mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 16.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xvii" n="xvii" next="Lev.xviii" prev="Lev.xvi" progress="57.12%" title="Chapter XVI">
<h2 id="Lev.xvii-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xvii-p0.2">CHAP. XVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xvii-p1">In this chapter we have the institution of the
annual solemnity of the day of atonement, or expiation, which had
as much gospel in it as perhaps any of the appointments of the
ceremonial law, as appears by the reference the apostle makes to
it, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.7" parsed="|Heb|9|7|0|0" passage="Heb 9:7">Heb. ix. 7</scripRef>, &amp;c. We
had before divers laws concerning sin-offerings for particular
persons, and to be offered upon particular occasions; but this is
concerning the stated sacrifice, in which the whole nation was
interested. The whole service of the day is committed to the high
priest. I. He must never come into the most holy place but upon
this day, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.1-Lev.16.2" parsed="|Lev|16|1|16|2" passage="Le 16:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II.
He must come dressed in linen garments, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.4" parsed="|Lev|16|4|0|0" passage="Le 16:4">ver. 4</scripRef>. III. He must bring a sin-offering and
a burnt-offering for himself (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.3" parsed="|Lev|16|3|0|0" passage="Le 16:3">ver.
3</scripRef>), offer his sin-offering (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.6-Lev.16.11" parsed="|Lev|16|6|16|11" passage="Le 16:6-11">ver. 6-11</scripRef>), then go within the veil with
some of the blood of his sin-offering, burn incense, and sprinkle
the blood before the mercy-seat, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.12-Lev.16.14" parsed="|Lev|16|12|16|14" passage="Le 16:12-14">ver. 12-14</scripRef>. IV. Two goats must be provided
for the people, lots cast upon them, and, 1. One of them must be a
sin-offering for the people (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.5 Bible:Lev.16.7-Lev.16.9" parsed="|Lev|16|5|0|0;|Lev|16|7|16|9" passage="Le 16:5,7-9">ver.
5, 7-9</scripRef>), and the blood of it must be sprinkled before
the mercy-seat (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.15-Lev.16.17" parsed="|Lev|16|15|16|17" passage="Le 16:15-17">ver.
15-17</scripRef>), and then some of the blood of both the
sin-offerings must be sprinkled upon the altar, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.18-Lev.16.19" parsed="|Lev|16|18|16|19" passage="Le 16:18,19">ver. 18, 19</scripRef>. 2. The other must be a
scape-goat (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.10" parsed="|Lev|16|10|0|0" passage="Le 16:10">ver. 10</scripRef>), the
sins of Israel must be confessed over him, and then he must be sent
away into the wilderness (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.20-Lev.16.22" parsed="|Lev|16|20|16|22" passage="Le 16:20-22">ver.
20-22</scripRef>), and he that brought him away must be
ceremonially unclean, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.26" parsed="|Lev|16|26|0|0" passage="Le 16:26">ver.
26</scripRef>. V. The burnt-offerings were then to be offered, the
fat of the sin-offerings burnt on the altar, and their flesh burnt
without the camp, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.23-Lev.16.25 Bible:Lev.16.27 Bible:Lev.16.28" parsed="|Lev|16|23|16|25;|Lev|16|27|0|0;|Lev|16|28|0|0" passage="Le 16:23-25,27,28">ver. 23-25,
27, 28</scripRef>. VI. The people were to observe the day
religiously by a holy rest and holy mourning for sin; and this was
to be a statute for ever, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.29-Lev.16.34" parsed="|Lev|16|29|16|34" passage="Le 16:29-34">ver.
29</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16" parsed="|Lev|16|0|0|0" passage="Le 16" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p1.16" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.1-Lev.16.4" parsed="|Lev|16|1|16|4" passage="Le 16:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.16.1-Lev.16.4">
<h4 id="Lev.xvii-p1.17">The Great Day of Atonement. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p1.18">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when
they offered before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p2.2">Lord</span>, and
died;   2 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p2.3">Lord</span> said
unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all
times into the holy <i>place</i> within the vail before the mercy
seat, which <i>is</i> upon the ark; that he die not: for I will
appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.   3 Thus shall Aaron
come into the holy <i>place</i>: with a young bullock for a sin
offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.   4 He shall put on
the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his
flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen
mitre shall he be attired: these <i>are</i> holy garments;
therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and <i>so</i> put them
on.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p3">Here is, I. The date of this law concerning
the day of atonement: it was <i>after the death of the two sons of
Aaron</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.1" parsed="|Lev|16|1|0|0" passage="Le 16:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
which we read, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.10.1" parsed="|Lev|10|1|0|0" passage="Le 10:1"><i>ch.</i> x.
