Leviticus 8:11

11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them.

Leviticus 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 8:11

And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times
The altar of burnt offering; the order for anointing it is given in ( Exodus 30:28 ) ( 40:10 ) but in that no directions are given for the manner of doing it by sprinkling, nor the number of times it was to be sprinkled: hence Jarchi confesses his ignorance, and says,

``I know not how it was ordered about these sprinklings;''

but no doubt Moses was instructed of God in what manner to anoint it, and how often; and the number seven may denote the perfect unction of it, and made it a fitter type of Christ, who received the unction of the Spirit without measure:

and anointed the altar, and all its vessels;
pans, shovels, basins, flesh hooks, and fire pans:

both the laver and his foot;
which was for the priests to wash at; and very probably this was done before Moses brought Aaron and his sons thither and washed them, ( Leviticus 8:6 ) since it seems most proper that it should be consecrated before used, as it follows:

to sanctify them;
set them apart for sacred use.

Leviticus 8:11 In-Context

9 After that he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, he put the open flower of gold, the crown of holiness, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 And Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all the things that were therein and sanctified them.

11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them.

12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head and anointed him, to sanctify him.

13 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons and put coats upon them and girded them with girdles and put tiaras upon them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.