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Leviticus Chapter Sixteen

 

Leviticus 16 Outlines

The Day of Atonement

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 16

This chapter treats of the day of atonement and of the rites sacrifices and services of it directs when Aaron should come into the holy of holies Leviticus 16:1; and in what habit he should then appear and with what offerings both for himself and for the people Leviticus 16:3; and that having slain his own sin offering and that for the people he should offer incense before the mercy seat and sprinkle that with the blood of both Leviticus 16:11; and by these offerings make atonement for the holy place the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar Leviticus 16:16; and having done this he was to take the live goat lay his hands on it confess over it and put upon it all the iniquities of the children of Israel and then send it away by a fit man into the wilderness Leviticus 16:20; upon which he was to put off his linen garments wash his flesh and put them on again and offer the burnt offering for himself and for the people Leviticus 16:23; also he that let go the goat and he that carried and burnt the sin offerings without the camp were to wash themselves and clothes also Leviticus 16:26; the observance of this day once a year which was on the tenth of the seventh month as a day of affliction and atonement was to be a statute for ever to the children of Israel Leviticus 16:29.

 

Leviticus 16:1.  Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered profane fire before the Lord and died;

   YLT  1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron in their drawing near before Jehovah and they die;

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 Israelites that they might not die he bid Moses to caution Aaron also that he might not die as his sons died; these were Nadab and Abihu:

when they offered before the Lord and died; offered strange fire and died by flaming fire as the Targum of Jonathan; or fire sent down from heaven as Gersom by lightning; see Leviticus 10:1.

 

Leviticus 16:2.  2 and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil before the mercy seat which is on the ark lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

   YLT  2yea Jehovah saith unto Moses `Speak unto Aaron thy brother and he cometh not in at all times unto the sanctuary within the vail unto the front of the mercy-seat which [is] upon the ark and he dieth not for in a cloud I am seen upon the mercy-seat.

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"F16אל 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 candlestick into which Aaron went every day morning and evening to do the service there enjoined him; but into the holy of holies here described as appears by the after description of it he might not go at all times or every day or when he pleased only once a year on the day of atonement; though according to the Jewish writers he went in four times on that day first to offer incense a second time to sprinkle the blood of the bullock a third time to sprinkle the blood of the goat and a fourth time to fetch out the censer; and if he entered a fifth time he was worthy of deathF17Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Celim c. 1. sect. 9. . Some have observedF18Maimon. in Misn. Sanhedrin c. 11. sect. 1. So Tikkune Zohar correct. 18. fol. 28. 1. that this respected Aaron only and not Moses; that though Aaron might not go in when he pleased and only at a time fixed yet Moses might at any time and consult the Lord upon the mercy seat see Exodus 25:22. Pausanias makes mention of several Heathen temples which were opened but once a year as the temples of Hades Dindymene and EurymoneF19Eliac 2. sive l. 6. p. 392. Boeotica sive l. 9. p. 578. Arcadica sive l. 8. p. 522. and particularly the temple of Minerva into which only a priest entered once a yearF20Ib. Arcadica p. 531. ; which perhaps was in imitation of the Jewish high priest:

within the vail before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; this is a description of the holy place into which the high priest might not go at any time or at pleasure; it was within the vail that divided between the holy place and the most holy where stood the mercy seat which was a lid or covering to the ark at the two ends of which were the cherubim the seat of the divine Majesty; which was a type of heaven for its holiness being the habitation of the holy God Father Son and Spirit and of holy angels and holy men and where only holy services are performed; and for its invisibility where dwells the invisible God where Christ in our nature is at present unseen by us and the glories of which are not as yet to be beheld; only faith hope and love enter within the vail and have to do with unseen objects there; and also for what are in it as the ark and mercy seat types of Christ through whom mercy is communicated in a way of justice he being the propitiation and the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness. And this caution was given to Aaron:

that he die not; by appearing in the presence of God without his leave and order:

for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat; this one would think should be a reason why he should not die when he came into the most holy place because there was the mercy seat and Jehovah on it: and besides the cloud of incense on it he went in with for so many understand by the cloud the cloud of incense: thus Aben Ezra says the sense is that he should not enter but with incense which would make a cloud and so the glory not be seen lest he should die: and Jarchi observes that the Midrash or the more mystical and subtle sense is he shall not go in but with the cloud of incense on the day of atonement; but the more simple meaning or plain sense of the words is as the same writer notes that whereas he did continually appear there in the pillar of cloud; and because his Shechinah or glorious Majesty is revealed there he is cautioned not to use himself to go in i.e. at any time; with which agrees the Targum of Jonathan "for in my cloud the glory of my Shechinah or divine Majesty shall be revealed upon the mercy seat.'And this being the case such a glory being there though wrapped up in a cloud and thick darkness it was dangerous to enter but by divine order.

 

Leviticus 16:3.  3 “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering and of a ram as a burnt offering.

   YLT  3`With this doth Aaron come in unto the sanctuary; with a bullock a son of the herd for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering;

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 the Levitical priesthood and priests that they were obliged first to offer for their own sins and then for the sins of the people: the meaning is not as Aben Ezra says that he should bring the bullock into the holy place only that he should first give of his own a bullock for a sin offering to atone for himself and for the priests; nor could it be the body of the bullock he brought only the blood of it into the most holy place where he entered not without blood first with the blood of the bullock and then with the blood of the goat; for the body of the bullock for a sin offering was burnt without the camp and the body of the ram for the burnt offering was burnt upon the altar of burnt offering; see Hebrews 9:7.

 

Leviticus 16:4.  4 He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water and put them on.

   YLT  4a holy linen coat he putteth on and linen trousers are on his flesh and with a linen girdle he girdeth himself and with a linen mitre he wrappeth himself up; they [are] holy garments; and he hath bathed with water his flesh and hath put them on.

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 to make atonement for sin he having none in himself; and of his mean estate of humiliation afflictions and sufferings whereby he expiated sin and made reconciliation for iniquity; the high priest on the day of atonement not appearing in his golden garments as the Jews call others worn by him because there were some gold in them as being unsuitable to a day of affliction and humiliation but in garments of flax a meaner dress; and which also were an emblem of the righteousness of Christ and his saints called fine linen clean and white; which is wrought out by him as the author of it is in him as the subject of it and worn by him as the Lord our righteousness and in which as the instilled head and representative of his people he entered into heaven to show it to his Father and plead it with him:

these are holy garments; and to be used only in sacred service: there were four more holy garments besides these worn by the high priest as the breastplate the ephod the robe and the plate of gold and which also were put on at certain times on this day as at the offering of the morning and evening sacrifice and at the slaying and offering of the several creatures on this dayF21Misn. Yoma c. 3. sect. 4 6. see Leviticus 16:23

therefore shall he wash his flesh in water and so put them on; by dipping and that in forty seahs of water as the Targum of Jonathan; and this he did as often as he changed his garments which were no less than five times on this day. The tradition isF23Ib. sect. 3. no man goes into the court for service even though clean until he has dipped himself: the high priest dips five times and sanctifies i.e. washes his hands and feet ten times on that day and all are done in the holy place over the house of Parvah excepting this only that is first here: Jarchi on the text observes on this day he (the high priest) is bound to dipping at every change and five times he changes and to two washings of his hands and feet at the laver: this washing may be either an emblem of Christ's baptism which he submitted to before he entered on his public ministry and was by dipping; or rather of his being cleared acquitted and justified from all sin upon his resurrection from the dead after he had made atonement for it and before his entrance into heaven; as he had no sin of his own he needed not the washing of regeneration or the water of sanctifying grace to be sprinkled on him to cleanse him from it but inasmuch as he had sin imputed to him and which he took upon him to make atonement for it was proper and necessary when he had made it that he should be justified in the Spirit that so he might enter into heaven without sin imputed as he will appear without it when he comes a second time.