1</scripRef>. 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 of it, and preserve the entail of the
blessing upon it. 2. The priests being warned by the death of Nadab
and Abihu to approach to God with reverence and godly fear (without
which they came at their peril), directions are here given how the
nearest approach might be made, not only without peril, but to
unspeakable advantage and comfort, if the directions were observed.
When they were cut off for an undue approach, the rest must not
say, "Then we will not draw near at all," but, "Then we will do it
by rule." They died for their sin, therefore God graciously
provides for the rest, that they die not. Thus God's judgments on
some should be instructions to others.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p4">II. The design of this law. One intention
of it was to preserve a veneration for the most holy place, within
the veil, where the <i>Shechinah,</i> or divine glory, was pleased
to dwell between the cherubim: <i>Speak unto Aaron, that he come
not at all times into the holy place,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.2" parsed="|Lev|16|2|0|0" passage="Le 16:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Before the veil some of the
priests came every day to burn incense upon the golden altar, but
within the veil none must ever come but the high priest only, and
he but on one day in the year, and with great ceremony and caution.
That place where God manifested his special presence must not be
made common. If none must come into the presence-chamber of an
earthly king uncalled, no, not the queen herself, upon pain of
death (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.4.11" parsed="|Esth|4|11|0|0" passage="Es 4:11">Esth. iv. 11</scripRef>), was it
not requisite that the same sacred respect should be paid to the
Kings of kings? But see what a blessed change is made by the gospel
of Christ; all good Christians have now <i>boldness to enter into
the holiest,</i> through the veil, every day (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.19-Heb.10.20" parsed="|Heb|10|19|10|20" passage="Heb 10:19,20">Heb. x. 19, 20</scripRef>); and we <i>come
boldly</i> (not as Aaron must, with fear and trembling) to the
<i>throne of grace,</i> or mercy-seat, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.4.16" parsed="|Heb|4|16|0|0" passage="Heb 4:16">Heb. iv. 16</scripRef>. While the manifestations of
God's presence and grace were sensible, it was requisite that they
should thus be confined and upon reserve, because the objects of
sense the more familiar they are made the less awful or delightful
they become; but now that they are purely spiritual it is
otherwise, for the objects of faith the more they are conversed
with the more do they manifest of their greatness and goodness: now
therefore we are welcome to come at all times into the <i>holy
place not made with hands,</i> for we are made to <i>sit together
with Christ in heavenly places</i> by faith, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.6" parsed="|Eph|2|6|0|0" passage="Eph 2:6">Eph. ii. 6</scripRef>. Then Aaron must not come near at
all times, <i>lest he die;</i> we now must come near at all times
that we may live: it is distance only that is our death. Then God
appeared in the cloud upon the mercy-seat, but now with open face
we behold, not in a dark cloud, but in a clear glass, the glory of
the Lord, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.18" parsed="|2Cor|3|18|0|0" passage="2Co 3:18">2 Cor. iii.
18</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p5">III. The person to whom the work of this
day was committed, and that was the high priest only: <i>Thus shall
Aaron come into the holy place,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.3" parsed="|Lev|16|3|0|0" passage="Le 16:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. He was to do all himself upon the
day of atonement: only there was a second provided to be his
substitute or supporter, in case any thing should befal him, either
of sickness or ceremonial uncleanness, that he could not perform
the service of the day. All Christians are spiritual priests, but
Christ only is the high priest, and he alone it is that makes
atonement, nor needed he either assistant or substitute.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p6">IV. The attire of the high priest in this
service. He was not to be dressed up in his rich garments that were
peculiar to himself: he was not to put on the ephod, with the
precious stones in it, but only the linen clothes which he wore in
common with the inferior priests, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.4" parsed="|Lev|16|4|0|0" passage="Le 16:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. That meaner dress did best become
him on this day of humiliation; and, being thinner and lighter, he
would in it be more expedite for the work or service of the day,
which was all to go through his hands. Christ, our high priest,
made atonement for sin in our nature; not in the robes of his own
peculiar glory, but the linen garments of our mortality, clean
indeed, but mean.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.5-Lev.16.14" parsed="|Lev|16|5|16|14" passage="Le 16:5-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.16.5-Lev.16.14">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvii-p7">5 And he shall take of the congregation of the
children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and
