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.