Westminster Annotations, Leviticus · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
IN this Chapter is instituted the Feast of expiation; whereof one occasion was the sinne and punishment of Nadab and Abihu; and the end was for the preservation of the reverence of the Tabernacle, and of the holy services belonging unto it, that none might presume, as they had done, to doe any thing in such matters, but according as the Lord had expressely prescribed.
Vers. 2. NOt at all times] Into the most holy place; for that was the place which God did most appropriate to his own presence; into which none was to come but by his especiall appointment; and he appointed the High-priest only, and him but once a yeare, Vers. 34. & Heb. 9. 7. Exod. 30. 10. and that was in the monethmonth of September: but this is to be understood with respect to his Priestly ministration, which was but once a yeare, as figuring the sacrifice of Christ once made in the time of his life, and no more, Heb. 9. vers. 7, 8. 11, 12. but upon other necessary occasions, the Priest might enter into the most holy place, as when the Tabernacle was to be taken down, and removed.
for I will appeare] The reason seemeth to contradict the rule; for if God appeare there, there is more cause for Aaron to make his addresse thither to consult with him, and to receive revelations from him; but the meaning is, that Gods appearance there should be at such a time, as Aaron might make his approach thither, as the next words manifest.
V. 3. with a young bullock] That is, with the bloud of a young bullock, not with the body of it; which was to be offered for the sinnes of the High-priest and his family, vers. 6. for, for the sinne of the people he was to offer a goat▪ vers. 5.
and a ram] This ram was not to be sacrificed at his entrance into the Holy of holies; but afterward, upon his returne, it was to be wholly burnt upon the Altar of burnt-offering: the young bullock, and the ram, were for the solemnitie of the Highpriests entrance into the most holy place; but the two lambes for the daily burnt-offering, Numb. 28. 3. and the bullock, ram, and seven lambes, and he-goat, Numb. 29. 7, 8, 11. were for the sacred solemnitie of the day of expiation▪ which followed the oblations of the bullock and ram fore-mentioned.
V. 4. put on] Not those glorious garments which were peculiar to the High-priests, but those which were common to him with inferiour Priests, vers. 23. because this was a day, not of jubilation or gladnesse, but of humiliation and sorrow, and so rather a fast, then a feast, Numb. 29. 7. though usually called the Feast of Expiation. Yet some conceive from vers. 24. that in the latter part of the solemne service he wore his more glorious robes; which were peculiar to him as he was Highpriest: And by these distinct habits, the one sort meane, the other eminently glorious, might be represented the double state of Christ, the one of humiliation, the other of Majestie; the one Temporall, the other Spirituall.
V. 5. And he shall take] In this day of reconciliation, the High-priest did all the service in the Holy of holies himselfe; figuring the sole reconciliation of us unto God by Christ onelyonly.
V. 6. Offer] In the wildernesse there was not any sacrificing, but at Mount Sinai, for fourtie yeares together, Exod. 16. neither were the people furnished with frankincense, hony, wine, or cattell for sacrifice; so that in the wildernesse onelyonly the Judiciall and Morall lawes did binde, as some hold, except some expiations, Numb. 5. 2. neither in the desert were any feasts observed but the Sabbath.
his house] To which were referred all the Priests and Levites; for these were not reckoned among the people, but appertained to the family of the High-priest, whose sonnes the Priests were, and the rest of the Levites his kinsmen.
V. 8. lots] By which the Lord made choyce of what he would have done, Prov. 16. 33. according to whose counsell and will alone, not by the appointment of any humane policie, or prudence, the whole worke of Christs Mediation, and mans Redemption was accomplished.
one for the Lord] To be sacrificed unto him, the other as making an escape from death, being sent into the desert, vers. 10. & 21. was called the scape-goate: they were both alike in themselves, and by casting lots the Lord made a choyce which of the two should die, or be reprieved, or delivered from death, for the lot is at his disposall, Pro. 16. 33. Of which two the one is conceived to be a type of Christ his immortall Deitie; the other of his mortall humanity; or the one of his death, the other of his living againe by his resurrection.
V. 10. scape-gote] See Annot. on vers. 8.
to make an atonement] By confessing of sinne in the name of the people, and praying that God would transferre their guilt upon the goate, before he were sent away into the wildernesse. See vers. 21, 22.
V. 11. the bullock] Some reade the calfe, or heifer; but this was not that red heifer mentioned Numb. 19. for that was offered for the people without the Campe; this for the Priests upon the Altar within the Court of the Tabernacle.
V. 12. a censer] That is, a fire-pan, or persuming-dish, to hold coales for the burning of incense; the composition whereof is set down, Exod. 30. 34, 35.
within the vaile] Into the Holy of holies.