one ram for a burnt offering.   6 And Aaron shall offer his
bullock of the sin offering, which <i>is</i> for himself, and make
an atonement for himself, and for his house.   7 And he shall
take the two goats, and present them before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.1">Lord</span> <i>at</i> the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.   8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two
goats; one lot for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.2">Lord</span>, and the
other lot for the scapegoat.   9 And Aaron shall bring the
goat upon which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.3">Lord</span>'s lot fell,
and offer him <i>for</i> a sin offering.   10 But the goat, on
which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive
before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.4">Lord</span>, to make an
atonement with him, <i>and</i> to let him go for a scapegoat into
the wilderness.   11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the
sin offering, which <i>is</i> for himself, and shall make an
atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the
bullock of the sin offering which <i>is</i> for himself:   12
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off
the altar before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.5">Lord</span>, and his
hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring <i>it</i>
within the vail:   13 And he shall put the incense upon the
fire before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p7.6">Lord</span>, that the cloud
of the incense may cover the mercy seat that <i>is</i> upon the
testimony, that he die not:   14 And he shall take of the
blood of the bullock, and sprinkle <i>it</i> with his finger upon
the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he
sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p8">The Jewish writers say that for seven days
before the day of expiation the high priest was to retire from his
own house, and to dwell in a chamber of the temple, that he might
prepare himself for the service of this great day. During those
seven days he himself did the work of the inferior priests about
the sacrifices, incense, &amp;c., that he might have his hand in
for this day: he must have the institution read to him again and
again, that he might be fully apprised of the whole method. 1. He
was to begin the service of the day very early with the usual
morning sacrifice, after he had first washed his whole body before
he dressed himself, and his hands and feet again afterwards. He
then burned the daily incense, dressed the lamps, and offered the
extraordinary sacrifice appointed for this day (not here, but
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.8" parsed="|Num|29|8|0|0" passage="Nu 29:8">Num. xxix. 8</scripRef>), a bullock, a
ram, and seven lambs, all for burnt-offerings. This he is supposed
to have done in his high priest's garments. 2. He must now put off
his rich robes, bathe himself, put on the linen garments, and
present unto the Lord his own bullock, which was to be a
sin-offering for himself and his own house, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.6" parsed="|Lev|16|6|0|0" passage="Le 16:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. The bullock was set between the
temple and the altar, and the offering of him mentioned in this
verse was the making of a solemn confession of his sins and the
sins of his house, earnestly praying for the forgiveness of them,
and this with his hands on the head of the bullock. 3. He must then
cast lots upon the two goats, which were to make (both together)
one sin-offering for the congregation. One of these goats must be
slain, in token of a satisfaction to be made to God's justice for
sin, the other must be sent away, in token of the remission or
dismission of sin by the mercy of God. Both must be presented
together to God (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.7" parsed="|Lev|16|7|0|0" passage="Le 16:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>) before the lot was cast upon them, and afterwards the
scape-goat by itself, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.10" parsed="|Lev|16|10|0|0" passage="Le 16:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. Some think that goats were chosen for the
sin-offering because, by the disagreeableness of their smell, the
offensiveness of sin is represented: others think, because it was
said that the demons which the heathens then worshipped often
appeared to their worshippers in the form of goats, God therefore
obliged his people to sacrifice goats, that they might never be
tempted to sacrifice to goats. 4. The next thing to be done was to
kill the bullock for the sin-offering for himself and his house,
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.11" parsed="|Lev|16|11|0|0" passage="Le 16:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. "Now," say
the Jews, "he must again put his hands on the head of the bullock,
and repeat the confession and supplication he had before made, and
kill the bullock with his own hands, to make atonement for himself
first (for how could he make reconciliation for the sins of the
people till he was himself first reconciled?) and for his house,
not only his own family, but all the priests, who are called the
<i>house of Aaron,</i>" <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.135.19" parsed="|Ps|135|19|0|0" passage="Ps 135:19">Ps. cxxxv.
