Exodus 29:37

37 Seven days thou shalt cleanse and hallow the altar, and it shall be the holy of holy things; each man that shall touch it shall be hallowed. (For seven days thou shalt cleanse and consecrate the altar, and it shall be most holy; anyone who is unclean who toucheth it, shall be harmed.)

Exodus 29:37 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 29:37

Seven days thou shalt make atonement for the altar, and
sanctify it
That it might be thoroughly fit to have sacrifices offered on it:

and it shall be an altar most holy;
as Christ is, and is called the Most Holy, and said to be anointed, ( Daniel 9:24 ) . He is holy in his person, nature, and offices, more holy than angels or men; as holy as the Lord God, the God of Israel, his Father, who is glorious in holiness, and none like to him for it:

whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy;
that is, whatsoever gift or sacrifice, according to law, was offered on it, whatever appertained unto it, or were suitable for it; for as for other things, they were not made holy by a touch of it, ( Haggai 2:11 Haggai 2:12 ) . The Targum of Jonathan refers it to persons, paraphrasing the words, that such should be holy who were

``of the sons of Aaron, but of the rest of the people it was not lawful for them to draw nigh, lest they should be burnt with flaming fire that comes out of the holy things;''

but our Lord applies it to gifts and offerings of the altar, for to this case he seems to have respect, ( Matthew 23:19 ) for he is the altar that sanctifies not only the persons, but the services of his people, and their sacrifices of prayer and praise come up with acceptance to God from off this altar; though even the best duties and services of theirs need atonement and purification by the sacrifice and blood of Christ.

Exodus 29:37 In-Context

35 Thou shalt do on Aaron, and on his sons, all things which I commanded to thee. Seven days thou shalt (make) sacred their hands, (Thou shalt do unto Aaron, and unto his sons, all the things which I have commanded to thee. For seven days thou shalt consecrate them.)

36 and thou shalt offer a calf for sin by each day (for) to cleanse; and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast offered the sacrifice of cleansing, and thou shalt anoint the altar into [the] hallowing (of it). (And each day thou shalt offer a calf as a sin offering for cleansing; and so thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast offered the sacrifice of cleansing, and then thou shalt anoint the altar with oil to consecrate it.)

37 Seven days thou shalt cleanse and hallow the altar, and it shall be the holy of holy things; each man that shall touch it shall be hallowed. (For seven days thou shalt cleanse and consecrate the altar, and it shall be most holy; anyone who is unclean who toucheth it, shall be harmed.)

38 This it is, that thou shalt do in the altar; two lambs of one year continually by each day, (This is what thou shalt offer on the altar; two lambs, one year old, each and every day,)

39 one lamb in the morrowtide, and the tother in the eventide;