“And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;”
Come. From the consecration of the tabernacle, (Menochius) and of Aaron. — Israel. The princes of the tribes. (Calmet) — They were to offer sacrifice by the hands of their new priests.
“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.”
Calf. As they had formerly adored a calf, so now they sacrifice one to God. (St. Jerome in Jer. vii.)
“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;”
Children. Samaritan and Septuagint, “the ancients,” or princes of the people, for whom a he-goat is sacrificed. — Old. Not above, though they might be younger.
“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.”
Offering, &c. Hebrew simply, “and a flour-offering tempered with oil; for,” &c. (Haydock) — All these sacrifices were accompanied with an offering of this nature, as they were in imitation of a dinner presented to God. (Menochius) — You. By the cloud, resting upon the tabernacle, or by fire proceeding thence. God will manifest his presence by miracles, ver. 24.
“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.”
Thy sin. Christ needed not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s, Hebrews vii. 27.
“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:”
The altar of holocausts; as he is yet considered only as a private person; afterwards he touches the altar of perfumes. (Calmet)
“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.”
Burnt, or placed in order to be burnt by the fire sent by God, ver. 24. (Menochius)
“And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.”
Camp. According to the prescriptions given, chap. iv. 12.
“And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.”
Water. Hebrew adds, “he burnt them upon the holocaust, upon the altar.”
“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.”
And expiating the altar. Hebrew, “he offered it (the goat) for sin, as the first,” for himself, placing the parts of the victim upon his own holocaust. (Haydock) — The Chaldean says, “he expiated the altar with the blood of the he-goat, as he did before.”
“And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. took: Heb. filled his hand out of it”
Holocaust. Which were religiously observed every day. The law respecting the libations was given already, though it be related, Numbers xv. 4. (Menochius)
“And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.”
Elevating them. After which they were used by the priest, chap. vii. 31. (Calmet) — As. Samaritan and some Hebrew manuscripts read, “as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Kennicott)
“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.”
Hands. Thus representing the form of a cross, on which Christ redeemed us; in memory of which we still make the same sign. (Worthington) — Them. The blessing is recorded, Numbers vi. 24. And the Lord bless thee, &c. (Menochius) — In blessing an individual, the priest laid his hands upon him; but he stretched them out towards the multitude, as a mark of superiority.
“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.”
Testimony. To offer incense, which always preceded the morning holocaust. — Glory; or fire, probably issuing from the tabernacle, and consuming the victims in a moment. Thus God was pleased to shew his approbation of the priests and victims, (Calmet) and at the same time, to impress a religious awe upon the minds of the spectators. (Haydock) — This fire was carefully preserved and nourished by the priests with wood; though the Rabbins say, this was done only to conceal the miracle of its perpetual continuance. A fire, of the same nature, came down upon the victims, when Solomon dedicated his temple, (2 Paralipomenon vii. 1,) and was kept burning till the captivity, when it was hidden in a cistern. Being found afterwards, like a muddy water, God kindled it again, (2 Machabees i. 18; ii. 10,) and it was not lost till the persecution of Epiphanes.
“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.”
The Lord: 2 Machabees ii. 10, explains this text. Fire came down from heaven, appearing like a flash of lightning, in the midst of the victims. (Josephus, Antiquities iii. 9.) (Calmet)