Leviticus 16:1-3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 16:2

And the Lord said unto Moses, speak unto Aaron thy brother ,.... Who was the high priest; and what is here said to him was binding on all high priests in succession from him: that he come not at all times into the holy place ; or "holiness" F16 אל הקדש "ad sanctitatem", Pagninus, Montanus. , which was holiness itself, or the most holy place, as distinguished from that which was sometimes called the holy place, where stood the incense altar, the showbread table, and the... 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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:2

That he come not at all times into the holy place - By the holy place we are to understand here what is ordinarily called the Holy of Holies, or most holy place; that place within the veil where the ark of the covenant, etc., were laid up; and where God manifested his presence between the cherubim. In ordinary cases the high priest could enter this place only once in the year, that is, on the day of annual atonement; but in extraordinary cases he might enter more frequently, viz., while in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:3

With a young bullock for a sin-offering - The bullock was presented as a sin-offering for himself, his family, the whole priesthood, and probably the Levites. The ram was for a burnt-offering, to signify that he and his associates were wholly consecrated, and to be wholly employed in this work of the ministry. The ceremonies with which these two sacrifices were accompanied are detailed in the following verses. 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:2

Verse 2 2.Speak unto Aaron. The sum of the law is, that the priest should not frequently enter the inner sanctuary, but only once a year, i.e., on the feast of the atonement, in the month of September. The cause of this was, lest a more frequent entrance of it should produce indifference; for if he had entered it promiscuously at every sacrifice, no small part of the reverence due to it would have been lost. The ordinary sprinkling of the altar was sufficient to testify the reconciliation; but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 16:3

Verse 3 3.Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place. The rites and formality are now described; first, that Aaron should put on the holy garments, and wash his person; secondly, that he should offer a bullock and ram for a burnt-offering; thirdly, that he should take two goats from the people, one of which should be sent away alive, and the other slain in sacrifice. We have stated elsewhere why the priests were to be dressed in garments different from others, since he who is the mediator... read more

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