The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 274

Daniel, the angel of God is clothed in liftffl mercy-seat and seven times before it. O. He (Ezek. ix. 2, 3, 11; x. 2, 6, 7; Dan. x. 5; came out again into the court, and killed the xii. 6, 7). And the colour of the angelic goat on which the lot for sacrifice had fallen. raiment is described in the Gospels 118 whit.e: 10. For the third time he entered the holy "his countenance was like lightning, and of holies, and went through the same process his raiment white 118 snow" (Matt. x.xvili. with the goat's blood as with the bullock's 3); "they saw a young man sitting on blood. 11. He purified the other part of the right side, clothed in a long white the ta~ernacle, as. he _had ~urified the holy garment" (Mark xvi. 5) ; " two men stood of holies, by spnnklmg with the atoning by them in shining garments" (Luke xxiv. blood, as before, and placing some of it on 4); she "seeth two angels in white sitting" the horns of the altar of incense (Exod. :u:x. (John :u. 12). So, too, the wife of the 10). 12. He returned to the court, and Lamb, in the Book of the Revelation, has it placed the blood of the bullock and goat "granted to her that she should be arrayed upon the horns of the altar of burnt sacrifice, in fine linen clean and white: for the fine and sprinkled it seven times. 13. He offered linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev. to God the remaining ·goat, laying his hands xix. 7, 8). The white linen dress of the upon it, confessing and laying the sins of high priest, theref~re (which must he.ve the people upon its hea.d. 14. He consigned givc·n tlie appearance of the English surplice the goat to a me.n, whose business it was to tied in at the waist), was intended to sym- conduct it to the border of the wildernesa, and bolize the purity anJ brightness which there release it. 15. He bathed e.nd changed forms the characteristic of angels and his linen vestments for his commonly worn sni11ts, and, above all, of the King of high priest's dress. 16. He sacriflced, one after saints. "The white material of the dress the other, the two rams os burnt offerings which Aaron wore when performing the for himself and for the people. 17. He burnt highest act of expiation under the Old the fat of the sin offerings upon the altar. Testament WaB a symbolical shadowing 18. He took measures that the remainder forth of the holiness and glory of the one of the sin offerings should be burnt without perfect Mediator between God and man, the camp. In Numb. nix. 7-11, twelve who, being the radiation of the glory of sacrifices a.re commanded to be offered God and the image of his nature, effected by the high priest on this day, namely, the by himself the perfect cleansing away of morning and evening sacrifice; a burnt offer- our sin, and who, e.s the true High Priest, ing for the people, consisting of one young being holy, innocent, unspotted, and separate bullock, one ram (as already stated), and from sinners, entered once by his own blood seven lambs ; and one goat for a sin offering ; into the holy place not made with hands, so that in all there were fifteen sacrifices namely, into heaven itself, to appear before offered, besides the meat and drink offerings. the face of God for us and obtain everlasting The punctiliousness of the J ewe in later redemption (Heb. i. 3; vii 26; ix. 12, 24)" times was not content that the ceremonies (Keil). The symbolism of the holy gar- should begin on the day itself. Preparations ments as indicating holiness and purity, is commenced a full week previously. On the strengthened by the command that Aaron third day of the seventh month, the high is to wash hi.a fiesh in water, and so put priest moved from liis house in the city them on. into the temple, and he wo.s twice sprinkled The high priest's acts on this day, so with the ashes of the red heifer, by way of far as they are recounted in this chapter, precaution against defilement. He spent were the following. 1. He bathed. 2. He the week in pructising and rehearsing, under dreseed himself in his white holy garments. the eye of some of the elders of the Saohe- 3. He offered or presented at the door of drim, the various acts that he would ho.vo to the tabernacle a bullock for a sin offering perform on the great day, and on the night for himself and his house. 4. He presented immediately preceding it he was not allowed at the same place two goats for a sin offer- to sleep. In case of his sudden death or ing for the congregation. 5. He cast lots disqualification, 11 substitute wo.s appointed on the two goats, one of which was to be to fulfil his function. 1111.cri.ficed. the other to be let go into the Ver. 5.-And he shall take of the oon- wilJerness. 6. He sacrificed the bullock. gregation of the ohildren of Israel two kids 7. He passed from the court through the of the goats. It was necessary that the holy place into the holy of holies with a sacrifice offered for a person or class of censer and incense, and filled the space persons should be provided by the offerer beyond the va.il with a cloud of smoke from or offerers. The two kids of the goat., or the incense. 8. He returned to the court, rather the two he-goata, constituted together und, ta.king some of the blood of the bullock, but one sin offering. This is important for passed again within the va.il, and there the understanding of the sequel. ijprinkl1,d the blood once on the front of the Ver. 6.-And Aaron shall offer hi.a bullook CH, XVI, 1--34,] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.