e

h

3 If his offering bed a burnt-sacrifice || ernacle of the congregation before the of the herd, let him offer a male without LORD. blemish: he shall offer it off his own voluntary will, at the door of the tabd 6:9-13. 8:18-21. Gen. 8: 5:27. Heb. 7:26. 9:14. 1 Pet.

20. 22:2,8,13. Ex. 24:5. 29:18, 1:18,19. 2:22-24.
42. 32:6, 38:1. Num. 28:3,10,f 7:16. 22:19,21. Ex. 35:5,21,
11,19,23,24,27,31. 29:8-11,13. 29. 36:3. Ps. 40:8. 110:3. 2
Cor. 8:12. 9:7.

Is. 1:11. Heb. 10:8-10.

5.

4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering: and it shall be accepted for him to make j atonement for him.

Phil. 4:18.

h 3:2,8,13. 4:4,15,24,29. 8:14,
22. 16:21. Ex. 29:10,15,19.j 4:20,26,31,35. 5:6, 6:7. 9:7.
Num. 8:12. Is. 53:4-6. 2 Cor. 16:24. Num. 15:28. 25:13. 2
5:21.
Chr. 29:23,24. Dan. 9:24.
Rom. 3:25. 5:11.

i 22:21,27. Is. 56:7. Rom. 12:1.

sacrifices, they especially typified Christ, in the intenseness of his sufferings, both of body and soul, when he gave himself a sacrifice for our sins; and when, at the time that man shed his blood, "it pleased the LORD to bruise him and to put him to grief:" and they likewise shewed forth the perfection of that zeal and love, with which he voluntarily went through his inexpressible sufferings.-A male without blemish was deemed the most complete of the kind: thus Christ was without spot or blemish; and his people must serve him with their best in every thing, and they are in themselves the excellent of the earth. (Ps. 16:3.)—The sacrifices of the congregation, daily, weekly, monthly, and annually, as well as those for the great feasts, were prescribed by express laws; and so were the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings: but the burnt-offerings here spoken of were voluntary.-The word (7) rendered voluntary will that he might be accepted before the Lord. Ex. may indeed signify, for his acceptance, that is 28:38. Is. 60:7. Heb.

e 3:1. 4:23. 22:19-25. Ex. 12:g 16:7. 17:4. Ex. 29:4. Deut. Deut. 15:21. Zech. 13:7. 12:5,6,13,14,27. Ez. 20:40. Mal. 1:14. Luke 1:35. Eph. John 10:7,9. Eph. 2:18. Adam; and thence by tradition it was derived into the various species of false religion, which prevailed in the world.-Among the worshippers of the true God, no animals but those called clean were offered. In most cases the head of the family, or the person presenting the sacrifice, officiated as priest. (Note, Ex. 24:5.) The blood of the animal was shed, and then the body was consumed by fire on an altar: or sometimes only a part of it; and then the remainder was feasted on by the person who sacrificed, along with his family and friends. (Gen. 31:54. Note, Ex. 18:12.) But, under the Mosaic dispensation, very particular laws were given upon this subject, which were connected || with the exclusive appointment of Aaron's family to the priesthood. In general, all the sacrifices in various ways typified Christ; and also shadowed out the believer's duty, character, privilege, and communion with God: and indeed, if we except the divine Person, the miracles, and the meritorious mediation, of the Lord Jesus, there is scarcely any thing in the whole Scripture spoken of him, which is so appropriate, as not to have also a subordinate meaning that concerns his people; and therefore we need not hesitate to apply the same things, both to Christ and to Christians, in different respects.-Such animals only were alV. 4. The offerer, by laying his hand on the lowed in sacrifice, as are most useful and valu-head of the young bull about to be sacrificed, able to man, which he is able to possess as prop- acknowledged the Lord as the Giver of all that erty, and the increase of which he promotes: he possessed; and surrendered the animal enand not all of them; but those only which are tirely to him, for the purposes of his glory. most domestic, harmless, patient, cleanly, and But this significant action more especially imwhose flesh is most commonly used for food. plied a humble confession of sin, as deserving Neither filthy swine, nor devouring lions, nor the wrath of God, and the penalty denounced the warlike horse, nor the subtle fox, nor the against transgressing the law; with a desire voracious dog, nor any creature which subsists that the guilt, (or exposedness to punishment on animal food, was appointed for sacrifice; nor and death,) might be transferred from the offeryet the timorous hare or deer, which flees from er to the innocent animal; and that the shedthe intercourse of man: but those alone which ding of its blood, and the burning of its body at represented most aptly what Christ would be, the altar might be accepted, instead of his bearand what his people ought to be; as the labori ing the deserved vengeance in his own person. ous, patient ox; the gentle, harmless, and clean--Accordingly, the Lord promised, that it ly sheep; and the tender, loving dove: for even the useful goat was sacrificed far less frequently, than sheep and oxen.-It is known that the heathens offered various animals, which were deemed unclean by the Israelites; especially swine

and horses.

