Leviticus 9

1 facto autem octavo die vocavit Moses Aaron et filios eius ac maiores natu Israhel dixitque ad Aaron

2 tolle de armento vitulum pro peccato et arietem in holocaustum utrumque inmaculatos et offer illos coram Domino

3 et ad filios Israhel loqueris tollite hircum pro peccato et vitulum atque agnum anniculos et sine macula in holocaustum

4 bovem et arietem pro pacificis et immolate eos coram Domino in sacrificio singulorum similam oleo conspersam offerentes hodie enim Dominus apparebit vobis

5 tulerunt ergo cuncta quae iusserat Moses ad ostium tabernaculi ubi cum omnis staret multitudo

6 ait Moses iste est sermo quem praecepit Dominus facite et apparebit vobis gloria eius

7 dixit et ad Aaron accede ad altare et immola pro peccato tuo offer holocaustum et deprecare pro te et pro populo cumque mactaveris hostiam populi ora pro eo sicut praecepit Dominus

8 statimque Aaron accedens ad altare immolavit vitulum pro peccato suo

9 cuius sanguinem obtulerunt ei filii sui in quo tinguens digitum tetigit cornua altaris et fudit residuum ad basim eius

10 adipemque et renunculos ac reticulum iecoris quae sunt pro peccato adolevit super altare sicut praeceperat Dominus Mosi

11 carnes vero et pellem eius extra castra conbusit igni

12 immolavit et holocausti victimam obtuleruntque ei filii sui sanguinem eius quem fudit per altaris circuitum

13 ipsam etiam hostiam in frusta concisam cum capite et membris singulis obtulerunt quae omnia super altare cremavit igni

14 lotis prius aqua intestinis et pedibus

15 et pro peccato populi offerens mactavit hircum expiatoque altari

16 fecit holocaustum

17 addens in sacrificio libamenta quae pariter offeruntur et adolens ea super altare absque caerimoniis holocausti matutini

18 immolavit et bovem atque arietem hostias pacificas populi obtuleruntque ei filii sui sanguinem quem fudit super altare in circuitu

19 adipes autem bovis et caudam arietis renunculosque cum adipibus suis et reticulum iecoris

20 posuerunt super pectora cumque cremati essent adipes in altari

21 pectora eorum et armos dextros separavit Aaron elevans coram Domino sicut praeceperat Moses

22 et tendens manum contra populum benedixit eis sicque conpletis hostiis pro peccato et holocaustis et pacificis descendit

23 ingressi autem Moses et Aaron tabernaculum testimonii et deinceps egressi benedixerunt populo apparuitque gloria Domini omni multitudini

24 et ecce egressus ignis a Domino devoravit holocaustum et adipes qui erant super altare quod cum vidissent turbae laudaverunt Dominum ruentes in facies suas

Leviticus 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The first offerings of Aaron for himself and the people. (1-21) Moses and Aaron bless the people, Fire cometh upon the altar from the Lord. (22-24)

Verses 1-21 These many sacrifices, which were all done away by the death of Christ, teach us that our best services need washing in his blood, and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be done away by one more pure and more noble than they. Let us be thankful that we have such a High Priest. The priests had not a day's respite from service allowed. God's spiritual priests have constant work, which the duty of every day requires; they that would give up their account with joy, must redeem time. The glory of God appeared in the sight of the people, and owned what they had done. We are not now to expect such appearances, but God draws nigh to those who draw nigh to him, and the offerings of faith are acceptable to him; though the sacrifices being spiritual, the tokens of the acceptance are spiritual likewise. When Aaron had done all that was to be done about the sacrifices, he lifted up his hands towards the people, and blessed them. Aaron could but crave a blessing, God alone can command it.

Verses 22-24 When the solemnity was finished, and the blessing pronounced, God testified his acceptance. There came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed the sacrifice. This fire might justly have fastened upon the people, and have consumed them for their sins; but its consuming the sacrifice signified God's acceptance of it, as an atonement for the sinner. This also was a figure of good things to come. The Spirit descended upon the apostles in fire. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls, to kindle in them pious and devout affections toward God, and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the lusts of it, is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance of our persons and performances. Nothing goes to God, but what comes from him. We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God of grace, else we cannot serve him acceptably, ( Hebrews 12:28 ) . The people were affected with this discovery of God's glory and grace. They received it with the highest joy; triumphing in the assurance given them that they had God nigh unto them. And with the lowest reverence; humbly adoring the majesty of that God, who vouchsafed thus to manifest himself to them. That is a sinful fear of God, which drives us from him; a gracious fear makes us bow before him.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 9

Aaron and his sons, being consecrated to and invested with the priest's office, are called upon to the exercise of it, to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering for themselves, and all sorts of offerings, a sin offering, a burnt offering, peace offerings, and a meat offering, for the people; and a promise is made for their encouragement, that the glory of the Lord would appear to them, Le 9:1-7 and which were in their course accordingly offered; first, Aaron's sin offering for himself, Le 9:8-11 then his burnt offering, Le 9:12-14 after that the several offerings of the people before mentioned, Le 9:15-21 when Aaron and Moses blessed the people, the one as soon as he had done offering, and both together when they came out of the tabernacle, Le 9:22,23 upon which a fire came forth from the Lord, and consumed the burnt offering upon the altar, Le 9:24.