Leviticus 8:11

11 He sprinkled some on the altar seven times, anointing the altar with all its utensils and the basin with its base, to consecrate 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 He set the turban on his head, and on the front of the turban he affixed the gold plate, the holy ornament, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
10 Then Moshe took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, thus consecrating them.
11 He sprinkled some on the altar seven times, anointing the altar with all its utensils and the basin with its base, to consecrate them.
12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aharon's head and anointed him, to consecrate him.
13 Moshe brought Aharon's sons, clothed them with tunics, wrapped sashes on them and put headgear on them, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.