Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 8:12
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
As investing the priest with official garments was a recognition before men of the official position of the person (see Exo 28:3 note), so the anointing him with oil was an acknowledgment that all fitness for his office, all the powers with which he would rightly fulfill its duties, must come from the Lord.
So, again, with the sanctification of the holy things. Each of them was intended by divine wisdom to convey a spiritual meaning to the mind of man. They were means of grace to the devout worshipper. The oil poured upon them was a recognition of this fact, and at the same time it made them holy and set them apart from all profane and ordinary uses. On kindred grounds, though to express another idea, the altar was to be sanctified also by blood. See Lev 8:15 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He poured of the anointing oil in a plentiful manner, as appears from Psa 133:2, whereas other persons and things were only anointed or sprinkled with it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head,…. Which ran down to his beard, and to the collar of his coat, the robe of the ephod, but not to the skirts of his garments, as we wrongly render it, Ps 133:2. Jarchi says it was first poured on his head, and after that he put it between his eyebrows, and drew it with his finger here and there, or from one eyebrow to another: Maimonides w gives a like account, with some addition; he says, the oil was poured on his head, and he was anointed between the eyebrows, in the form of the Greek letter , “chi”: a greater profusion of oil was used in the anointing of Aaron than of the tabernacle, altar, and laver, and their vessels, he being so eminent a type of Christ, our high priest, anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows:
and anointed him to sanctify him; to signify that he was set apart and devoted to the sacred office of the priesthood. The Targum of Jonathan observes, that this anointing was after he had clothed him; though some have thought it was done before the mitre and holy crown were put on: but if they were put on to complete the investiture, they might be taken off while the ceremony of anointing was performed.
w In Misn. Ceritot, c. 1. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aarons head.In the anointing of Aaron, the oil was poured upon his head. (See also Lev. 21:10-12; Exo. 29:7; Psa. 133:2.) This profuse pouring of oil was repeated at the consecration of every successor to the high-priesthood, whilst the common priests were simply anointed, or were simply marked with the finger on the forehead on their first installation, and this anointing descended with them for all futurity. (See Lev. 6:3.) Tradition informs us that during the second Temple, the person who anointed the high priest first threw the oil upon his head, and then drew with his finger the sign of the letter Caph, being the initial of Cohen, i.e., priest, between the eyebrows of the newly-consecrated pontiff.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. He poured the oil This expresses a copious unction. See Psa 133:2. The same Hebrew word is used in Isa 44:3, to indicate the copious effusion of the Spirit in the latter days. Aaron’s sons were only sprinkled with oil and blood, (Lev 8:30,) but in Lev 7:35, they are spoken of as anointed. The fact that Aaron alone was arrayed in his robes of office, and anointed before the blood was shed, beautifully typifies Christ in his peerless excellency and dignity anointed by the Holy Spirit before he accomplished his atoning work. Before the anointing of the sons of Aaron (Lev 8:30) all the acts recorded in Lev 8:13-29 were performed the blood is shed, the breast waved before Jehovah, and the fat is consumed on the altar, its sweet odour ascending as a type of the ascension of Jesus, who was slain as a victim, and who ascended as a priest to appear in the holy place for us.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
poured. Not touched with the finger, as in the case of the common priests, but profusely poured. See Psa 133:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
poured of the anointing oil
Two important distinctions are made in the case of the high priest, thus confirming his typical relation to Christ the anti-type:
(1) Aaron is anointed before the sacrifices are slain, while in the case of the priests the application of blood precedes the anointing. Christ the sinless One required no preparation for receiving the anointing oil, symbol of the Holy Spirit;
(2) upon the high priest only was the anointing oil poured. “God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” Joh 3:34. “Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Heb 1:9.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Lev 4:3, Lev 21:10, Lev 21:11, Lev 21:12, Exo 28:41, Exo 29:7, Exo 30:30, Psa 133:2
Reciprocal: Exo 30:31 – an holy Lev 7:36 – in the day Lev 10:7 – the anointing Lev 14:18 – the remnant Num 3:3 – the priests Num 35:25 – anointed 2Ki 9:3 – pour it Psa 45:7 – hath Zec 4:14 – These
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 8:12. He poured the oil upon Aarons head In a plentiful manner, as appears from Psa 133:2, whereas other persons and things were only sprinkled with it; because his unction was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. A measure of the same anointing is given to all believers, to all the members of Christs mystical body, who, by virtue of their union with their living head, partake of those gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit which were in him. Reader, hast thou received a measure of them? Remember, If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his.