Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 7:35

This [is the portion] of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day [when] he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office;

35. anointing-portion ] R.V. mg. portion. The Heb. root which means to anoint is found in Aramaic and Assyrian in the sense to measure. The word here and the similar word in Num 18:8 ( by reason of the anointing, ‘for a portion,’ R.V. mg.) probably indicate an assigned or ‘measured portion,’ without excluding a play on the other sense of the root.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Conclusion (35 38)

The summary in Lev 7:35-36 refers to the priestly dues, either to those just mentioned in Lev 7:31-34, or more generally to those prescribed in the section Lev 6:8 to Lev 7:34.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The portion of the anointing … – Rather, the appointed share of Aaron and of his sons.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Of the anointing, i.e. of the priesthood; the sign put for the thing signified; and the anointing by a like figure is put for the right, or part of the sacrifices belonging to the priest by virtue of his anointing, as plainly appears from the words here following,

out of the offering, & c.

In the day when he presented them: this was their portion appointed them by God in that day, and therefore to be given to them in after-ages. Or, from the day, &c., and thenceforward; the Hebrew preposition beth being put for rain, as it is frequently.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

35-38. This is the portion of theanointing of AaronThese verses contain a general summing up ofthe laws which regulate the privileges and duties of the priests. Theword “anointing” is often used as synonymous with “office”or “dignity.” So that the “portion of the anointing ofAaron” probably means the provision made for the maintenance ofthe high priest and the numerous body of functionaries which composedthe sacerdotal order.

in the day when he presentedthem to minister unto the Lord, &c.that is, from the daythey approached the Lord in the duties of their ministry.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

This [is the portion] of the anointing of Aaron,…. Of his being anointed to the priestly office; this is the part allotted and assigned him for the execution of it; this is the reward, as Aben Ezra interprets it, of his faithful performance of it, namely, his having the wave breast and heave shoulder of the peace offerings, and a cake out of everyone of the unleavened cakes, together with the leavened bread, besides other perquisites from other offerings:

and of the anointing of his sons; the successors of him in the priest hood; the Targum of Jonathan adds, above all their brethren the Levites:

out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire; out of such whose fat on the several parts of them was burnt with fire, such as the peace offerings were:

in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest’s office; when they were ordered to be taken out from among the children of Israel, and to be consecrated to, and invested with, the priest’s office, as they were by Moses, and presented by him unto him as his priests; at that time the above portion was assigned them, as follows.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

      35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office; 36 Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; 38 Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

      Here is the conclusion of these laws concerning the sacrifices, though some of them are afterwards repeated and explained. The are to be considered, 1. As a grant to the priests, Lev 7:35; Lev 7:36. In the day they were ordained to that work and office this provision was made for their comfortable maintenance. Note, God will take care that those who are employed for him be well paid and well provided for. Those that receive the anointing of the Spirit to minister unto the Lord shall have their portion, and it shall be a worthy portion, out of the offerings of the Lord; for God’s work is its own wages, and there is a present reward of obedience in obedience. 2. As a statute for ever to the people, that they should bring these offerings according to the rules prescribed, and cheerfully give the priests their share out of them. God commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations, v. 38. Note, The solemn acts religious worship are commanded. They are not things that we are left to our liberty in, and which we may do or not do at our pleasure; but we are under indispensable obligations to perform them in their season, and it is at our peril if we omit them. The observance of the laws of Christ cannot be less necessary than the observance of the laws of Moses was.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

Verses 35-38:

The portion of the sacrifices reserved for the priests was one way God chose to provide for their livelihood, and also for the livelihood of those who performed other duties about the tabernacle (temple) and altar. These sacrificial portions were in addition to the tithes Israel paid for the support of the Levites. This is a type of the way God’s people are to support the preaching of the Gospel in this age, see 1Co 9:1-13.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

f. THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE LAWS 7:3538
TEXT 7:3538

35

This is the anointing-portion of Aaron, and the anointing-portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto Jehovah in the priests office;

36

which Jehovah commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion for ever throughout their generations.

37

This is the law of the burnt-offering, of the meal-offering, and of the sin-offering, and of the trespass-offering, and of the consecration, and of the sacrifice of peace-offerings;

38

which Jehovah commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:3538

146.

When did Aaron and his sons learn of their portions of the sacrifices?

147.

Why was it necessary to often remind the priests and the people that the priests had a portion from the altar?

148.

How would you describe the purpose of Lev. 7:37-38?

PARAPHRASE 7:3538

This is their pay! It is to be set apart from the burnt offerings, and given to all who have been appointed to minister to the Lord as prieststo Aaron and to his sons. For on the day the Lord anointed them, He commanded that the people of Israel give these portions to them; it is their right forever throughout all their generations. These were the instructions concerning the burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, and guilt offering, and concerning the consecration offering and the peace offering; these instructions were given to Moses by the Lord on Mount Sinai, to be passed on to the people of Israel so that they would know how to offer their sacrifices to God in the Sinai desert.

COMMENT 7:3538

Lev. 7:35-36 The instructions we have just considered in these seven chapters were all given to Aaron and his sons at the time of their ordination. Moses wrote down the instructions and each priest must have been carefully instructed out of the book of the law. Priests were not anointed until they were instructed.

Throughout all succeeding generations these laws will be kept, The priests will live from their portion of the altar. It would seem necessary to be very emphatic and clear concerning the priests portion. It is indeed necessary when discussing money or food to write it in large letters.

Lev. 7:37-38 In two verses the entire sacrificial system is summed up. We notice the inclusion of the consecration offerings. These were the offerings made at the time the priests were set into their officethe sin and trespass offerings were used at their ordination. We are here anticipating the detailed description of such a consecration to follow in the next chapter. The last phrase refers us back to the beginning of Leviticus. All these instructions were given and learned before Israel left Sinai.

FACT QUESTIONS 7:3538

191.

When did the priests learn of their duties?

192.

Why so emphatic in these instructions ?

193.

Why mention the consecration in the midst of the sacrifices?

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

(35) This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron and of the anointing of his sons.Better, this is the share of Aaron and the share of his sons. That is, the wave breast and the heave shoulder.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

SUMMARY OF PRECEDING LAWS, Lev 7:35-38.

35. This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron This is the provision made for those who are anointed priests the perquisite by virtue of the holy office. The abstract anointing is put for the concrete, the anointed.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments