the object was not to expiate any particular sin, or the sins of the congregation that had been committed in the course of time and remained unatoned for, but simply to place the sacrificial service of the congregation in its proper relation to the Lord. Aaron was reproved by Moses, however, for having burned the flesh (Leviticus 10:16.), but was able to justify it (see at Leviticus 10:16-20). The sin-offering (Leviticus 9:16) was also offered “ according to the right ” (as in Leviticus 5:10). Then followed the meat-offering (Leviticus 9:17), of which Aaron burned a handful upon the altar (according to the rule in Leviticus 2:1-2). He offered this in addition to the morning burnt-offering (Exodus 29:39), to which a meat-offering also belonged (Exodus 29:40), and with which, according to Leviticus 6:12., the special meat-offering of the priests was associated. Last of all (Leviticus 9:18-21) there followed the peace-offering, which was also carried out according to the general rule. In המכסּה , “ the covering ” (Leviticus 9:19), the two fat portions mentioned in Leviticus 3:3 are included. The fat portions were laid upon the breast-pieces by the sons of Aaron, and then handed by them to Aaron, the fat to be burned upon the altar, the breast to be waved along with the right leg, according to the instructions in Leviticus 7:30-36. The meat-offering of pastry, which belonged to the peace-offering according to Leviticus 7:12-13, is not specially mentioned.
When the sacrificial ceremony was over, Aaron blessed the people from the altar with uplifted hands (cf. Numbers 6:22.), and then came down: sc., from the bank surrounding the altar, upon which he had stood while offering the sacrifice (see at Exodus 27:4-5).
Leviticus 9:23-24
After this Moses went with him into the tabernacle, to introduce him into the sanctuary, in which he was henceforth to serve the Lord, and to present him to the Lord: not to offer incense, which would undoubtedly have been mentioned; nor yet for the special purpose of praying for the manifestation of the glory of Jehovah, although there can be no doubt that they offered prayer in the sanctuary, and prayed for the blessing of the Lord for the right discharge of the office entrusted to them in a manner well-pleasing to Him. On coming out again they united in bestowing that blessing upon the people which they had solicited for them in the sanctuary. “ Then the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the face of Jehovah and consumed the burnt-offering and fat portions upon the altar ” (i.e., the sin and peace-offerings, not the thank-offerings merely, as Knobel supposes, according to his mistaken theory). The appearance of the glory of Jehovah is probably to be regarded in this instance, and also in Numbers 16:19; Numbers 17:7, and Numbers 20:6, as the sudden flash of a miraculous light, which proceeded from the cloud that covered the tabernacle, probably also from the cloud in the most holy place, or as a sudden though very momentary change of the cloud, which enveloped the glory of the Lord, into a bright light, from which the fire proceeded in this instance in the form of lightning, and consumed the sacrifices upon the altar. The fire issued “from before the face of Jehovah,” i.e., from the visible manifestation of Jehovah. It did not come down from heaven, like the fire of Jehovah, which consumed the sacrifices of David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1).
The Rabbins believe that this divine fire was miraculously sustained upon the altar until the building of Solomon's temple, at the dedication of which it fell from heaven afresh, and then continued until the restoration of the temple-worship under Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:16; cf. Buxtorf exercitatt. ad histor. ignis sacri, c. 2); and the majority of them maintain still further, that it continued side by side with the ordinary altar-fire, which was kindled by the priests (Leviticus 1:7), and, according to Leviticus 6:6, kept constantly burning by them. The earlier Christian expositors are for the most part of opinion, that the heavenly fire, which proceeded miraculously from God and burned the first sacrifices of Aaron, was afterwards maintained by the priests by natural means (see J. Marckii sylloge diss. philol. theol. ex. vi. ad Leviticus 6:13). But there is no foundation in the Scriptures for either of these views. There is not a syllable about any miraculous preservation of the heavenly fire by the side of the fire which the priests kept burning by natural means. And even the modified opinion of the Christian theologians, that the heavenly fire was preserved by natural means, rests upon the assumption, which there is nothing to justify, that the sacrifices offered by Aaron were first burned by the fire which issued from Jehovah, and therefore that the statements in the text, with reference to the burning of the fat portions and burnt-offerings, or causing them to ascend in smoke (Leviticus 9:10, Leviticus 9:13, Leviticus 9:17, and Leviticus 9:20), are to be regarded as anticipations ( per anticipationem accipienda , C. a Lap .), i.e., are to be understood as simply meaning, that when Aaron officiated at the different sacrifices, he merely laid upon the altar the pieces intended for it, but without setting them on fire. The fallacy of this is proved, not only by the verb הקטיר but by the fact implied in Leviticus 9:17, that the offering of these sacrifices, with which Aaron entered upon his office, was preceded by the daily morning burnt-offering, and consequently that at the time when Aaron began to carry out the special sacrifices of this day there was fire already burning upon the altar, and in fact a continual fire, that was never to be allowed to go out (Leviticus 6:6). Even, therefore, if we left out of view the fire of the daily morning and evening sacrifice, which had been offered from the first day on which the tabernacle was erected (Exodus 40:29), there were sacrifices presented every day during the seven days of the consecration of the priests (ch. 8); and according to Leviticus 1:7, Moses must necessarily have prepared the fire for these. If it had been the intention of God, therefore, to originate the altar-fire by supernatural means, this would no doubt have taken place immediately after the erection of the tabernacle, or at least at the consecration of the altar, which was connected with that of the priests, and immediately after it had been anointed (Leviticus 8:11). But as God did not do this, the burning of the altar-sacrifices by a fire which proceeded from Jehovah, as related in this verse, cannot have been intended to give a sanction to the altar-fire as having proceeded from God Himself, which was to be kept constantly burning, either by miraculous preservation, or by being fed in a natural way. The legends of the heathen, therefore, about altar-fires which had been kindled by the gods themselves present no analogy to the fact before us (cf. Serv. ad Aen. xii. 200; Solin . v. 23; Pausan . v. 27, 3; Bochart, Hieroz. lib. ii. c. 35, pp. 378ff.; Dougtaei analect. ss. pp. 79ff.).
The miracle recorded in this verse did not consist in the fact that the sacrificial offerings placed upon the altar were burned by fire which proceeded from Jehovah, but in the fact that the sacrifices, which were already on fire, were suddenly consumed by it. For although the verb תּאכל admits of both meanings, setting on fire and burning up (see Judges 6:21, and 1 Kings 18:38), the word literally denotes consuming or burning up, and must be taken in the stricter and more literal sense in the case before us, inasmuch as there was already fire upon the altar when the sacrifices were placed upon it. God caused this miracle, not to generate a supernatural altar-fire, but ut ordinem sacerdotalem legis veteris a se institutum et suas de sacrificio leges hoc miraculo confirmaret et quasi obsignaret ( C. a Lap. ), or to express it bore briefly, to give a divine consecration to the altar, or sacrificial service of Aaron and his sons, through which a way was to be opened for the people to His throne of grace, and whereby, moreover, the altar-fire was consecrated eo ipso into a divine, i.e., divinely appointed, means of reconciliation to the community. The whole nation rejoiced at this glorious manifestation of the satisfaction of God with this the first sacrifice of the consecrated priests, and fell down upon their faces to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy.