Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-4

Here is, I. The date of this law concerning the day of atonement: it was after the death of the two sons of Aaron (Lev. 16:1), which we read, Lev. 10:1. 1. Lest Aaron should fear that any remaining guilt of that sin should cleave to his family, or (seeing the priests were so apt to offend) that some after-sin of his other sons should be the ruin of his family, he is directed how to make atonement for his house, that it might keep in with God; for the atonement for it would be the establishment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron ,.... That is, either immediately after their death, and so this chapter would have stood in its natural order next to the tenth; or else after the above laws concerning uncleanness on various accounts were delivered out, designed to prevent the people entering into the tabernacle defiled, whereby they would have incurred the penalty of death; wherefore, as Aben Ezra observes, after the Lord had given cautions to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:1

After the death of the two sons of Aaron - It appears from this verse that the natural place of this chapter is immediately after the tenth, where probably it originally stood; but the transposition, if it did take place, must be very ancient, as all the versions acknowledge this chapter in the place in which it now stands. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:1

Verse 1 1.And the Lord spake unto Moses. A copious description is here given of what we have recently adverted to cursorily, as it were, i.e., the solemn atonement which was yearly made in the seventh month; for when Moses was instructing them as to what sacrifices were to be offered on each of the festivals, he expressly excepted, though only in a single word, this sacrifice, where he spoke of the day of atonement itself, on which they afflicted their souls. Now, therefore, a clear and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-2

The peril of privilege. Was it, then, necessary to contemplate the possibility of Aaron's dying at his post? Was he, the chosen servant of God, who had been so solemnly inducted into his office ( Leviticus 8:1-36 , Leviticus 9:1-24 ), in actual peril of death as he ministered unto the Lord? Could he draw too near to God, so as to endanger his very life? It was even so. His two sons, Nadab and Abihu, had paid the extreme penalty of their sin in the service of Jehovah; "they offered... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-4

The high priest on the Day of Atonement. The Jewish high priest was an eminent type of Christ. He was this on ordinary occasions of his ministry, in respect to which Jesus is called "the High Priest of our profession" ( Hebrews 3:1 ). But he was especially so upon this great occasion of his entrance into the most holy place, I. THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE TEMPLE WAS A TYPE OF HEAVEN . 1 . The tabernacle was a figure of the universe. 2 . The holy places... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-28

Union and communion with God is that which the undepraved heart of man most longs for, and which religion is especially intended to bring about. That this may be effected, the barrier of sin, and of that which represents sin—ceremonial uncleanness—must be broken down. If sin and uncleanness cannot be taken away so as to be as though they had not been, they must, according to their nature, be either punished as justice demands, or be so covered over as to be withdrawn from the sight of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-34

The great Day of Atonement ( Leviticus 16:29-31 ). One day in the year set apart to the most solemn representation possible of the two facts—the sinfulness of man, the righteous love of God. Atonement underlying the whole of the ceremonial Law, but the insufficiency of the dally sacrifices, set forth by the separation of one day for the special sacrifice, thus pointing to one atonement in which all other atone-meats should be perfected. Solemn warning in the death of the two sons of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-34

The climax of sacrificial worship, the Day of Atonement. cf. John 1:29 ; 1 Corinthians 5:7 ; Hebrews 9:10 . The sacrifices already considered all bring out with more or less emphasis the idea of atonement. But to render this cardinal idea of our religion still more emphatic, it was ordained that the tenth day of the seventh month in each year should be a day of special humiliation on the part of the people, and special ritual on the part of the priests. The directions about it were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 16:1

The reference to the death of Nadab and Abihu is a notice of the occasion on which the instructions were given, well calculated to add point and emphasis to the solemn admonition to the high priest in the second verse. The death of his sons Leviticus 10:2, for drawing near to Yahweh in an unauthorized manner, was to serve as a warning to Aaron himself never to transgress in this respect. read more

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