 

Leviticus 16:5.  5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.

   YLT  5`And from the company of the sons of Israel he taketh two kids of the goats for a sin-offering and one ram for a burnt-offering;

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 human united in one person; and who was made sin and became a sin offering for his people:

and one ram for a burnt offering; a type of Christ mighty to save this creature being a strong one; and of his dolorous sufferings this offering being burnt; and of God's gracious acceptance of his sacrifice which was of a sweet smelling savour to him; the burnt offering following by way of thanksgiving for atonement made by the sin offering graciously accepted by the Lord.

 

Leviticus 16:6.  6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his house.

   YLT  6and Aaron hath brought near the bullock of the sin-offering which is his own and hath made atonement for himself and for his house;

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 upon him and confessed his sins and his family'sF24Misn. Yoma c. 3. sect. 8. : and this is said to be "for himself"; not to atone for him which is afterwards expressed but which should come of him or from him and not from the congregation as Jarchi explains it; or as the Targum of Jonathan more clearly which is of his own money wholly at his own expense and not the people's:

and make atonement for himself and for his house; for himself for his own personal sins and for his family's sins those of his wife and children; and it may be extended to all the priests of the house of Aaron; and some say to the Levites also as Aben Ezra notes though he disapproves of it: by this it appears that Christ the antitype of Aaron is a more perfect and excellent priest than he who needed not to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for his people's for this he did once when he offered up himself Hebrews 7:27; and which was for his whole family and them only the elect of God consisting of Jews and Gentiles; part of which is in heaven and part on earth and both were reconciled or atonement made for them by the blood of Christ; whose house and family men appear to be when they believe and hope in him and hold fast their faith and hope; and who are made by him priests as well as kings to God; see Ephesians 3:15 Revelation 1:6.

 

Leviticus 16:7.  7 He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

   YLT  7and he hath taken the two goats and hath caused them to stand before Jehovah at the opening of the tent of meeting.

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 which made it the fitter emblem of Christ as a surety of his people; for though he had no sin inherent in him and natural to him yet he appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh and had sin imputed to him which rendered him obnoxious to divine justice: the number of these goats was two typical either of the two natures in Christ; his divine nature in which he is impassable and lives for ever which may be signified by the goat presented alive and let go; and his human nature in which he suffered and died and may be fitly represented by the goat that was slain; or else of the two estates of Christ before and after his resurrection his being put to death in the flesh and quickened in the Spirit; or rather this may signify the twofold consideration of Christ as Mediator one with respect to his divine Father to whom he made satisfaction by his death; and the other with respect to Satan with whom he conflicted in life and to whose power he was so far delivered up as not only to be tempted and harassed by him but through his instigation to be brought to the dust of death; See Gill on Leviticus 16:10; and these two goats according to the Jewish writersF25Misn. Yoma c. 6. sect. 1. were to be alike in sight or colour in stature and in value and to be taken together: Christ the antitype of them is the same dying and rising; the same that died rose again from the dead; the same that suffered is glorified; and the same that went up to heaven will come again in like manner:

and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; at the east of the court and the north of the altar as the MisnahF26Ib. c. 3. sect. 8. ; so that their faces were towards the west where the holy of holies the seat of the divine Majesty was and so said to be before the Lord or over against where he dwelt: this presentation may have respect to the death of Christ when he presented himself to God as an offering and a sacrifice; and which was done publicly in the sight of great multitudes and on the behalf of the whole congregation of the Lord's people and before him against whom sin is committed and to whom satisfaction is given.

 

Leviticus 16:8.  8 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.

   YLT  8`And Aaron hath given lots over the two goats one lot for Jehovah and one lot for a goat of departure;

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 MisnahF1Misn. 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 or urn called Calphi) and in it were two lots of box tree: the high priest shook the Calphi (or urn) and took out the two lots; one on which was written "for the Lord" and the other on which was written "for Azazel"; if that came up on the right hand the Sagan said to him my lord high priest lift up thy right hand on high; and if that on the left hand came up Rosh Beth Ab said to him my lord high priest lift up thy left hand on high: he put them upon the two goats and said a sin offering for the Lord; and they answered after him blessed be the Lord may the glory of his kingdom be for ever and ever: now these lots as Ben Gersom observes were alike not one greater than another; and they were of the same matter for if one had been of stone and the other of wood they might have been known by feeling and so the lots would not have been legal: and the same is observed by MaimonidesF2Hilchot Yom Hacippurim c. 3. sect. 1. that though they might be of any matter of wood or stone or metal yet one might not be great and the other small and the one of silver and the other of gold but both alike for the reason before given:

one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat: one had written upon it as in the above account "for the Lord"; and the other had written upon it "for Azazel"; directing that the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell was to be slain and offered up for a sin offering to him; and the other on which the lot for Azazel fell was to be kept alive and let go: now however casual and contingent the casting of a lot may seem to men it is certain to God the disposal of it is of him and according to his determination Proverbs 16:33; and this in the mystical sense here denotes that the sufferings and death of Christ were according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God and so were foretold in the Scriptures and came to pass according to his appointment will and command as was also his resurrection from the dead John 10:18; see Acts 1:23; and likewise his conflict with Satan John 14:30.

 

Leviticus 16:9.  9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell and offer it as a sin offering.

   YLT  9and Aaron hath brought near the goat on which the lot for Jehovah hath gone up and hath made it a sin-offering.

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 had brought and killed the sin offering for himself; after which we read of killing this sin offering for the people Leviticus 16:11; wherefore some take this offering here to be no other than a setting apart or devoting the goat for this service.

 

Leviticus 16:10.  10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement upon it and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

   YLT  10`And the goat on which the lot for a goat of departure hath gone up is caused to stand living before Jehovah to make atonement by it to send it away for a goat of departure into the wilderness.

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 alive was ordered to remain so:

to make an atonement with him; to make an atonement for the sins of the people of Israel along with the other for they both made one sin offering Leviticus 16:6; and this though spared alive for a while yet at length was killed; and how the Jewish writers relate as will be after observed:

and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness; or unto Azazel into the wilderness; which some understand of a mountain in the wilderness called Azazel to which the Targum of Jonathan has respect which paraphrases the word "to send him to die in a place strong and hard which is in the wilderness of Zuck;'and so Saadiah Gaon Jarchi Kimchi and others; and one in Aben Ezra says it was near Mount Sinai; but as it is rightly observed by some was this the name of a mountain Moses would have called it the mountain Azazel as he does other mountains by their names: nor is there any account of any such mountain in those parts by such who have travelled in it and if near Sinai it was a long way to send it from Jerusalem; and for which there seems to be no reason since there were many deserts between those two places: Aben Ezra suggests there is a secret or mystery in the word Azazel and says you may know it and the mystery of his name for he has companions in Scripture; and I will reveal to you says he part of it by a hint when you are the son of thirty three you may know its meaning that is by reckoning thirty three verses from Leviticus 16:8; where this word is first mentioned which will fall on Leviticus 17:7; "they shall no more offer unto devils"; and so R. Menachem interprets Azazel of Samael the angel of death the devil the prince that hath power over desolate places: there are several Christian writers of great note that understand this of the devil as OrigenF2Contr. Cels. 1. 6. p. 305. among the ancients; and of the moderns CocceiusF3Comment. in Heb. 9. sect. 25 &c. WitsiusF4De Oeconom. Faederum l. 4. c. 6. sect. 71 72 73. and SpencerF5De Leg. Heb. l. 3. Dissert. 8. c. 1. sect. 2. and of the same mind was our English poet Milton that Azazel was a demon:His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right a cherub tall. --Milton's Paradise Lost B. 1. l. 533 534. who think that by these two goats is signified the twofold respect of Christ our Mediator; one to God as a Judge to whom he made satisfaction by his death; the other to the devil the enemy with whom he conflicted in life; who according to prophecy was to be delivered up to Satan and have his heel bruised by him; and who was to come and did come into the wilderness of this world and when Jerusalem was a desert and became a Roman province; and who was led by the Spirit into wilderness of Judea in a literal sense to be tempted of the devil and had a sore conflict with him in the garden when he sweat as it were drops of blood; and upon the cross when he submitted to the death of it; during which time he had the sins of all his people on him and made an end of them so as to be seen no more; all which agrees with Leviticus 16:21; of which see more there; and it must be owned that no other sense seems so well to agree with the type as this; since the living goat had all the sins of the people on him and was reckoned so impure that he that led him into the wilderness stood in need of washing and cleansing Leviticus 16:21; whereas when Christ was raised from the dead he was clear of all sin being justified in the Spirit; and in his resurrection there was no impurity nor could any be reckoned or supposed to belong to him as Witsius well observes no not as the surety of his people; nor in his resurrection was he a sin offering as this goat was; nor could his ascension to heaven with any propriety be represented by this goat being let go into the wilderness: as for the notion of Barabbas as OrigenF6In Lev. Homil. 10. c. 16. fol. 82. being meant by Azazel or the rebellious people of the Jews carried into the wilderness or into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and which is the sense of Abarbinel and in which he is followed by many Christian writers they need no confutation.

 

Leviticus 16:11.  11 “And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his house and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.

   YLT  11`And Aaron hath brought near the bullock of the sin-offering which is his own and hath made atonement for himself and for his house and hath slaughtered the bullock of the sin-offering which [is] his own

And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself .... In the same manner and is to be understood in the same sense as in Leviticus 16:6

and shall make atonement for himself and for his house: by a confession of words as the Targum of Jonathan adds and which Jarchi calls the second confession; for the same was made and in the same words as before; see Gill on Leviticus 16:6

and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself; which was a type of Christ; the creature itself was being strong for labour and patient in bearing the yoke; Christ had a laborious service to perform the work of man's redemption and he was strong for it able to go through it and did not only readily take upon him the yoke of the law and became obedient to every command of his divine Father but even to death itself the death of the cross; the kind of sacrifice was a sin offering and such Christ in soul and body was made for his people; in order to which as this sacrifice he was put to death the use of which was to atone for all the sins of his mystical self his body the church; for all his family his children the priests of the Lord.

 

Leviticus 16:12.  12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine and bring it inside the veil.

   YLT  12and hath taken the fulness of the censer of burning coals of fire from off the altar from before Jehovah and the fulness of his hands of thin spice-perfume and hath brought [it] within the vail;

And he shall take a censer .... A fire pan a sort of chafing dish or perfuming pot; this was a golden one as appears from Hebrews 9:4; hence Christ the Angel of God's presence our interceding High Priest is said to have such an one Revelation 8:3; and so Josephus saysF7Antiqu. l. 3. c. 8. sect. 3. it was a golden one the high priest used on the day of atonement; with which agree the Misnic doctorsF8Misn. Yoma c. 4. sect. 4. who say on other days he took off the coals with a silver one and poured them into a golden one but on this day he took them off with a golden one:

full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord; these were bright lively coals not smoking and half extinct; and they were taken from off the altar of burnt offering from the western side of it as Jarchi says which was towards the holy of holies where the Lord had his dwelling: these burning coals denoted the sufferings of Christ which were properly punishments for the sins he bore flowed from the wrath of God comparable to fire were the curses of a fiery law and equal to the sufferings of the wicked often expressed by fire; they were many and very painful and excruciating though no ways inconsistent with the love of God to him as his Son for they were endured by him as the surety of his people and by which he expressed his flaming love and affection for them: he himself is altar sacrifice and priest the altar which sanctifies the gift; and the coals as on the altar denote the sufferings of Christ as upon him which he was able to bear; and the taking off the coals signifies the cessation of his sufferings; and the altar coals and taking of them off being before the Lord and in his sight show that Christ as a divine Person is and always was before him; that his sufferings were ever in view being appointed and foretold by him and when endured were grateful to him a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour; and that the cessation of them was in his presence and according to his will; and Christ now is the Lamb in the midst of the throne as though he had been slain where as such he is always beheld with pleasure and acceptance by the Lord:

and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small; both his hands as Aben Ezra two handfuls of this he took and put into a cup: of this sweet incense and its composition see Exodus 30:34; this was small itself but on the evening of the day of atonement it was put into the mortar again as Jarchi says and beaten very small and so was as expressed in the MisnahF9Misn. Yoma c. 4. sect. 4. "small of small": this may represent the intercession of Christ our high priest for his people; for as the prayers of the saints are set before the Lord as incense Psalm 141:2; so the intercession and mediation of Christ in favour of the acceptance of their prayers is signified by "much incense" Revelation 8:3; and which is always acceptable to God and may well be expressed by sweet incense: handfuls of it may denote the largeness of his intercession being for all the elect of God and for all things for them they stand in need of; and the infinite perfection and virtue of his person blood righteousness and sacrifice to make his intercession effectual: and being "beaten small" may signify his intercession made for particular persons and those the meanest and for particular things of every sort they want; as well as it may point at the fragrance and acceptance of Christ's mediation on such accounts the incense being more fragrant the smaller it is beaten:

and bring it within the vail: not the incense only but the burning coals of fire also the one in one hand and the other in the other hand; so the MisnahF11lb. c. 5. sect. 1. ; they brought out to him (the high priest) the cup and the censer; he took his handful and put it into the cup a large one according to its largeness and a small one according to its smallness and so was its measure; he took the censer in his right hand and the cup in his left and went into the sanctuary until he came between the two rails which divide between the holy and holy of holies: this was typical of Christ our high priest who is entered within the vail into the holiest of all with his blood righteousness and sacrifice where he ever lives to make intercession for us; not that Christ is considered in heaven as in a suffering state for he is in a most exalted one; but the virtue and efficacy of his sufferings and death always continue and which he ever improves on the behalf of his people by interceding for them; and their faith and hope enter within the vail and deal with him as having suffered for them.

 

Leviticus 16:13.  13 And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony lest he die.

   YLT  13and he hath put the perfume on the fire before Jehovah and the cloud of the perfume hath covered the mercy-seat which [is] on the testimony and he dieth not.