V. 13. the cloud] That is, the vapour or smoak ascending from the perfume, to cover the Mercy-seat, that there might be no curious prying into divine secrets, Deut. 29. 29.
upon the Testimonie] That is, the Arke, where was laid the Law, the Testimonie of Gods covenant with his people, verse 13.
that he die not] As Nadab and Abihu did, by contempt, or neglect of those observances which God prescribed: Which sheweth that mans obedience must be ordered by the Majestie of the Authour, rather then the meanes of the matter which is prescribed, or prohibited. See Exod. 4. 24, 25.
V. 14. upon the Mercy-seat] The bloud was sprinkled upon the Mercy-seat, to shew that by the bloud of Christ Gods merciemercy and justice were reconciled, and so his people saved from destroying indignation.
upon the Mercy-seat] Some reade, over against the Mercy-seat; or towards it; so that the bloud must not touch it.
Eastward] That is, with his face East-ward, towards the people; for the head of the Sanctuary stood West-ward. This signified, that as the Priest had need of this sacrifice as well as the people, vers. 6. and the people had a right in it, as well as the Priest, vers. 15.
V. 15. then shall he kill] This, though here mentioned, was done before Aarons entrance into the Holy of holies; (though after the killing of the bullock) for Aaron being to goe into it but once a yeare, Heb. 9. 7. was not to goe into it twice a day, though he were allowed entrance into it one day onelyonly.
V. 16. for the holy place] The holy place was to be purged from the pollution of the people, though they came not into it; because they had their part or interest in the services there performed, which though offered unto God, by the Priest were most of thē presented as from, and for the people; Wherein appeareth the extreme pollution of sinne like that of leprosie, Chap. 13. which tainteth not onelyonly the persons of sinners, but places also whereto they have a reference, though it be not immediate.
V. 17. Tabernacle] That is, in the Holy place which was East-ward on this side of the Holy of holies where the High-priest onelyonly was allowed to enter.
V. 18. unto the Altar] That is, the Altar of Incense.
V. 20. reconciling the Holy place] See Annot. on vers. 16.
V. 21. bead of the live-goate] The live-goate, or scape-goate was a type of Christ as well as that which was sacrificed; the sacrificed goate signified dying Christ; the scape-goate alive in the wildernesse, signified Christs deliverance from death, and living, as the separated goate, out of the communion of men, with whom he formerly conversed: See Annot. on vers. 8. 10. Yet some hold that this scape-goate was not to scape death, but to be killed and devoured by the wild beasts of the wildernesse; and that the one goate signified our Saviours suffering in the Citie of Jerusalem, the other his sufferings out of it, by barbarous and brutish men. The Devil as Gods Ape, sometimes enjoyned his Priests this expiation; for Herodotus reports, that the Egyptians were wont to heape up imprecations and curses upon the head of a sacrifice, selected for the purpose; that if any evill were impendent over them, or the Egyptians, it might be turned upon the head of the sacrifice: and then they cast it headlong into the River Nilus to be drowned; or sold it in the market to some Grecian, or profane person.
V. 23. leave them there] Those garments were peculiar for that dayes service, in the most Holy place; which done, they were not to be worne untill the like occasion returned, and then he was to put on the same, or the like.
V. 24. in the Holy place] In the Court of the Tabernacle, where was the Laver, Exod. 30. 18. Yet some conceive this washing was before he came forth into the Court of the Tabernacle, as the words of this verse doe seeme to import.
put on his garments] That is, his glorious garments proper to the High-priests: for now the proper office of expiation was past, and the rest of the day was allowed to be spent in more chearefull solemnitie.
V. 26. shall wash] To put away the ceremoniall impuritie or uncleannesse, which he contracted by touching the goate ceremonially laden with the guilt of the peoples sinne, and with the imprecations belonging to them.
V. 28. he that burneth] He to whom that service was committed; which was not performed by the Priests, but by another upon their appointment.
V. 29. for ever] See Annot. on Exod. 12. 14.
seventh monethmonth] That is, as the Hebrewes call it, Tizri, answering to our September.
upon the tenth day] The solemnitie began the ninth day at even; Chap. 23. 32. but the tenth day was most observable for the sacrifices of expiation, or atonement.
afflict your soules] Though the affection to, and fruition of sin be pleasant, the humiliation for it is very bitter; and an affliction not of the body onelyonly by fasting, Act. 27. vers. 9. but of the soule, by anguish and sorrow for sinne.
V. 31. a Sabbath] This day of solemne humiliation, wherein they were to afflict their soules, vers. 29. Psal. 35. 13. by fasting and mourning, was to be observed as a Sabbath with cessation from all manner of worke, vers. 29.
V. 32. he shall anoint] It is not said who shall anoint; but it may be meant of God, by whose authority or command he was to be anointed; as the Priest is said to breake downe the house, Chap. 14. 45. which he doth but command to be broken downe, vers. 40. Or the High-priest in being, is to anoint his successour in that office, that he may serve in his fathers stead, when he is dead.
V. 34. everlasting statue] See Annot. on Exod. 12. 14.