Exodus 29
DOYLYChap. XXX. ver. 1.—an altar to burn incense] Thence called the altar of incense; distinct from the altar of burnt offerings, described at chap. xxvii. 1—8.
Chap. XXXI. ver. 3.—I have filled him with the spirit of God.] It was necessary that he should be supernaturally endowed with skill in these ingenious arts, since
- Or. perfumer.
Exodus 29:6
6.—where I will meet with thee.] It seems from this, that though Aaron and his successors could go into the Holy of Holies only once a year, yet God gave to Moses the privilege of coming there as often as there was occasion to consult the Divine Majesty. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:9
9.—no strange incense] None but that which is prescribed at ver. 34—37 of this chapter.
Exodus 29:10
10.—it is most holy unto the Lord.] Either the altar itself, being consecrated to God’s service, is so called,
or else the solemn expiation performed once a year, Levit. xvi. 29—34, which was the most holy rite in their religion. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:11
- And the Lord spake] This is often repeated in this chapter, ver. 17, 22, 34, and the succeeding chapter, to shew that God did not deliver His precepts to Moses without intermission, but that He gave him time to rest, and then spake to him again. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:12
12.—a ransom for his soul] As a homage, whereby they acknowledged that they had been redeemed by God, and also confessed His goodness in having multiplied their nation according to His promise. Dr. Wells.
Exodus 29:13
13.—after the shekel of the sanctuary:] The shekel (nearly half a crown of our money) was called “after the shekel of the sanctuary,” because the standard, according to which the money was tried, was kept in the sanctuary. Lewis.
The holy anointing oil. The composition of the perfume. Before CHRIST 1491.
that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
Exodus 29:14
- — it is a sin offering.] An offering made for the sins of Aaron and his sons, which sins it was necessary should be expiated before they were qualified to make offerings for the sins of others. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:20
- — the right ear &c.] It is thought that the blood was put upon their right ears, to denote their hearkening to the Divine precepts; and on their thumbs and toes, to denote their strenuous performance of all that was required of them. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:22
- — take of the ram the fat and the rump.] The tails of the sheep in Eastern countries are extremely large and loaded with fat. The least of them weigh ten
or twelve pounds, and according to the reports of travellers, some of them weigh upwards of fifty pounds. Bockart. This broad flattish tail is mostly covered with long wool: it is entirely composed of a substance between marrow and fat, being used instead of butter, and serving as an ingredient in several kinds of food. When the animal is young, it is little inferior to the best marrow. When the animal has been pampered, the tail has been known to weigh seventy and eighty pounds; but usually they weigh from ten to twenty pounds. Dr. Russell.
Exodus 29:26
- — it shall be thy part.] Moses being at this time in the stead of the High Priest, ver. 22. Bp. Kidder.
Exodus 29:27
- — wave offering, — heave offering.] There is no difference between the wave offering and the heave offering, except that the latter was only heaved or lifted
Consecration of priests. The continual burnt offering. Before CHRIST 1491. the children of Israel: for it is an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, even their heave offering unto the LORD.
Exodus 29:28
- — sacrifice of their peace offerings.] The peace offering betokened that they were now in a state of friendship and reconciliation with God. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:31
31.—This shall be an holy anointing oil] It was to be set apart to the use of God’s ministry, and therefore not to be employed on any other; not to be “poured on man’s flesh,” that is, not on the flesh of a common man, but only on the priests, and on such as were specially appointed. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 29:33
- — a stranger] Meaning here any one not of the family of Aaron.
33.—upon a stranger,] Upon one who is not a Before CHRIST 1491. called.
Exodus 29:40
- — a tenth deal — an bin &c.] See these explained in the tables.
Exodus 29:44
- — I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons,] God had no sooner directed a particular place for His service; He had no sooner caused an altar to be erected, where His people should more peculiarly serve and worship Him, and offer their sacrifices to Him; but He set apart a chosen people, who, and who alone, might perform the priests’ office in His service. Aaron and his sons, and they who descended from them, might do
that office: bold men might not intrude into it; nor unqualified men be imposed upon it by any authority
whatsoever. And the next care that God took, after
He had adorned the place of His worship with all possible lustre and magnificence, was, to provide such
ornaments and habits for the persons of those who served, as might make them remarkable above other men. “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty,” chap. xviii. 2. And God vouchsafed to be as particular and punctual
in His directions for the matter and form of those garments, as well for the sons, the inferiour priests, as for
Aaron the High Priest himself, as He had been for the ark, the tabernacle, and the altar. All which, methinks, should be a sufficient argument, or at least a sufficient motive, that particular places should be set aside, and adorned too, for the publick service of God: and for the distinction between the The altar of incense. The ransom of souls. Before CHRIST 1491.