And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord .... Both the incense and burning coals of fire being carried within the vail the incense was put upon the coals and so it burned before the Lord whose seat was between the cherubim; and from whence it appears that this was done not without but within the vail: the Sadducees under the second temple would have it that the incense was put upon the fire without the vail wherefore the high priest on the evening of this day was sworn by the messengers of the sanhedrim not to make any alteration in what they should say to him; and this oath was given him in the house of Abtines where the incense was made with a special respect to that since it being within the vail they could not see it performed: the manner of his performance of this part of his service is thus related; he went in between the rails till he came to the north; when he was come to the north he turned his face to the south; he went on his left hand near the vail till he came to the ark; he put the censer between the two bars and heaped the incense upon the top of the coals and the whole house was filled with the smoke; he then went out backwards and prayed a short prayer in the outward house (the holy place) and he did not continue long in prayer lest the people of Israel should be frightenedF12Misn. Yoma c. 5. sect. 1. : the prayer he made is given us by the JewsF13Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. : now the incense being put upon the coals may denote the fervour and ardency of Christ's intercession and that his sufferings are the foundation of it on which it proceeds and are what give it a grateful odour or make it acceptable to the Lord:

and this was done that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony; where was the Shechinah or glorious majesty of God and which was not to be seen and therefore to be covered after this manner; which shows that there is no access to God but as upon a seat of mercy and a throne of grace; and even that there is no coming to him upon that but through the mediation and intercession of Christ:

that he die not; as his sons did boldly intruding where and doing what they should not: there is no approaching to God as an absolute God and live; but through Christ the Mediator and his intercession believers may draw nigh and see the face of God in Christ and live as Jacob did Genesis 32:30.

 

Leviticus 16:14.  14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

   YLT  14`And he hath taken of the blood of the bullock and hath sprinkled with his finger on the front of the mercy-seat eastward; even at the front of the mercy-seat he doth sprinkle seven times of the blood with his finger.

And he shall take of the blood of the bullock .... When the high priest slew the bullock the blood was received in a basin and given to another priest that he might keep stirring it on a foursquare bench in the temple that so it might not thicken and congealF14Misn. Yoma c. 4. sect. 3. but by a continual motion might become thin and liquid and fit for sprinkling; and this was doing while the high priest was gone into the most holy place to offer the incense; which being done he came out again and took the basin of blood out of the hand of the priest and went in a second time and did with it as follows:

and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; with his right finger or forefinger as the Targum of Jonathan; and the blood sprinkled with it did not fall upon the mercy seat as our version seems to intimate but it was sprinkled over against it towards the upper part of it. Aben Ezra says that according to their interpreters "upon the face of the mercy seat" as the words may be literally rendered signifies above between the two bars and here it was the high priest stood; for according to the MisnahF15Ibid. c. 5. sect. 3. he went in to the place where he had gone in and stood in the place where he had stood and then sprinkled that is in the same place where he had been and offered the incense; See Gill on Leviticus 16:13; and here he stood not with his face to the east for then his back must have been to the mercy seat but he stood with his face to the eastern part of the mercy seat and there sprinkled the blood upwards:

and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times; besides the first sprinkling that was upward and those downward; so says the MisnahF16Misn. Yoma c. 5. sect. 3. he sprinkled of it (the blood) once above and seven times below; the same Jarchi observes; and the tradition adds and he did not look in sprinkling neither above nor below; that is he did not look to the mercy seat nor was there any need of it since the blood did not reach the mercy seat but fell upon the ground; it was enough that it was done before it and over against it and with a respect unto it; or otherwise had it fallen on it it would have been besmeared with it and would not have been so comely and decent: the mystery of this was to represent the blood of Christ and perfect purification and atonement by it and that mercy and justice are reconciled to each other and agree together in the forgiveness of sinners; and that there is no mercy but in a way of justice no remission of sin no justification of persons no salvation for any of the sons of men but through the blood of Christ and the complete atonement made thereby.

 

Leviticus 16:15.  15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering which is for the people bring its blood inside the veil do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

   YLT  15`And he hath slaughtered the goat of the sin-offering which [is] the people's and hath brought in its blood unto the inside of the vail and hath done with its blood as he hath done with the blood of the bullock and hath sprinkled it on the mercy-seat and at the front of the mercy-seat

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people .... That upon which the lot came for the Lord Leviticus 16:9; the high priest having sprinkled the blood of the bullock came out of the most holy place and went into the court of the tabernacle to the altar of burnt offering and on the north side of that slew the goat for the sin offering the place where all such were killed; see Leviticus 1:11. This was a type of Christ of his being slain and made an offering for the sins of his people:

and bring his blood within the vail: it being received into a basin as before the blood of the bullock was he took it and with it went in a third time into the most holy place:

and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat; it should be rendered "toward the mercy seat" it is by NoldiusF17Concord. Ebr. partic. p. 704. No. 2013. ; See Gill on Leviticus 16:14.

 

Leviticus 16:16.  16 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

  YLT  16and he hath made atonement for the sanctuary because of the uncleanness of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins; and so he doth for the tent of meeting which is tabernacling with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

And he shall make an atonement for the holy place .... Even the holy of holies as Aben Ezra interprets it into which the high priest entered with blood for that purpose; the Targum of Jonathan adds by a verbal confession that is of sin; but atonement was not made in that way but by the blood of the bullock and goat which was sprinkled towards the mercy seat above and below: and this was made

because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins; which heap of words shows how many and heinous the sins of the people of Israel were being defections from God rebellions against him transgressions of his law and which brought pollution and guilt upon them which could only be expiated by blood; and though the people of Israel did not enter so much as into the holy place where the priests at times went and much less into the holiest of all yet their sins in some sense entered there and came before the Lord that dwelt there; as the sins of men do even reach up to heaven itself and cry for wrath and vengeance: and so made the Israelites unworthy of such a favour as for the Lord to dwell among them in that most holy place in so solemn a manner; and for their high priest to enter there and consult the oracle of God for them and make intercession on their account to which atonement was necessary; even as men by their sins render themselves unworthy of entering into the heavenly state nor can they without the atonement and sacrifice of Christ; and to this purification of the patterns of heavenly things; and of the heavenly things or places themselves the apostle refers Hebrews 9:23

and shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness; that is the court of the tabernacle where the Israelites were admitted and where they often came in their uncleanness either ignorantly or presumptuously and yet notwithstanding the tabernacle remained among them; but it was necessary that atonement should be made for the uncleanness in it and around it that it might continue and they might have the privilege of coming into it and worshipping in it. This shows that there are sins of holy things and which attend the most solemn service which are committed in the sanctuary of the Lord and while waiting upon him in his house and ordinances; which must be expiated and removed. The same rites were observed in making the atonement for this part of the sanctuary as for the most holy place particularly by sprinkling the blood in like manner only elsewhere; so says Jarchi as he sprinkled of them both within that is of the blood of the bullock and of the goat within the vail once above and seven times below; so he sprinkled by the vail without of both of them once above and seven times below.

 

Leviticus 16:17.  17 There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out that he may make atonement for himself for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.

   YLT  17`And no man is in the tent of meeting in his going in to make atonement in the sanctuary till his coming out; and he hath made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation .... Not any of the priests as Aben Ezra no not in the holy place where they ministered nor in the court of the tabernacle nor in any of the courts nor indeed any of the people: all places were cleared

when he the high priest:

goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place until he come out; this in the mystery of it was to signify that atonement for sin is made only by Christ our high priest; he himself and no other bore our sins and he himself purged them away or by his sacrifice alone expiated them; his own arm wrought salvation and of the people there were none with him to help and assist him; when he the Shepherd was smitten by the sword of justice the sheep were scattered all his disciples forsook him and fled; there were none to appear for him or stand by him or in the least to lend an assisting hand in the great work in which he was engaged; he is the only Mediator between God and man both of redemption and of intercession; he is the alone Saviour to him only are sinners to look for salvation and he is to have all the glory; he had no partner in the work and he will have no rival in the honour of it:

and have made an atonement for himself and for his household; his whole family and all the priests by the bullock of his sin offering as Aben Ezra observes and by carrying in the blood of it within the vail and sprinkling it there:

and for all the congregation of Israel; by the goat of their sin offering as the same writer notes and doing with the blood of that as with the blood of the bullock; all typical of the atonement of Christ for his mystical self the church; for the whole family and household of God; for the general assembly and church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven.

