The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 401

and in imitation of whioh the post-exilio corresponding to which the great Da.y of temple we.s dedicated, probe.bly on the first Atonement in the seventh month fell upon day of the yea.r (Ezre. vi. 16-22), Age.inst the tenth da.y (Lev. x.xiii. 27). In the Torah of Ezekiel, the ceremonies intro- the notion of a speoio.l dedice.tion service, ducing and lea.ding up to the P!I.Bsover however, stand the fu.cts (1) the.t the temple should begin with the first de.y of the hu.d been e.lready consecrated by the en- month, as nuder the Law the Feast of tre.nce into it of the glory of the Lord ( eh. '.rrumpets on the first day of the seventh xliii. 4); and (2) tho.t the service here de- month practically began the solemnities which culmine.ted in the Feast of Taber• scribed differs in respect either of time or na.cles. A young bullook without blemish ritual or both from every one of the three should form the sacrificial offering on this cited dedice.tions. Between the two other first da.y of the year, a.ccording to the or- views the difference is slight. If the festive.I dinance published by Ezekiel; that pro- of the new year (vers. 18-20) we.a distinct mulgated by the liebrew lawgiver ap- pointed for new moons generally, in addition from the Passover, it was still, by the ritual to the burnt and meat offerings, a he-goat of the seventh e.nd fourteenth days of the for a sin offenng (Numb. xxviii. 15), and first month (vers. 20, 22), so closely con- particularly for the first day of the seventh nected with the Pe.ssover e.s practically to month, in addition to the regular burnt form a preparation for and introduction to and meo.t offerings, one young bullock, one it. Then the circumsto.nce that the proper ram, and seven lambs for a burnt offering, mea.t offerings of llour and oil for each of ceremonial for the new moon is afterwa.rds these an imale, and e. he-goat for a sin offer- described ( oh. xl vi. 6) fu. vours the propose.I ing (Numb. xxix. 2-6). The object for to regard the rites in vers, 18-20 as a part which the Mosa.io offerings were preaen ted of the Passover festive.I; while this view, wo.s to me.ke atonement for the worshippers; if u.dopted, will explain the omission from the Ezekelian sacrifices should stnnd in more immediate relation to the place of ver. 25 of all mention of the Feast of worship, and be designed to olea.nae the Trumpets on the first de.y of the seventh sanotue.ry from such defilement, to be after- month (Lev. x.x.iii. 24; Nnmb. xxix. 1), wards mentioned, as might be con tractod and of the great Da.y of Atonement on the from the presence in it of erring men (ver. tenth day of the seventh month (Lev. x.xiii. 20). Ver. 19.-The mode in whioh this act of 27; Numb. x.xix. 7), with which the autumn purgation shonld be performed is next festival was usually preceded, by showing desoribed. The blood of the sin offering tho.t in lieu of theso o. sscrifioial observance should by the priest be put (not sprinkled) ho.d been prefixed to the Passover 011 tho upon the posts of the honse, i.e. upon the first o.nd seventh do.ye of the first month. posts or pillnrs of lhe door connecting the holy place with the holy of holies (eh. xli. Smend's theory, tho.t "Ezekicl's feast- 21), and upon the fonr oomers of the co.lende.r divides the ecolesio.stical year into sottle of the altar of burnt offering in the two ho.Ives, eaoh of which begins with o. re- inner court (eh. xliii. 14), and upon the concilio.tion ceremony (or expiatory sacrifice) posts of the gate of the inner court, not on the first do.ys of the first and seventh of the ea.stern go.ta only, o.s Hitzig suggests, months re,;peotively ," would lend confir- but of 1111 the three go.tee (ob. xl. 29, 33, 36). Compare oh. xliii. 20, and the pro- mation to the o.bove view, were it not the.t cedure in sin offerings under the Lo.w, which the theory in question is bo.sed on an directed tlmt iu certain oo.ses po.rt of tho altere.tion of the text in ver. 20 (see Ex- blood should be put by the priest's finger position). upon the horns of the o.lto.r, und the rest poured out beside the bottom of the o.ltnr Ver. 18.-Thus saith the Lord God. Tho (Exod. xxix. 12; Lev. iv. 7), while in otlier usual solemn introduction prefixed to Di vine oases it should be sprinkled before the veil eno.otments (comp. ver. 9; oh. xliii. 19; of the sanctuary (Lev. iv. 6, 17), and on the xliv. 6, 9; xlvi. I, 16), In the first month, great Do.y of Atonement seven times even in the first de.y of the month (comp. Gen. on and before the mercy-soo.t, o.nd on the viii. 13). That the first month, Abib, wo.s altar of incense (Lov. xvi. 14, 18, 19). intended is appe.rent from ver. 21, com- Ver. 20.-The same ceremony should be pared with Exod. xii. 2; Numb. ix. I. repeated on the seventh doy of the month, Under the Mose.io Torah, the Po.ssover not on the first day of the ee11enth month ns bego.n on the teuth day of the first month S1ne11d proposes, in acc.or<le.nce with tho by the selection of a lamb (Exod. xii. 3-6), LXX., 'Ev -r/i l'IJVI -rf l/360µ'1'' µ19 -roii µ11vbs 410 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. nv. 1-25.