Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 29:16
And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle [it] round about upon the altar.
16. sprinkle ] toss: viz. in a volume, out of a tossing-vessel or basin (see on Exo 27:3). ‘Sprinkle’ not only conveys an incorrect idea of the action meant, but also confuses it with an entirely different action, correctly represented by ‘sprinkle’ (Lev 4:6; Lev 4:17; Lev 5:9 &c.): it is to be regretted that the distinction, obliterated in AV., but correctly pointed out in the Speaker’s Commentary (1. ii. 499 b ) in 1871, should not have been preserved in RV. The reader who desires to understand correctly the sacrificial ritual of the Hebrew should correct on the margin of his copy of the RV. toss or throw for ‘sprinkle’ (with against for ‘upon,’ where altar follows: see the next note) here, v. 20, Exo 24:6, Lev 1:5; Lev 1:11; Lev 3:2; Lev 3:8; Lev 3:13; Lev 7:2; Lev 7:14; Lev 8:19; Lev 8:24; Lev 9:12; Lev 9:18; Lev 17:6, Num 18:17; Num 19:13; Num 19:20 (but vv. 4, 18, 19, 21 ‘sprinkle’ is correct), 2Ki 16:13; 2Ki 16:15, Eze 43:18, 2Ch 29:22; 2Ch 30:16 ; 2Ch 35:11; also Eze 36:25 and Exo 9:8; Exo 9:10.
upon ] against. As the Jews expressly state, the blood was thrown not upon the altar, but against the sides of it, and in such a manner that with two movements of the ‘tossing-vessel’ the blood was thrown against its four sides ( Zebim v. 4 ff.; Rashi on Lev 1:5). So Lev 1:5; Lev 1:11, &c.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Which signifies, that not only our persons, but our very altars and sacrifices, and best services, need the sprinkling of Christs blood upon them to render them acceptable to God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And thou shalt slay the ram,…. As he was ordered to slay the bullock, acting in this as a priest, as in that:
and thou shall take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar; the blood being received into a basin, it was not to be put upon the altar with the finger, as the blood of the bullock, but was to be sprinkled probably with a bunch of hyssop, round about upon the altar, on the top and sides: as the deity of Christ is the altar which sanctifies every gift, this may signify that his blood has its virtue and efficacy from that, to make atonement for the sins of men, and to cleanse them from them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. And thou shalt slay the ram. Moses had previously been commanded to take the parts of the victim from the hands of Aaron, to propitiate God with them, in order that he and his posterity might be able hereafter to perform the same office; but here a peculiar ceremony is described, that he should smear the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the toe of the right foot, both of Aaron and his sons, with the blood of a ram; and then that he should sprinkle them and their garments with the blood which was deposited upon the altar. What we must first observe here is, that the priest must be sprinkled with blood, in order that he may conciliate the favor of God towards himself for the purpose of intercession. Thus the priesthood of Christ was dedicated with blood, so that it might be efficacious to reconcile God with us. The question now arises, why only the right ear and the right thumb and toe were sprinkled with blood, as if the priests were consecrated and devoted to God only in half of their persons? I reply, that in this one part the other was comprehended; since both the ears, and both the hands and feet have the same object, and their offices are so connected, that what is said of one ear applies to the other. Again, it is asked, why the ear, and foot, and hand, were smeared rather than the breast and the tongue? and I do not doubt but that by the ear obedience was designated, and by the hands and feet all the actions and the whole course of life; for there is scarcely anything more common in Scripture than these metonymies, by which the cleanness of the hands is taken for the integrity of the whole life, and the way, or course, or walk for the direction, or manner of living. It is therefore very appropriate that man’s life should be consecrated by blood; and, inasmuch as the foundation of welldoing is obedience, which is preferred to all sacrifices, Moses is commanded to begin with the ear. And we know that the “odor of a sweet smell” in the sacrifice of Christ was obedience, (Phi 4:18😉 on which account, David, in the spirit of prophecy, introduces himself, saying, “Mine ears hast thou bored.” (175) (Psa 40:6.) If any should object that the tongue is of no less importance, because the priest is the messenger of the Lord of hosts, I answer that the office of teaching is not here referred to, but only that of intercession; wherefore in these three members Moses embraced whatever related to atonement. But we must remember that what is said of the consecration of Christ does not apply to His own person, but refers to the profit of the whole Church; for neither was He anointed for His own sake, nor had He need to borrow (176) grace from the blood; but He had regard to His members, and devoted Himself altogether to their salvation, as He himself testifies, “For their sake I sanctify myself.” (Joh 17:19.)
(175) A. V., “mine ears hast thou opened.” Margin, “Heb., digged.” See C.’s own Commentary, in loco, with Mr. Anderson’s note. Calvin Translation Society’s edition, vol. 2, p. 99.
(176) “ La grace de reconcilier.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) Thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it.Rather, scatter it. The act of throwing the blood from a basin against the lower part of the altar is intended. The verb is a different one from that rightly translated sprinkle in Exo. 29:21. The LXX. render it by , and the Vulg. by fundere.
Round about upon the altar.Practically, this was done by casting it on two of the corners of the altarthe north-east and the south-westthus moistening all the four sides (Middoth, 3:2).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Observe, the sacrifice of blood is first sprinkled upon the altar, and then the offering by fire; meaning, perhaps, that atonement for our sins is first made to God by the blood of Jesus, and then our persons and our offerings are accepted in him, as living sacrifices. Isa 6:7 ; Rom 12:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 29:16 And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle [it] round about upon the altar.
Ver. 16. Sprinkle it. ] See 1Pe 1:2 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 29:11, Exo 29:12
Reciprocal: Exo 24:6 – on the altar Lev 1:5 – sprinkle Num 18:17 – thou shalt