19</scripRef>. This charity must begin at home, though it must not
end there. The bullock being killed, he left one of the priests to
stir the blood, that it might not thicken, and then, 5. He took a
censer of burning coals (that would not smoke) in one hand, and a
dish full of the sweet incense in the other, and then went into the
holy of holies through the veil, and went up towards the ark, set
the coals down upon the floor, and scattered the incense upon them,
so that the room was immediately filled with smoke. The Jews say
that he was to go in <i>side-ways,</i> that he might not look
directly upon the ark where the divine glory was, till it was
covered with smoke; then he must come out <i>backwards,</i> out of
reverence to the divine majesty; and, after a short prayer, he was
to hasten out of the sanctuary, to show himself to the people, that
they might not suspect that he had misbehaved himself and died
before the Lord. 6. He then fetched the blood of the bullock from
the priest whom he had left stirring it, and took that in with him
the second time into the holy of holies, which was now filled with
the smoke of the incense, and sprinkled with his finger of that
blood upon, or rather towards, the mercy-seat, once over against
the top of it and then seven times towards the lower part of it,
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.14" parsed="|Lev|16|14|0|0" passage="Le 16:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. But the drops
of blood (as the Jews expound it) all fell upon the ground, and
none touched the mercy-seat. Having done this, he came out of the
most holy place, set the basin of blood down in the sanctuary, and
went out.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16" parsed="|Lev|16|0|0|0" passage="Le 16" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.15-Lev.16.19" parsed="|Lev|16|15|16|19" passage="Le 16:15-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.16.15-Lev.16.19">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvii-p9">15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin
offering, that <i>is</i> for the people, and bring his blood within
the vail, 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:   16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy
<i>place,</i> because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel,
and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall
he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among
them in the midst of their uncleanness.   17 And there shall
be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to
make an atonement in the holy <i>place,</i> until he come out, and
have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for
all the congregation of Israel.   18 And he shall go out unto
the altar that <i>is</i> before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p9.1">Lord</span>, and make an atonement for it; and shall
take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and
put <i>it</i> upon the horns of the altar round about.   19
And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven
times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the
children of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p10">When the priest had come out from the
sprinkling the blood of the bullock before the mercy-seat, 1. He
must next kill the goat which was the sin-offering for the people
(<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.15" parsed="|Lev|16|15|0|0" passage="Le 16:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>) and go the
third time into the holy of holies, to sprinkle the blood of the
goat, as he had done that of the bullock; and thus he was to
<i>make atonement for the holy place</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.16" parsed="|Lev|16|16|0|0" passage="Le 16:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>); that is, whereas the people by
their sins had provoked God to take away those tokens of his
favourable presence with them, and rendered even that holy place
unfit to be the habitation of the holy God, atonement was hereby
made for sin, that God, being reconciled to them, might continue
with them. 2. He must then do the same for the outward part of the
tabernacle that he had done for the inner room, by sprinkling the
blood of the bullock first, and then that of the goat, without the
veil, where the table and incense-altar stood, eight times each as
before. The reason intimated is <i>because the tabernacle remained
among them in the midst of their uncleanness,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.16" parsed="|Lev|16|16|0|0" passage="Le 16:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. God would hereby show
them how much their hearts needed to be purified, when even the
tabernacle, only by standing in the midst of such an impure and
sinful people, needed this expiation; and also that even their
devotions and religious performances had much amiss in them, for
which it was necessary that atonement should be made. During this
solemnity, none of the inferior priests must come into the
tabernacle (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.17" parsed="|Lev|16|17|0|0" passage="Le 16:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>),
but, by standing without, must own themselves unworthy and unfit to
minister there, because their follies, and defects, and manifold
impurities in their ministry, had made this expiation of the
tabernacle necessary. 3. He must then put some of the blood, both
of the bullock and of the goat mixed together, upon the horns of
the altar that is before the Lord, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.18-Lev.16.19" parsed="|Lev|16|18|16|19" passage="Le 16:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>. It is certain that the
altar of incense had this blood put upon it, for so it is expressly
ordered (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.10" parsed="|Exod|30|10|0|0" passage="Ex 30:10">Exod. xxx. 10</scripRef>);
but some think that this directs the high priest to the altar of
burnt-offerings, for that also is here called the <i>altar before
the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.12" parsed="|Lev|16|12|0|0" passage="Le 16:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), because he is said to <i>go out</i> to it, and
because it may be presumed that that also had need of an expiation;
for too that the gifts and offerings of the children of Israel were
all brought, from whose uncleanness the altar is here said to be
hallowed.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.20-Lev.16.28" parsed="|Lev|16|20|16|28" passage="Le 16:20-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.16.20-Lev.16.28">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvii-p11">20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling
the holy <i>place,</i> and the tabernacle of the congregation, and
the altar, he shall bring the live goat:   21 And Aaron shall
lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over
him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the
goat, and shall send <i>him</i> away by the hand of a fit man into
the wilderness:   22 And the goat shall bear upon him all
their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the
goat in the wilderness.   23 And Aaron shall come into the
tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen
garments, which he put on when he went into the holy <i>place,</i>
and shall leave them there:   24 And he shall wash his flesh
with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come
forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the
people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
  25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the
altar.   26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat
shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward
come into the camp.   27 And the bullock <i>for</i> the sin
offering, and the goat <i>for</i> the sin offering, whose blood was
brought in to make atonement in the holy <i>place,</i> shall
<i>one</i> carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the
fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.   28 And he
that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in
water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p12">The high priest having presented unto the
Lord the expiatory sacrifices, by the sprinkling of their blood,
the remainder of which, it is probable, he poured out at the foot
of the brazen altar, 1. He is next to confess the sins of Israel,
with both his hands upon the head of the scape-goat (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.20-Lev.16.21" parsed="|Lev|16|20|16|21" passage="Le 16:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>); and whenever
hands were imposed upon the head of any sacrifice it was always
done with confession, according as the nature of the sacrifice was;
and, this being a sin-offering, it must be a confession of sin. In
the latter and more degenerate ages of the Jewish church they had a
set form of confession prepared for the high priest, but God here
prescribed none; for it might be supposed that the high priest was
so well acquainted with the state of the people, and had such a
tender concern for them, that he needed not any form. The
confession must be as particular as he could make it, not only of
<i>all the iniquities of the children of Israel,</i> but <i>all
their transgressions in all their sins.</i> In one sin there may be
many transgressions, from the several aggravating circumstances of
it; and in our confessions we should take notice of them, and not
only say, <i>I have sinned,</i> but, with Achan, "Thus and thus
have I done." By this confession he must <i>put the sins of Israel
upon the head of the goat;</i> that is, exercising faith upon the
divine appointment which constituted such a translation, he must
transfer the punishment incurred from the sinners to the sacrifice,
which would have been but a jest, nay, an affront to God, if he
himself had not ordained it. 2. The goat was then to be sent away
immediately by the hand of a fit person pitched upon for the
purpose, into a wilderness, a land not inhabited; and God allowed
them to make this construction of it, that the sending away of the
goat was the sending away of their sins, by a free and full
remission: <i>He shall bear upon him all their iniquities,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.22" parsed="|Lev|16|22|0|0" passage="Le 16:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. The losing of
the goat was a sign to them that <i>the sins of Israel should be
sought for, and not found,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.50.20" parsed="|Jer|50|20|0|0" passage="Jer 50:20">Jer.
l. 20</scripRef>. The later Jews had a custom to tie one shred of
scarlet cloth to the horns of the goat and another to the gate of
the temple, or to the top of the rock where the goat was lost, and
they concluded that if it turned white, as they say it usually did,
the sins of Israel were forgiven, as it is written, <i>Though your
sins have been as scarlet, they shall be as wool:</i> and they add
that for forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem by the
Romans the scarlet cloth never changed colour at all, which is a
fair confession that, having rejected the substance, the shadow
stood them in no stead. 3. The high priest must then put off his
linen garments in the tabernacle, and leave them there, the Jews
say never to be worn again by himself or any other, for they made
new ones every year; and he must bathe himself in water, put on his
rich clothes, and then offer both his own and the people's
burnt-offerings, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.23-Lev.16.24" parsed="|Lev|16|23|16|24" passage="Le 16:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23,
24</scripRef>. When we have the comfort of our pardon God must have
the glory of it. If we have the benefit of the sacrifice of
atonement, we must not grudge the sacrifices of acknowledgment.
And, it should seem, the burning of the fat of the sin-offering was
deferred till now (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.25" parsed="|Lev|16|25|0|0" passage="Le 16:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>), that it might be consumed with the burnt-offerings.
4. The flesh of both those sin-offerings whose blood was taken
within the veil was to be all burnt, not upon the altar, but at a
distance without the camp, to signify both our putting away sin by
true repentance, and the spirit of burning, and God's putting it
away by a full remission, so that it shall never rise up in
judgment against us. 5. He that took the scape-goat into the
wilderness, and those that burned the sin-offering, were to be
looked upon as ceremonially unclean, and must not come into the
camp till they had washed their clothes and bathed their flesh in
water, which signified the defiling nature of sin; even the
sacrifice which was but made sin was defiling: also the
imperfection of the legal sacrifices; they were so far from taking
away sin that even <i>they</i> left some stain upon those that
touched them. 6. When all this was done, the high priest went again
into the most holy place to fetch his censer, and so returned to
his own house with joy, because he had done his duty, and died
not.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xvii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.29-Lev.16.34" parsed="|Lev|16|29|16|34" passage="Le 16:29-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.16.29-Lev.16.34">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvii-p13">29 And <i>this</i> shall be a statute for ever
unto you: <i>that</i> in the seventh month, on the tenth <i>day</i>
of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all,
<i>whether it be</i> one of your own country, or a stranger that
sojourneth among you:   30 For on that day shall <i>the
priest</i> make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, <i>that</i>
ye may be clean from all your sins before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p13.1">Lord</span>.   31 It <i>shall be</i> a sabbath of
rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for
ever.   32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he
shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's
stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen
clothes, <i>even</i> the holy garments:   33 And he shall make
an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement
for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he
shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of
the congregation.   34 And this shall be an everlasting
statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel
for all their sins once a year. And he did as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvii-p13.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p14">I. We have here some additional directions
in reference to this great solemnity, particularly,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p15">1. The day appointed for this solemnity. It
must be observed yearly on <i>the tenth day of the seventh
month,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.29" parsed="|Lev|16|29|0|0" passage="Le 16:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>.
The seventh had been reckoned the first month, till God appointed
that the month in which the children of Israel came out of Egypt
should thenceforward be accounted and called the first month. Some
have fancied that this tenth day of the seventh month was the day
of the year on which our first parents fell, and that it was kept
as a fast in remembrance of their fall. Dr. Lightfoot computes that
this was the day on which Moses came the last time down from the
mount, when he brought with him the renewed tables, and the
assurances of God's being reconciled to Israel, and his face shone:
that day must be a day of atonement throughout their generations;
for the remembrance of God's forgiving them their sin about the
golden calf might encourage them to hope that, upon their
repentance, he would forgive them all trespasses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p16">2. The duty of the people on this day. (1.)
They must rest from all their labours: <i>It shall be a sabbath of
rest,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.31" parsed="|Lev|16|31|0|0" passage="Le 16:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. The
work of the day was itself enough, and a good day's work if it was
done well; therefore they must do no other work at all. The work of
humiliation for sin requires such a close application of mind, and
such a fixed engagement of the whole man, as will not allow us to
turn aside to any other work. The day of atonement seems to be that
sabbath spoken of by the prophet (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.13" parsed="|Isa|58|13|0|0" passage="Isa 58:13">Isa. lviii. 13</scripRef>), for it is the same with the
fast spoken of in the verses before. (2.) They must afflict their
souls. They must refrain from all bodily refreshments and delights,
in token of inward humiliation and contrition of soul for their
sins. They all fasted on this day from food (except the sick and
children), and laid aside their ornaments, and did not anoint
themselves, as Daniel, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.10.3 Bible:Lev.10.12" parsed="|Lev|10|3|0|0;|Lev|10|12|0|0" passage="Le 10:3,12"><i>ch.</i> x.
3, 12</scripRef>. <i>David chastened his soul with fasting,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.35.13" parsed="|Ps|35|13|0|0" passage="Ps 35:13">Ps. xxxv. 13</scripRef>. And it
signified the mortifying of sin and turning from it, <i>loosing the
bands of wickedness,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.6-Isa.58.7" parsed="|Isa|58|6|58|7" passage="Isa 58:6,7">Isa. lviii.
6, 7</scripRef>. The Jewish doctors advised that they should not on
that day read those portions of scripture which were proper to
affect them with delight and joy, because it was a day to afflict
their souls.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p17">3. The perpetuity of this institution:
<i>It shall be a statute for ever,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.29 Bible:Lev.16.34" parsed="|Lev|16|29|0|0;|Lev|16|34|0|0" passage="Le 16:29,34"><i>v.</i> 29, 34</scripRef>. It must not be
intermitted any year, nor ever let fall till that constitution
should be dissolved, and the type should be superseded by the
antitype. As long as we are continually sinning, we must be
continually repenting, and receiving the atonement. The law of
afflicting our souls for sin is a statute for ever, which will
continue in force till we arrive where all tears, even those of
repentance, will be wiped from our eyes. The apostle observes it as
an evidence of the insufficiency of the legal sacrifices to take
away sin, and purge the conscience from it, that in them there was
a <i>remembrance made of sin every year,</i> upon the day of
atonement, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.1-Heb.10.3" parsed="|Heb|10|1|10|3" passage="Heb 10:1-3">Heb. x. 1-3</scripRef>.
The annual repetition of the sacrifices showed that there was in
them only a faint and feeble effort towards making atonement; it
could be done effectually only by the <i>offering up of the body of
Christ once for all,</i> and that once was sufficient; that
sacrifice needed not to be repeated.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p18">II. Let us see what there was of gospel in
all this.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p19">1. Here are typified the two great gospel
privileges of the remission of sin and access to God, both which we
owe to the mediation of our Lord Jesus. Here then let us see,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p20">(1.) The expiation of guilt which Christ
made for us. He is himself both the maker and the matter of the
atonement; for he is, [1.] The priest, the high priest, that
<i>makes reconciliation for the sins of the people,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.17" parsed="|Heb|2|17|0|0" passage="Heb 2:17">Heb. ii. 17</scripRef>. He, and he only, is
<i>par negotio—fit for the work</i> and worthy of the honour: he
is appointed by the Father to do it, who sanctified him, and sent
him into the world for this purpose, that <i>God might in him
reconcile the world to himself.</i> He undertook it, and for our
sakes sanctified himself, and set himself apart for it, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:John.17.19" parsed="|John|17|19|0|0" passage="Joh 17:19">John xvii. 19</scripRef>. The high priest's
frequently bathing himself on this day, and performing the service
of it in fine linen clean and white, signified the holiness of the
Lord Jesus, his perfect freedom from all sin, and his being
beautified and adorned with all grace. No man was to be with the
high priest when he made atonement (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.17" parsed="|Lev|16|17|0|0" passage="Le 16:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>); for our Lord Jesus was to
<i>tread the wine-press alone,</i> and of the people there must be
<i>none with him</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.63.3" parsed="|Isa|63|3|0|0" passage="Isa 63:3">Isa. lxiii.
3</scripRef>); therefore, when he entered upon his sufferings,
<i>all his disciples forsook him and fled,</i> for it any of them
had been taken and put to death with him it would have looked as if
they had assisted in making the atonement; none but thieves,
concerning whom there could be no such suspicion, must suffer with
him. And observe what the extent of the atonement was which the
high priest made: it was <i>for the holy sanctuary, for the
tabernacle, for the altar, for the priests,</i> and <i>for all the
people,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.33" parsed="|Lev|16|33|0|0" passage="Le 16:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>.
Christ's satisfaction is that which atones for the sins both of
ministers and people, the <i>iniquities of our holy</i> (and our
unholy) <i>things;</i> the title we have to the privileges of
ordinances, our comfort in them, and benefit by them, are all owing
to the atonement Christ made. But, whereas the atonement which the
high priest made pertained only to the congregation of Israel,
Christ is the propitiation, not for their sins only, that are Jews,
but for the sins of the whole Gentile world. And in this also
Christ infinitely excelled Aaron, that Aaron needed to offer
sacrifice for his own sin first, of which he was to make confession
upon the head of his sin-offering; but our Lord Jesus had no sin of
his own to answer for. <i>Such a high priest became us,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.26" parsed="|Heb|7|26|0|0" passage="Heb 7:26">Heb. vii. 26</scripRef>. And
therefore, when he was baptized in Jordan, whereas others stood in
the water <i>confessing their sins</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.3.6" parsed="|Matt|3|6|0|0" passage="Mt 3:6">Matt. iii. 6</scripRef>), he <i>went up straightway out of
the water</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.16" parsed="|Lev|16|16|0|0" passage="Le 16:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>), having no sins to confess. [2.] As he is the high
priest, so he is the sacrifice with which atonement is made; for he
is all in all in our reconciliation to God. Thus he was prefigured
by the two goats, which both made one offering: the slain goat was
a type of Christ dying for our sins, the scape-goat a type of
Christ rising again for our justification. It was directed by lot,
the disposal whereof was of the Lord, which goat should be slain;
for Christ was delivered <i>by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God. First,</i> The atonement is said to be
completed by putting the sins of Israel upon the head of the goat.
They deserved to have been abandoned and sent into a land of
forgetfulness, but that punishment was here transferred to the goat
that bore their sins, with reference to which God is said to have
laid upon our Lord Jesus (the substance of all these shadows)
<i>the iniquity of us all</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.6" parsed="|Isa|53|6|0|0" passage="Isa 53:6">Isa.
liii. 6</scripRef>), and he is said to have <i>borne our sins,</i>
even the punishment of them, <i>in his own body upon the tree,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.10" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.24" parsed="|1Pet|2|24|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:24">1 Pet. ii. 24</scripRef>. Thus was he
made sin for us, that is, a sacrifice for sin, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.11" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.5.21" parsed="|2Cor|5|21|0|0" passage="2Co 5:21">2 Cor. v. 21</scripRef>. He suffered and died, not only
for our good, but in our stead, and was forsaken, and seemed to be
forgotten for a time, that we might not be forsaken and forgotten
for ever. Some learned men have computed that our Lord Jesus was
baptized of John in Jordan upon the tenth day of the seventh month,
which was the very day of atonement. Then he entered upon his
office as Mediator, and was immediately <i>driven of the Spirit
into the wilderness,</i> a land not inhabited. <i>Secondly,</i> The
consequence of this was that all the iniquities of Israel were
<i>carried into a land of forgetfulness.</i> Thus Christ, the Lamb
of God, <i>takes away the sin the of world,</i> by taking it upon
himself, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.12" osisRef="Bible:John.1.29" parsed="|John|1|29|0|0" passage="Joh 1:29">John i. 29</scripRef>. And,
when God forgives sin, he is said to remember it no more (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.13" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.12" parsed="|Heb|8|12|0|0" passage="Heb 8:12">Heb. viii. 12</scripRef>), <i>to cast it behind
his back</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.14" osisRef="Bible:Isa.38.17" parsed="|Isa|38|17|0|0" passage="Isa 38:17">Isa. xxxviii.
