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Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 16:1

XVI.(1) And the Lord spake unto Moses.—As the observance of the minute regulations given in the preceding chapters about the daily sacrifices and purifications would necessarily be tainted with many imperfections and shortcomings, both on the part of the mediating priests and the offering laity, a general day of atonement is here instituted, when priest and people are alike to obtain atonement once a year for the sins which were mixed up even with their sacred worship. The day of atonement... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Leviticus 16:1-34

The Scapegoat Leviticus 16:8-22 Among a primitive people who seemed to have more moral troubles than any other and to feel greater need of dismissing them by artificial means, there grew up the custom of using a curious expedient. They chose a beast of the field, and upon its head symbolically piled all the moral hard-headedness of the several tribes; after which the unoffending brute was banished to the wilderness and the guilty multitude felt relieved. However crude that ancient method of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-34

THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENTLeviticus 16:1-34IN the first verse of chapter 16, which ordains the ceremonial for the great annual day of atonement, we are told that this ordinance was delivered by the Lord to Moses "after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord, and died." Because of the close historical connection thus declared between this chapter and chapter 10, and also because in this ordinance the Mosaic sacrificial worship, which has been the subject of the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Leviticus 16:1-34

IV. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT: IN THE HOLIEST 1. The Day of Atonement CHAPTER 16 1. The command how Aaron was to enter (Leviticus 16:1-5 ) 2. The presentation of the offerings (Leviticus 16:6-10 ) 3. The blood carried into the Holiest (Leviticus 16:11-19 ) 4. The scapegoat (Leviticus 16:20-22 ) 5. Aaron’s burnt offering and that for the people (Leviticus 16:23-25 ) 6. The ceremony outside of the camp (Leviticus 16:26-28 ) 7. Cleansed and resting (Leviticus 16:29-34 ) A brief... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:1-34

THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT (vv. 1-34) This is a chapter of central importance in the book of Leviticus. It forms a basis for, and is explained in, the epistle to the Hebrews. Aaron's two sons had died for offering “strange fire to the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2). We are reminded of this in verse 1 of chapter 16 in order to be impressed with the seriousness of any approach into the holy presence of God. The priests, and even the high priest were forbidden to come at all times into the holiest of... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-34

THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT When was the law of this chapter revealed to Moses (Leviticus 16:1 )? This has led some to think that the chapter is misplaced and that it should follow chapter 10, an idea strengthened by the fact of its cutting into the middle of these laws concerning the clean and the unclean. What prohibition is laid upon Aaron, and with what penalty (Leviticus 16:2 )? Is there a suggestion here that the disobedience of Nadab and Abihu was aggravated by their entering into... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Leviticus 16:1

CONTENTS This chapter, take it altogether, is perhaps, as interesting and important as any, in the whole Levitical dispensation. And if explained to us, by the gospel, will be found worthy the most serious and close attention of all real believers in CHRIST. It contains the memorable account of the appointed ordinance, to be observed once only in every year, of the day of atonement. How the high priest is to enter, on this solemn day, into the holy place: the prohibition of his ever entering... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:1

Fire. It was upon this occasion that the feast of expiation ( kippurim ) was instituted, to enforce the reverence due to holy things, and particularly to the tabernacle. Hebrew adds, "before the Lord," (Haydock) and does not specify strange fire; but the Chaldean and the Syriac do. (Calmet) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:1-14

1-14 Without entering into particulars of the sacrifices on the great day of atonement, we may notice that it was to be a statute for ever, till that dispensation be at an end. As long as we are continually sinning, we continually need the atonement. The law of afflicting our souls for sin, is a statue which will continue in force till we arrive where all tears, even those of repentance, will be wiped from our eyes. The apostle observes it as a proof that the sacrifices could not take away sin,... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Leviticus 16:1-33

Lev_16:1 Lev_22:33 . The opening words of chapter 16 carry us back to the early verses of Leviticus 10.0 where the sin of Nadab and Abihu is recorded. Certain consequences flowing from that sin are mentioned in the rest of the 10th chapter, but now we find that it furnished the occasion for the ritual of the annual day of atonement to be revealed. Verse Lev_16:29 of our chapter shows that it was the procedure to be observed on that day, and how it fitted into the succession of feasts that... read more

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