 

Leviticus 16:18.  18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat and put it on the horns of the altar all around.

   YLT  18`And he hath gone out unto the altar which [is] before Jehovah and hath made atonement for it; and he hath taken of the blood of the bullock and of the blood of the goat and hath put on the horns of the altar round about;

And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord .... The golden altar the altar of incense which stood in the holy place without the vail over against the most holy place where Jehovah dwelt and so is said to be before him; of this altar the MisnahF18Yoma c. 5. Sect. 5. understands it and so do Jarchi and Ben Gersom; and according to Exodus 30:10; once a year Aaron was to make an atonement on the horns of it with the blood of the sin offering which plainly refers to this time the day of atonement; but Aben Ezra is of opinion that the altar of burnt offering is meant; and Bishop Patrick is inclined to think so too because he supposes the high priest's going out signifies his coming from the sanctuary where the golden altar was and which had been cleansed Leviticus 16:16; and because if the altar of burnt offering is not here meant no care seems to be taken of its cleansing; but it should be observed that the holy place Leviticus 16:16 means the holy of holies and not the holy place where the altar of incense stood; and that the altar of burnt offering was atoned for and cleansed when the tabernacle of the congregation was in which it stood and from which this altar is manifestly distinguished Leviticus 16:20; wherefore the reason given for the altar of burnt offering holds good for the altar of incense since if that is not intended no care is taken about it; add to this that the last account of the high priest was that he was in the most holy place and not the holy place Leviticus 16:17; out of which he now came into the holy place where the altar of incense was:

and make an atonement for it; where incense was daily offered up signifying the prayers of the saints which having many failings and imperfections in them yea many sins and transgressions attending them need atonement by the blood of Christ of which this was a type:

and shall take of the blood of the bullock and of the blood of the goat; mixed as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it; and so Jarchi asks what is the atonement of it? he takes the blood of the bullock and the blood of the goat and mixes them together: the account given of this affair in the MisnahF19lbid. Sect. 4. is; he poured the blood of the bullock into the blood of the goat and then put a full basin into an empty one that it might be well mixed together: and having so done he did as follows:

and put it upon the horns of the altar round about; upon the four horns which were around it; and it is asked in the MisnahF20Ut supra. (Misn. Yoma c.5. sect 3.) where did he begin? at the northeast horn and so to the northwest and then to the southwest and (ended) at the southeast; at the place where he began with the sin offering on the outward altar there he finished on the inward altar and as he went along he put the blood on each horn which was the atonement for the altar.

 

Leviticus 16:19.  19 Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

   YLT  19and he hath sprinkled on it of the blood with his finger seven times and hath cleansed it and hath hallowed it from the uncleannesses of the sons of Israel.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times .... This was done with his right finger or forefinger as the Targum of Jonathan and seven times to denote the perfect cleansing of the altar with it. Jarchi observes that after he the high priest had put the puttings (of blood) upon the horns of it he sprinkled of it seven sprinklings on the top of it: the Misnah saysF21Yoma c. 5. sect. 6. upon the pure place of it that is upon a place of it from whence the coals and ashes were removed and where the gold appeared:

and cleanse it and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel; by sprinkling the blood upon it; Jarchi's note is "and cleanse it" from what was past "and hallow it" for time to come.

 

Leviticus 16:20.  20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place the tabernacle of meeting and the altar he shall bring the live goat.

   YLT  20`And he hath ceased from making atonement [for] the sanctuary and the tent of meeting and the altar and hath brought near the living goat;

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place .... That is the holy of holies by carrying in the blood of the bullock and of the goat there and sprinkling them as before observed:

and the tabernacle of the congregation; the great court where the people met and where the altar of burnt offering stood:

and the altar; the altar of incense in the holy place; and so all the parts of the tabernacle were reconciled and atoned for even the holy of holies the holy place and the court of the people: all the work the day of atonement we are toldF23Yoma c. 5. sect. 7. was done according to the order prescribed and that if anything was done before another it was doing nothing: thus for instance if the blood of the goat went before (or was sprinkled before) the blood of the bullock he must return and sprinkle of the blood of the goat after the blood of the bullock; and if before he has finished the puttings (of the blood) within the blood is poured out (that is at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering ) he shall bring other blood and return and sprinkle anew within and so in the temple and at the golden altar for every atonement is by itself:

he shall bring the live goat; that which remained alive after the other was slain as it was to do according to the lot that fell upon it Leviticus 16:10; this was brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation whither the high priest went and performed the following rites.

 

Leviticus 16:21.  21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions concerning all their sins putting them on the head of the goat and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.

   YLT  21and Aaron hath laid his two hands on the head of the living goat and hath confessed over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins and hath put them on the head of the goat and hath sent [it] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness;

And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat .... In this order as the Targum of Jonathan says his right hand upon his left hand on the head of the live goat; this was done in the name of the people hereby transferring their sins and the punishment of them to it:

and confess him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins; which takes in their sins greater or lesser sins of ignorance and presumption known or not knownF24Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Teshnbah c. 1. sect. 2. even all sorts of and all of them: the form of confession used in after times was thisF25Misnah Yoma c. 6. sect. 2. ; O Lord thy people the house of Israel have done perversely have transgressed sinned berate thee O Lord expiate now the iniquities transgressions and sins in which thy people the house of Israel have done perversely transgressed and sinned before thee as it is written in the law of Moses thy servant (#Le 16:30;) and it is added and the priests and people that stood in the court when they heard the name Jehovah go out of the mouth of the high priest they bowed and worshipped and fell upon their faces and said blessed be God let the glory of his kingdom be for ever and ever:

putting them upon the head of the goat; that is the iniquities transgressions and sins of the people of Israel before confessed and that by confession of them with imposition of hands; and which was typical of the imputation of the sins of the people of God to Christ of the Lord laying or causing to meet on him the iniquities of them all and of his being made sin by imputation for them:

and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness; whether the wilderness of Judea or what other is intended is not certain. The Targum of Jonathan calls it the wilderness of Zuck; which according to the MisnahF26Misnah Yoma sect. 8. was three miles from Jerusalem at the entrance of the wilderness; and whereas in another MisnahF1Misn. Hieros. c. 6. sect. 9. fol. 43. 2. instead of Bethchadudo Bethhoron is mentioned which is said also to be three miles from Jerusalem: it is not an improbable conjecture of Dr. LightfootF2Chorograph. Cent. on Matth. c. liv. Vid. ib. c. 6. xix. that the goat was sent in the way to Bethhoron which was the same distance from Jerusalem as the other place was in the northern coast of Judea and had very rough hills about it and a narrow passage to it. The man by whom he was sent was one fit for the purpose that knew the way to the wilderness and was acquainted with it; a man of years and understanding and of a disposition suitable for such a service; the Septuagint version renders it one that was "ready"; and the Targums one that was "prepared" to go or "appointed" and got ready; Jarchi says the day before; but the Targum of Jonathan a year ago: perhaps it designs one that being once appointed was continued and so was used to it from time to time and constantly did it: the phrase properly signifies "a man of time" or "opportunity"F3איש עתי "viri opportuni" Montanus; "viri tempestivi" Tigurine version. ; Aben Ezra finds fault with those who render it a wise man but observes that some of their Rabbins say it was a priest that led the goat to the wilderness which he approves of; according to the MisnahF4 all were fit for this service (formerly common and unclean) but what the high priest did (afterwards) was fixed and they did not suffer an Israelite to lead him (i.e. a common Israelite one that was not a priest); according to the TalmudF5T. Bab. Yoma fol. 66. 1 2. even a stranger and an unclean person was fit for this service. In the mystical sense by this fit man or man of opportunity is not meant according to Abarbinel Nebuchadnezzar who led the children of Israel into the wilderness of the people into the Babylonish captivity; but rather if it could be understood of Christ being sent and carried into the wilderness of the Gentile world upon his resurrection and ascension to heaven the Apostle Paul might be thought of; who was a chosen vessel to carry his name there and was eminently the apostle of the Gentiles: but seeing by Azazel to whom this goat was let go Satan seems to be meant; if as some thinkF6Jackson & alii apud Patrick in loe. Christ was baptized on the day of atonement and on that day was led by the Spirit to the wilderness of Judea there to be tempted of the devil that might be considered as a very singular accomplishment of the type; and the Jews seem to expect the Messiah on the day of atonementF7T. Bab. Yoma fol. 19. 2. : or rather as WitsiusF8De Oeconomia Foeder. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 72. observes the hand of the fit man may denote the power that rose up against Christ namely the Gentiles and the people of Israel and particularly Pilate who took care that Christ burdened with the cross an emblem of the curse should be led without the gate where he had his last conflict with the devil; See Gill on Leviticus 16:10. This is applied to Pilate by OrigenF9In Levit. Homil. 10. c. 16. fol. 82. .

 

Leviticus 16:22.  22 The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

   YLT  22and the goat hath borne on him all their iniquities unto a land of separation. `And he hath sent the goat away into the wilderness

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited .... Where it would never be seen and from whence it would never return more; and so was a proper type of Christ who has borne all the sins of all his people in his own body on the cross and all the punishment due unto them; and so has made full satisfaction for them and has removed them from them as far as the east is from the west and out of the sight of avenging justice; so that when they are sought they shall not be found nor shall they ever return unto them or be brought against them any more; see Isaiah 53:12

and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness; that is the man that was appointed to have him thither; and so the Targum of Jonathan "and the man shall let go the goat into the wilderness of Zuck; and the goat shall go upon the mountains of Beth Chadure (or Chadudo) and a tempestuous wind from the Lord shall drive him down and he shall die.'The manner of conducting this whole affair was this; they made for him a causeway (i.e. for the man that had the goat committed to his care to have it out of the court and out of the city) because of the Babylonians who would pluck him by the hair and say Get out begone get out begone. The nobles of Jerusalem accompanied him to the first booth for there were ten booths from Jerusalem to Zuck which were ninety furlongs seven and a half to every mile; at every (i.e. twelve miles) at every booth they said to him Lo food lo water and they accompanied him from booth to booth excepting the last of them; for there was not one went with him to Zuck but stood afar off and observed what he did: what did he do? he parted a scarlet line half of it he bound to the rock and half of it he bound between his horns (the goat's) and pushed him backwards and he rolled and went down but before he came half way down the mountain he was dashed to pieces; then he (the man) went and sat under the last booth until it was dark--they said to the high priest the goat is got to the wilderness; but from whence did they know that the goat was got to the wilderness? they made watchtowers or beacons and they waved linen cloths and so knew when the goat was come to the WildernessF11Yoma c. 6. sect. 4 5 6 8. . But the Scripture is entirely silent about the death of this goat though it no doubt died in the wilderness only says that it was let go and was at liberty to go where it would; intimating that the people of Israel were free from all their sins and they should be no more seen nor remembered; typical of the deliverance and freedom of the people of God from all their sins by Christ. This affair was imitated by Satan among the Heathens particularly the Egyptians as has been observed by many out of HerodotusF12Euterpe sive l. 2. c. 39. ; who relates that they used to imprecate many things upon the head of a beast slain for sacrifice and then carried it to market where were Grecian merchants to whom they sold it; but if there were none they cast it into the river execrating the head after this manner that if any evil was to befall either themselves that sacrificed or all Egypt it might be turned upon that head. And on account of this custom which obtained among all the Egyptians no one among them would ever taste the head of any animal; which PlutarchF13De Iside & Osir. also affirms who says that having made an execration upon the head of the sacrifice and cut it off formerly they cast it into the river but now they give it to strangers. And a like custom obtained among other nations as the Massilians and GreciansF14Vid. Outram. de Sacrificiis l. 1. c. 22. sect. 14. .

 

Leviticus 16:23.  23 “Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.

   YLT  23and Aaron hath come in unto the tent of meeting and hath stripped off the linen garments which he had put on in his going in unto the sanctuary and hath placed them there;

And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation .... Having been into the most holy place a fourth time as the Jews say to fetch out the censer and the incense cup; wherefore the Jewish writers observe that this verse is not in its proper place; so Jarchi from the Rabbins says the whole section is in its order excepting this which was after the sacrifice of his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people; and the burning the inwards of the bullock and the goat which were done without in the golden garments; and then he dipped himself and washed his hands and feet and stripped and put on the white garments and went in to fetch the incense cup and the censer with which he offered in the inmost place (the holy of holies):

and shall put off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the holy place; the holy of holies that is as Jarchi interprets it after he had brought it (the censer) out then he clothed himself with the golden garments for the daily evening sacrifice; and this was the order of the services (on the day of atonement); the daily morning sacrifice (was performed) in the golden garments; the service of the bullock and of the goat and the incense of the censer in the white garments; and his ram and the ram of the people and some of the additions in the golden garments; and the bringing out of the incense cup and the censer in the white garments; and the rest of the additions and the daily evening sacrifice and the incense of the temple on the inward altar in golden garments; and the order of the Scripture according to the services so it was:

and shall leave them there; in one of the chambers of the tabernacle as afterwards in the temple where they were laid up never to be used more as say the Jewish writers Ben Gersom and others; hence we learn says Jarchi that they were obliged to be laid up and he the high priest might not minister in these four garments on another day of atonement.

 

Leviticus 16:24.  24 And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place put on his garments come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.