17</scripRef>), <i>into the depths of the sea</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.15" osisRef="Bible:Mic.7.19" parsed="|Mic|7|19|0|0" passage="Mic 7:19">Mic. vii. 19</scripRef>), and to separate it
<i>as far as the east is from the west,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p20.16" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.12" parsed="|Ps|103|12|0|0" passage="Ps 103:12">Ps. ciii. 12</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p21">(2.) The entrance into heaven which Christ
made for us is here typified by the high priest's entrance into the
most holy place. This the apostle has expounded (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.7" parsed="|Heb|9|7|0|0" passage="Heb 9:7">Heb. ix. 7</scripRef>, &amp;c.), and he shows, [1.] That
heaven is the holiest of all, but not of that building, and that
the way into it by faith, hope, and prayer, through a Mediator, was
not then so clearly manifested as it is to us now by the gospel.
[2.] That Christ our high priest entered into heaven at his
ascension once for all, and as a public person, in the name of all
his spiritual Israel, and through the veil of his flesh, which was
rent for that purpose, <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.20" parsed="|Heb|10|20|0|0" passage="Heb 10:20">Heb. x.
20</scripRef>. [3.] That he entered <i>by his own blood</i>
(<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.12" parsed="|Heb|9|12|0|0" passage="Heb 9:12">Heb. ix. 12</scripRef>), taking with
him to heaven the virtues of the sacrifice he offered on earth, and
so sprinkling his blood, as it were, before the mercy-seat, where
it speaks better things than the blood of bulls and goats could do.
Hence he is said to appear in the midst of the throne as <i>a lamb
that had been slain,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.5.6" parsed="|Rev|5|6|0|0" passage="Re 5:6">Rev. v.
6</scripRef>. And, though he had no sin of his own to expiate, yet
it was by his own merit that he obtained for himself a restoration
to his own ancient glory (<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:John.17.4-John.17.5" parsed="|John|17|4|17|5" passage="Joh 17:4,5">John xvii.
4, 5</scripRef>), as well as an eternal redemption for us,
<scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.12" parsed="|Heb|9|12|0|0" passage="Heb 9:12">Heb. ix. 12</scripRef>. [4.] The high
priest in the holy place burned incense, which typified the
intercession that Christ ever lives to make for us within the veil,
in virtue of his satisfaction. And we could not expect to live, no,
not before the mercy-seat, if it were not covered with the cloud of
this incense. Mere mercy itself will not save us, without the
interposition of a Mediator. The intercession of Christ is there
set forth before God as incense, as <i>this incense.</i> And as the
high priest interceded for himself first, then for his household,
and then for all Israel, so our Lord Jesus, in the <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:John.17.1-John.17.26" parsed="|John|17|1|17|26" passage="Joh 17:1-26">17th of St. John</scripRef> (which was a
specimen of the intercession he makes in heaven), recommended
himself first to his Father, then his disciples who were his
household, and then all that should believe on him through their
word, as all Israel; and, having thus adverted to the uses and
intentions of his offering, he was immediately seized and
crucified, pursuant to these intentions. [5.] Herein the entry
Christ made far exceeded Aaron's, that Aaron could not gain
admission, no, not for his own sons, into the most holy place; but
our Lord Jesus has consecrated for us also a <i>new and living way
into the holiest,</i> so that we also have <i>boldness to
enter,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.19-Heb.10.20" parsed="|Heb|10|19|10|20" passage="Heb 10:19,20">Heb. x. 19,
20</scripRef>. [6.] The high priest was to come out again, but our
Lord Jesus ever lives, making intercession, and always appears in
the presence of God for us, whither as the forerunner he has for us
entered, and where as agent he continues for us to reside.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p22">2. Here are likewise typified the two great
gospel duties of faith and repentance, by which we are qualified
for the atonement, and come to be entitled to the benefit of it.
(1.) By faith we must put our hands upon the head of the offering,
relying on Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, pleading his
satisfaction as that which was alone able to atone for our sins and
procure us a pardon. "<i>Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.</i> This
is all I have to say for myself, <i>Christ has died, yea, rather
has risen again;</i> to his grace and government I entirely submit
myself, and in him I <i>receive the atonement,</i>" <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.5.11" parsed="|Rom|5|11|0|0" passage="Ro 5:11">Rom. v. 11</scripRef>. (2.) By repentance we must
afflict our souls; not only fasting for a time from the delights of
the body, but inwardly sorrowing for our sins, and living a life of
self-denial and mortification. We must also make a penitent
confession of sin, and this with an eye to Christ, whom we have
pierced, and mourning because of him; and with a hand of faith upon
the atonement, assuring ourselves that, <i>if we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvii-p23">Lastly, In the year of jubilee, the trumpet
which proclaimed the liberty was ordered to be sounded in the close
of the <i>day of atonement,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xvii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.9" parsed="|Lev|25|9|0|0" passage="Le 25:9"><i>ch.</i> xxv. 9</scripRef>. For the remission of our
debt, release from our bondage, and our return to our inheritance,
are all owing to the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ. By
the atonement we obtain rest for our souls, and all the glorious
liberties of the children of God.</p>
</div></div2>