Leviticus 16:14 - Exposition

The second entry of the high priest into the holy of holies took place very soon after the first entry. Immediately that he had returned after lighting the incense, and perhaps offering a prayer, he took of the blood of the bullock, which he had previously killed, went back without delay, and sprinkled it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward , that is, on the front of the ark beneath the Presence enthroned upon the mercy seat, and shrouded by the smoke of the incense; and before the mercy seat , that is, on the ground in front of it, he sprinkled of the blood with his finger seven times . In after times, when the ark was gone, the high priest sprinkled upwards once and downwards seven times.