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Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 16:5-14

The Jewish writers say that for seven days before the day of expiation the high priest was to retire from his own house, and to dwell in a chamber of the temple, that he might prepare himself for the service of this great day. During those seven days he himself did the work of the inferior priests about the sacrifices, incense, etc., that he might have his hand in for this day: he must have the institution read to him again and again, that he might be fully apprised of the whole method. 1. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:3

Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place ,.... The most holy place; and this was after he had offered the daily sacrifice of the morning, and had performed the rest of the service then done, as Gersom observes; such as burning the incense and trimming the lamps, for no offering preceded the daily sacrifice: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering ; which were both for himself and his family; and such were the weakness, imperfection, and insufficiency of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:4

He shall put on the holy linen coat ,.... Which he wore in common with other priests: and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh ; upon those parts of his body which are more secret, and less honourable flesh, meaning the same, as in Leviticus 15:2 , and shall be girded with a linen girdle and with the linen mitre shall he be attired , as the other priests were; which were an emblem of the purity and holiness of Christ, whereby he became a proper and suitable high priest,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:5

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel ,.... With whom only the high priest had to do on the day of atonement; as Christ our high priest has only with the Israel of God, the elect, given him by the Father, for whom he offered up himself, and for whose sins he made reconciliation: two kids of the goats for a sin offering ; the one of which was killed, and the other let go alive, and both were but one offering, typical of Christ in both his natures, divine and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:6

And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself ,.... That is, bring it into the court, and present it before the Lord in order to its being slain and sacrificed; for as yet it was not killed, and so could not be offered on the altar, see Leviticus 16:11 ; the place where the bullock was set was between the porch and the altar, his head in the south, and his face to the west, and the priest stood in the east, and his face to the west, and laid both his hands... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:7

And he shall take the two goats ,.... The sin offering for the people, a proper emblem of Christ, this creature being clean and fit for food, denoting the purity of Christ, and his being suitable and wholesome food, as his flesh is to the faith of his people; and because comely in its going, as Christ was in his going from everlasting, and in his coming, into this world, travelling in the greatness of his strength; and even by reason of its having something in it unsavoury and offensive, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:8

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats ,.... Which should be slain, and which should be kept alive, and let go: the manner of casting lots, according to the Misnah F1 Misn. Yoma, c. 3. sect. 9. & c. 4. sect. 1. , was this; the high priest went to the east of the court, to the north of the altar, the Sagan (or deputy priest) at his right hand, and Rosh Beth Ab (or the chief of the house of the fathers) on his left hand, and the two goats were there; and there was a vessel (box... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:9

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell ,.... Alluding to the manner of taking out the lot by the high priest, who, when he took it out, lifted it up with his hand, and then let it down, and put it on the head of the goat; after which he brought it to the altar to be sacrificed: and offer him for a sin offering ; an offering for the sins of the people, as a type of Christ, who made his soul an offering for sin for his people; but this was not done by Aaron until he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:10

But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat ,.... Or for Azazel, of which more hereafter in the latter part of the verse: shall be presented alive before the Lord ; this seems to be a second presentation; both the goats were presented before the Lord before the lots were cast, Leviticus 16:7 ; but this was afterwards, when one of the goats, according to the lot, being presented, was ordered to be killed for a sin offering, and the other according to the lot being presented... read more

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