Leviticus 9 Study Notes

9:8-11 When Aaron went outside the camp, this was the first time he had left the sanctuary since his seven-day ordination. The incineration of the sacrificial animal demonstrated that the officiating priest could not benefit from the offering made for his own sins (8:17). Another variation from the regular sin offering was that the blood was not taken inside the tent.

9:12-14 No mention is made of the calf’s hide (7:8), which apparently was burned up (8:17; 9:11).

9:15-16 By offering a male goat in accordance with the regulation of the sin offering for a leader, both the elders, and by proxy, the entire community were represented by the animal (4:22-23).

9:17-21 The priests continued to represent the entire community by carrying out the grain and fellowship offerings that were typically offered by an individual Israelite. For the procedures of the two offerings, see chaps. 2-3.

9:22 When Aaron lifted up his hands, it showed that he invoked the Lord (1Kg 8:22; Ps 28:2). Prayer for blessing was the duty of the priestly order (Dt 10:8; 21:5). On the traditional priestly blessing, see Nm 6:24-26 and notes there.

9:23 The entrance into the tent by Moses and Aaron confirmed the legitimacy of the newly ordained Aaron, who would enter the holy place every day from then on (Ex 29:42-44; 30:7-8). Moses entered the cloud when God descended on Mount Sinai (Ex 24:18; cp. Lk 9:34). His entrance now signaled the imminent presence of the Lord. Christians receive and declare the imminent relationship with God through Christ (2Co 5:18-20; Col 1:20).

9:24 The fiery blast probably came out of the tent from the most holy place and incinerated the remains of the smoldering offerings. The God who revealed himself at Sinai was now the God of the tent who dwelt in their midst (Ex 24:17; 2Ch 7:3). The Hebrew words for saw (wayyar’) and shouted (wayyaronnu) may be a pun on “appeared” (wayyera’; v. 23). The response of the people exhibited their joy and humility (cp. 2Ch 7:1-3). “Shouted” (Hb ranan) means to give a ringing cry aloud (Jr 31:7), and fell facedown (Hb naphal) also describes later reactions to the fiery demonstrations of the Lord (Jdg 13:20; 2Ch 7:3; cp. Nm 16:22; 20:6; Mt 17:6).