Lev. 9 Moses commands Aaron to offer a sin-offering, and burnt-offering, and peace and meat offering; the congregation drawing near, and so the glory of the Lord should appear to them; to make atonement for himself and the people, Lev. 9:1–7. Aaron’s offering for himself, Lev.

The eighth day, to wit, from the first day of his consecration, or when the seven days of his consecration were ended, Lev. 8:33, Lev. 8:35, as appears from Ex. 29:30, Ezek. 43:27. The eighth day is famous in Scripture for the perfecting and purifying both of men and beasts. See Lev. 12:2–3, Lev.

A young calf, Heb. a calf, the son of a bull or cow; which may seem to be added purposely to intimate that it was not a young calf properly so called, but a young bullock, for that was the sacrifice enjoined for the high priest’s sin-offering, Lev. 4:3.

A sin-offering for the people, as it is expressed here Lev. 9:15, for whose sin a young bullock was required, Lev. 4:14; but that was for some particular sin, but this was more general and indefinite for all their sins.

See the fulfilling of this promise, Lev. 9:24. Heb. hath appeared. He speaks of the thing to come as if it were past, which is frequent in Scripture, to give them the more assurance of the thing.

Before the tabernacle where God dwelt.

The glorious manifestation of God’s powerful and gracious presence, Lev. 9:24, Ex. 24:16–17, Ex. 40:34–35, Ezek. 43:2.

Moses had hitherto sacrificed, but now he resigneth his work to Aaron, and actually gives him that commission which from God he had received for him. The order is very observable, first for thyself, otherwise thou art unfit to do it for the people.

Upon the horns of the altar, to wit, of burnt-offerings, of which alone he speaks both in the foregoing and following words; and the blood was poured out at the bottom of this altar only, not of the altar of incense, as appears from Lev.

Either, 1. Disposed it for the burning, i.e. laid it upon the altar where it was to be burnt by the heavenly fire, Lev. 9:24. Thus interpreters generally understand the word here, as also Lev. 9:13, Lev. 9:17, Lev.

This was to be offered for the people, as the former was for himself, Lev. 9:7. As the first, to wit, in like manner as he did that for the priest, Lev. 9:8, and consequently burnt this, as he did the other, Lev. 9:11, for which Moses reproves him, Lev. 10:17.

Which also was offered for the people, as the last mentioned sin-offering was.

The meat-offering was always to be added to the burnt offering. See Lev. 6:0. The burnt-sacrifice of the morning was to be first offered every morning; for God will not have his ordinary and stated service swallowed up by extraordinary.

That which covereth; the fat which covereth the inwards, or the guts; which words are here understood, as appears by comparing this place with Lev. 3:3, Lev. 3:9, Lev. 4:8, Lev. 7:3, where they are expressed.

The breasts were reserved for the priest out of the peace-offerings, which were offered for the people. See Lev. 7:30–31, Lev. 7:34.

Aaron lifted up his right hand, which the Jews say was lifted up highest; or his hands, according to the other reading, which was the usual rite of blessing. See Luke 24:50. By this posture he signified both whence he expected the blessing, and his hearty desire of it for them.

Moses went in with Aaron to direct him, and to see him perform those parts of his office which were to be done in the holy place, about the lights, and the table of shewbread, and of the altar of incense, upon which part of the blood of the sacrifices now offered was to be sprinkled, according to…

There came a fire, in token of God’s acceptation and approbation of the priesthood now instituted, and the sacrifices now offered, and consequently of others of the like nature. See the like instances, Judg. 6:21, Judg. 13:19–20, 1 Chron. 21:26.