Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
L E V I T C U S
CHAP. XVI.
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, Hebrews 9:7 , 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, Leviticus 16:1 ; Leviticus 16:2 . II. He must come dressed in linen garments, Leviticus 16:4 . III. He must bring a sin-offering and a burnt-offering for himself Leviticus 16:3 ), offer his sin-offering Leviticus 16:6 - 11 ), then go within the veil with some of the blood of his sin-offering, burn incense, and sprinkle the blood before the mercy-seat, Leviticus 16:12 - 14 . 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 Leviticus 16:5 ; Leviticus 16:7 - 9 ), and the blood of it must be sprinkled before the mercy-seat Leviticus 16:15 - 17 ), and then some of the blood of both the sin-offerings must be sprinkled upon the altar, Leviticus 16:18 ; Leviticus 16:19 . 2. The other must be a scape-goat Leviticus 16:10 ), the sins of Israel must be confessed over him, and then he must be sent away into the wilderness Leviticus 16:20 - 22 ), and he that brought him away must be ceremonially unclean, Leviticus 16:26 . 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, Leviticus 16:23 - 25 ; Leviticus 16:27 ; Leviticus 16:28 . 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, Leviticus 16:29 - 34 , &c.
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED
L E V I T I C U S.
T HERE is nothing historical in all this book of Leviticus except the account which it gives us of the consecration of the priesthood Leviticus 8:1 - 9Leviticus 8:1 - 9 ), of the punishment of Nadab and Abihu, by the hand of God, for offering strange fire Leviticus 10:1 - 20Leviticus 10:1 - 20 ), and of Shelomith's son, by the hand of the magistrate, for blasphemy Leviticus 24:1 - 23Leviticus 24:1 - 23 ). All the rest of the book is taken up with the laws, chiefly the ecclesiastical laws, which God gave to Israel by Moses, concerning their sacrifices and offerings, their meats and drinks, and divers washings, and the other peculiarities by which God set that people apart for himself, and distinguished them from other nations, all which were shadows of good things to come, which are realized and superseded by the gospel of Christ. We call the book Leviticus, from the Septuagint, because it contains the laws and ordinances of the levitical priesthood (as it is called, Hebrews 7:11 ), and the ministrations of it. The Levites were principally charged with these institutions, both to do their part and to teach the people theirs. We read, in the close of the foregoing book, of the setting up of the tabernacle, which was to be the place of worship; and, as that was framed according to the pattern, so must the ordinances of worship be, which were there to be administered. In these the divine appointment was as particular as in the former, and must be as punctually observed. The remaining record of these abrogated laws is of use to us, for the strengthening of our faith in Jesus Christ, as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and for the increase of our thankfulness to God, that by him we are freed from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and live in the times of reformation.