   YLT  24and he hath bathed his flesh with water in the holy place and hath put on his garments and hath come out and hath made his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people and hath made atonement for himself and for the people;

And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place .... In the court of the tabernacle of the congregation where as Aben Ezra says they spread fine linen for him; Jarchi says it was a place on the roof of the house of Parvah where all the dippings and washings were made except the first; See Gill on Leviticus 16:4; and this washing was no other than the dipping of his whole body in water; and if our Lord was baptized on this day as some have thought before observed whose baptism was by dipping Matthew 3:16; there will appear in this a great likeness between the type and the antitype:

and put on his garments and come forth; put on his golden garments and come out of the place where he had washed himself to the court where was the altar of burnt offering: all which may be an emblem of Christ's putting off the pure and spotless garment of the flesh in which he appeared in a low estate and made atonement for sin; and of his burial which the washing of the flesh may point at being what was used of the dead and which washing in baptism is a figure of; and of his resurrection from the dead when God gave him glory and he appeared in a glorious body signified by his golden garments put on again:

and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people; his ram and the people's ram and the bullock of the people and their seven lambs as it is written Numbers 29:8; so Aben Ezra first his own and then the people's which order was before observed in the sin offerings:

and make an atonement for himself and for the people; which though properly made by the sin offerings and the carrying the blood of them into the most holy place yet these were the completing of it being the last of the services peculiar to the day of atonement: the service performed by the high priest after the sending away the goat into the wilderness was this; he read this "sixteenth" chapter of Leviticus and Leviticus 23:27 if he read in linen garments he washed his hands and his feet he stripped himself went down and dipped himself and came up and wiped himself; then they brought him the golden garments and he put them on and washed his hands and his feet and went out and offered his ram and the people's ram and the seven perfect lambs of a year old; then he washed his hands and his feet and stripped and went down and dipped and came up and wiped himself; then they brought him the white garments and he put them on and washed his hands and his feet and went into the holy of holies to fetch out the incense cup and the censer; then he washed his hands and his feet and stripped and went down and dipped and came up and wiped himself; then they brought him the golden garments and he put them on and he washed his hands and his feet and went in (to the holy place) to offer the evening incense and to him the lamps; and then he washed his hands and his feet and stripped; and they brought him his own garments (what he usually wore when out of service) and he put them on; and they accompanied him to his house where he made a feast for his friends because he was come out of the sanctuary in safetyF15Misn. Yoma c. 7. sect. 3 4. : where it seems sometimes some died and others became sick by getting cold through frequent shifting of their clothes and washing and wearing thin linen garments.

 

Leviticus 16:25.  25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

   YLT  25and with the fat of the sin-offering he doth make perfume on the altar.

And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. The brazen altar of burnt offering and so says Jarchi on the outward altar; for of the inward (i.e. the altar of incense) it is written ye shall not offer upon it strange incense nor a burnt offering nor a meat offering; and this fat he explains to be what was on the inwards of both the bullock and the goat; and so says Aben Ezra the fat of the bullock for the sin offering and the fat of the goat for a sin offering and also the fat of the kid of the goat which was a sin offering for the priest Numbers 29:11; this fat was burnt at the same time the burnt offerings were offered in Leviticus 16:24.

 

Leviticus 16:26.  26 And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and afterward he may come into the camp.

   YLT  26`And he who is sending away the goat for a goat of departure doth wash his garments and hath bathed his flesh with water and afterwards he cometh in unto the camp.

And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat .... Or unto Azazel; who or what Azazel is; see Gill on Leviticus 16:10 and See Gill on Leviticus 16:21; for the goat and Azazel are different not the same nor to be confounded as they are in our version:

shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; in forty seahs of water according to the Targum of Jonathan; so unclean was this person reckoned by what he had to do with the goat sent away by him; which in a typical and ceremonial sense had all the sins of the people of Israel on it: and he and his garments were defiled as soon as he could be said to be letting go; and that was as Gersom says as soon as he was out of the city; for as long as he was in the city he was in the place from whence the motion was made but as soon as he was out of it he was in the way and then he began to be in that motion and might be then called "he that let him go": and from that time the clothes he had on were defiled; according to the MisnahF16Misn. Yoma c. 6. sect. 6. from the time he was got without the walls of Jerusalem:

and afterwards come into the camp; of Israel while in the wilderness and into the city in later times and so into the sanctuary and enjoyed all civil and religious privileges as another man: and something like this obtained among the Heathens as has been observed by many learned men particularly out of PorphyryF17De Abstinentia l. 2. c. 44. ; who says all divines agree in this that such sacrifices as were offered for averting evils were not to be touched but such needed purifications; nor might any such an one go into the city; nor into his own house before he had washed his clothes and his body in a river or in a fountain: all this may be an emblem of those who were concerned in having Christ without the gates of Jerusalem to be crucified and who afterwards being sensible of their sin not only had forgiveness of it and were washed from it in the blood of Christ but being baptized in water were admitted into the church of God Acts 2:37; and in general may show the nature of sin that such who have anything to do with any who have it on them though only in a ceremonial way are defiled by it and need washing; and also the imperfection of ceremonial rites and sacrifices to take away sin.

 

Leviticus 16:27.  27 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place shall be carried outside the camp. And they shall burn in the fire their skins their flesh and their offal.

   YLT  27`And the bullock of the sin-offering and the goat of the sin-offering whose blood hath been brought in to make atonement in the sanctuary doth [one] bring out unto the outside of the camp and they have burnt with fire their skins and their flesh and their dung;

And the bullock for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering .... The one for Aaron and his family the other for the people of Israel of which see Leviticus 16:5

whose blood was brought in to make an atonement in the holy place; the holy of holies where it was brought and sprinkled as directed inLeviticus 16:14

shall one carry forth without the camp; by command as Aben Ezra observes; by the order of the high priest; and perhaps more than one was employed to carry out those carcasses they being too large for one man and as it seems from a following clause; and the Targum of Jonathan is

"they shall be carried out on staves by the hands of the junior priests;

so Jarchi saysF18In Misn. Yoma c. 6. sect. 7. four men carried two staves two before and two behind and they went staff by staff and the bullock and the goat were upon them and they carried them one upon another: this was done after the high priest had done to them what was necessary; for so it is said he went to the bullock and to the goat that were to be burnt; he ripped them up and took out their inwards and put them in a bowl and offered them on the top of the altar; and cut them with cuttings (made incisions into the flesh of them but did not part it) and ordered them to be carried out to the place of burning which was without the camp of Israel and afterwards without the city of Jerusalem: the mystery of this and the application of it to Christ setting forth the nature and place of Christs sufferings are fully and largely expressed by the apostle in Hebrews 13:11

and they shall burn in the fire their skins and their flesh and their dung; the priests as Aben Ezra; for there were more than one concerned as in carrying them out so in the burning of them: the high priest was not concerned in it for while these were burning he was reading as observed on Leviticus 16:24; so that he that saw the high priest when he was reading saw not the bullock and the goat when they were burnt; and he that saw the bullock and the goat burnt saw not the high priest when he read; not because it was not lawful but because the way was distant and the business of both was done togetherF19Misn. Yoma c. 7 sect. 2. : this was done in a place called the place of ashesF20Misn. Zebachim c. 5. sect. 2. & c. 12. sect. 5. where the ashes of the altar of burnt offering were carried; See Gill on Leviticus 4:11 andSee Gill on Leviticus 4:12.

 

Leviticus 16:28.  28 Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and afterward he may come into the camp.

   YLT  28and he who is burning them doth wash his garments and hath bathed his flesh with water and afterwards he cometh in unto the camp.

And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water .... In forty seahs of water as the Targum of Jonathan; that is everyone of those that burnt them as Aben Ezra observes; for these being sin offerings and had a connection with the sins of men for whom they were offered the persons concerned in the carrying and burning of them were equally defiled and needed washing as the man that led and let go the goat into the wilderness:

and afterwards he shall come into the camp; and have the liberty of conversation with men in civil and religious things but not till evening; so long he was defiled; and according to the MisnahF21Misn. Yoma c. 6. sect. 7.0 from the time they got without the walls of the court; and after washing and bathing and when the evening was come they were clean; and might go where they pleased

 

Leviticus 16:29.  29 This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month on the tenth day of the month you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.

   YLT  29`And it hath been to you for a statute age-during in the seventh month in the tenth of the month ye humble yourselves and do no work -- the native and the sojourner who is sojourning in your midst;

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you .... As long as the Aaronic priesthood was in being and the Levitical dispensation lasted until: the true Messiah came and put an end to all these rites and ceremonies; until that time this service was to be performed by the high priest in succession every year:

that in the seventh month; the month Tisri as the Targum of Jonathan explains it which answers to part of our September and was the seventh month from the month Abib or Nisan answering to part of our March; which was appointed the first month upon the Israelites coming out of Egypt in that month and for that reason; otherwise this seventh month or Tisri was the first month of the year before and indeed continued to be so notwithstanding with respect to things civil:

on the tenth day of the month; on which day the Jews sayF23Seder Olam Rabba c. 6. p. 19. Moses descended from the mount the second time with the tables of the law and the tidings of forgiveness of the sin of the calf; wherefore this day is thought to be appointed a day of affliction and humiliation for that and all other sins and for the atonement of them and on this day the jubilee trumpet was blown Leviticus 25:9

ye shall afflict your souls; not only by humiliation of the heart for sin and by repentance of it and by turning from their evil ways but by corporeal fasting which is chiefly meant by the affliction of their souls; so the Targum of Jonathan explains it by abstaining from eating and from drinking and from the use of baths and from anointing and from the use of shoes and of the marriage bed; and so it is said in the MisnahF24Misn. Yoma c. 8. sect. 1 2 4. on the day of atonement eating and drinking and washing and anointing and putting on of the shoes and the use of the bed are forbidden; whoever eats the quantity of a gross date with its kernels or drinks a mouthful (as much as he can hold in his jaws) is guilty: they do not afflict children on the day of atonement but they train them up a year or two before that they may be inured to the command; hence this day in Acts 27:9 is called "the fast":

and do no work at all; no bodily work for it was in that respect a sabbath as it is afterwards called; the Jewish canon is he that ate and did any work was guilty of two sins or was obliged to two sin offeringsF25Ibid. sect. 3. :

whether it be one of your own country or a stranger that sojourneth among you; whether a native of the land of Israel that was born there and of parents who were Israelites or one that was a proselyte to the Jewish religion a proselyte of righteousness as Ben Gersom interprets it; this law concerning fasting and abstinence from all servile work on the day of atonement was binding on the one as on the other

 

Leviticus 16:30.  30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you to cleanse you that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.

   YLT  30for on this day he maketh atonement for you to cleanse you; from all your sins before Jehovah ye are clean;

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you to cleanse you .... By offering the sin offering for them; typical of the sacrifice of Christ whose soul was made an offering for sin whereby atonement is made for it and whose blood cleanses from all sin. Though the word "priest" is not in the text it is rightly supplied as it is by Aben Ezra for by no other could a sacrifice be offered or atonement made; and on the day of atonement only by the high priest who was a type of Christ our high priest who has by his sacrifice made reconciliation for sin and by himself has purged from it:

that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord; which is a general phrase as Aben Ezra observes and may be understood of sins of ignorance and presumption; as Christ by his blood and sacrifice has cleansed all his people from all their sins of every sort so that they stand pure and clean unblamable and unreproveable before the throne of God and in his sight; see Colossians 1:22.

 

Leviticus 16:31.  31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.

   YLT  31it [is] to you a sabbath of rest and ye have humbled yourselves -- a statute age-during.

It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you .... From all servile work as before observed; typical of a cessation from the performance of sinful works at least from a sinful course of life and from a dependence on works of righteousness when a man is brought to believe in Christ and in the atonement which he has made see Hebrews 4:3

and ye shall afflict your souls by a statute for ever: as long as the ceremonial law and its statutes and ordinances lasted which were to be until the time of reformation; and till that time came once a year on the day of atonement they were to keep a severe fast here called an afflicting of their souls; and in this respect this day differed from the seventh day sabbath which was rather a festival than a fast and is what led some of the Heathen writersF26Martial. l. 4. Epigram. 4. Justin. e Trogo l. 36. Suetonius in Vita Octav. Aug. c. 76. into that this take that the Jews fasted on the sabbath day. The time of Christ's sufferings and of his being a sacrifice for the sins of his people was a time of great affliction to his disciples; then it was the children of the bridegroom fasted he being taken from them; and true humiliation for sin and repentance of it are occasioned and influenced by a view of a suffering Saviour and atonement by him; and this may denote also that such that believe in Christ and in his atonement must expect afflictions and troubles in this world

 

Leviticus 16:32.  32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement and put on the linen clothes the holy garments;

   YLT  32`And the priest whom he doth anoint and whose hand he doth consecrate to act as priest instead of his father hath made atonement and hath put on the linen garments the holy garments;

And the priest whom he shall anoint .... Whom God shall anoint or shall be anointed that shall succeed in the high priesthood as Aaron's sons did the eldest of them and none but such were anointed:

and whom he shall consecrate; or fill his hands by putting the sacrifices into them; See Gill on Exodus 28:41 andSee Gill on Exodus 29:9 Exodus 29:24; by which and by anointing him and clothing him with the priestly garments he was consecrated and installed into his office in order

to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead: a son of an high priest was always preferred to any other and to him it of right belonged to succeed his father in his office: and such an one thus consecrated

shall make the atonement; on this day of atonement; not a common priest but the high priest only; so Jarchi observes this expiation of the day of atonement was not right but by an high priest; for the whole section is said concerning Aaron and therefore it must needs be said of an high priest that comes after him that should be as he was:

and shall put on the linen clothes even the holy garments: that is on the day of atonement; in which clothes all the service peculiar to that day as it was done by Aaron so it was to be done by all his successors.

 

Leviticus 16:33.  33 then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary [a] and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

   YLT  33and he hath made atonement [for] the holy sanctuary; and [for] the tent of meeting even [for] the altar he doth make atonement; yea for the priests and for all the people of the assembly he maketh atonement.

And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary .... The holy of holies just in the same manner as Aaron had done Leviticus 16:16

and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation; the court of the tabernacle and the holy place and all in them as Aaron did in the places referred

and for the altar; see Leviticus 16:18

and he shall make an atonement for the priests; for himself and for his family and for all the priests as Aaron did by his bullock of the sin offering Leviticus 16:6

and for all the people of the congregation of Israel; the whole body of the Israelites and with them the Levites as Aben Ezra observes for they are not called priests; indeed every priest was a Levite but not every Levite a priest; wherefore these were included not among the priests but in the congregation of Israel. These several atonements according to Ben Gersom were separate and distinct and did not hinder one another or interfere with one another.

 

Leviticus 16:34.  34 This shall be an everlasting statute for you to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.

   YLT  34`And this hath been to you for a statute age-during to make atonement for the sons of Israel because of all their sins once in a year;' and he doth as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you .... Which is the third time of its being observed see Leviticus 16:29 to show that this was a law of considerable moment and to be taken notice of and strictly and closely kept by the priests to whom these words are directed and on whom the chief service of the day lay:

to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year; namely on the tenth day of the seventh month or Tisri as before directed:

and he did as the Lord commanded Moses; that is Aaron did as the Targum of Jonathan Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom supply it; when the day of atonement came as Jarchi expresses it he did according to this order to fulfil the decree of the king even the King of kings; whose will it was that such a day should be yearly observed and such and such rules performed in it; so very significant of Christ and of the atonement to be made by him and which has been made.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Leviticus 16:33 That is the Most Holy Place