Burnt sacrifice.] by (à nhy ascendere.) 'OλokavTwpa. Sept.-Tota cremanda.-Holocaustum, sic dictum, quod totum igne absumptum sursum as 'cenderet, et evanesceret.' Robertson.

should be "accepted for him to make alone. ment for him."-It is surprising that any one should argue, in opposition to the express words of the text, that it was not an atoning sacrifice; merely because there were other atoning sacrifices, appointed for particular occasions: for this was a general oblation, when a man was hum V. 3. The burnt-offering, or the offering which bly conscious of sin, in numerous instances of ascended, that is, in smoke from the altar, was his daily conduct, in his spirit and temper, and the principal sacrifice, and the most ancient. in his best services; though he had not commit No part of it was eaten, either by the priest, or ted those special offences, for which the siu the offerer; but the whole, when it had been offerings or trespass-offerings were required; or duly prepared, was consumed by fire on the al- those against which death was denounced, and tar, as consecrated to the Lord. When an Isno sacrifice appointed. The sacrifices, which raelite brought this offering to the sanctuary, from the beginning prefigured "the Lamb of he professed his willing devotedness to the wor- God, who taketh away the sin of the world," ship of God: and the transaction aptly repre- were generally burnt-offerings; and so were the sented the true believer's dedication of himself morning and evening-sacrifices offered day by without reserve, in body and soul, to the service day continually. Indeed, the sacrifice of Christ and glory of God, whether by doing or suffering was prefigured more aptly, and far more frehis will; "whether by life, or death:" (Phil. I:quently, by this than by any other oblation. 20.) but this is always accompanied by repent- And though it never was "possible for the blood ance, and faith in the atonement of Christ. of bulls and goats to take away sin," as to the Whatever else therefore was denoted by these conscience; yet these sacrifices were so far ac

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t Gen. 8:21. 2 Cor. 2:15. Eph. y See on 5.

It is however very probable, that when the Levites, and afterwards the Nethinims, were ap- V. 11. It is not said, that the other burntpointed to the service of the sanctuary, they as- offerings should be slain on the north-side of the sisted those who presented the sacrifices, espe- altar; but it is generally understood, that this cially such as were not expert at these employ-was peculiar to the larger victims. The reason ments. A great part of the expositions of many is not known. learned men, on this part of Scripture, consists V. 13. Though the sacrifice of a ram or heof the opinions held by the Jewish Rabbies on goat was much less expensive than that of a

16 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar, on the east part, by the place of the ashes.

с

on.

2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's 17 And he shall cleave it, with the out his handful of the flour thereof, and sons, the priests: and he shall take therewings thereof, but shall not divide it of the oil thereof, with all the fankinasunder: and the priest shall burn it up-cense thereof; and the priest shall burn on the altar, upon the wood that is upone the memorial of it upon the altar, to be the fire: it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offer- an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor ing made by fire, of a sweet savor unto unto the LORD. the LORD.

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young bull; yet it was equally accepted, when expressive of the offerer's repentance, faith, and devotedness to God; and when it accorded to his circumstances.

V. 14-17. No birds but turtle-doves or young pigeons, (the former, say some, being best when full grown, and the latter when young,) were allowed in sacrifice at the altar. Even the other tame fowls were passed by, either as feeding grossly, or as fierce in their nature: but the cleanly, gentle nature of the dove aptly typified the holy, harmless Savior, and represented the character of his true disciples.-As the blood of this sacrifice also must be sprinkled or poured out by the priest, he was ordered to kill it, lest the blood should be wasted, being but little in all. The priest was also required to prepare it for the altar, in which great exactness was needful. It was the sacrifice of the poor, and as acceptable as more costly oblations, when brought in a right spirit: it was therefore proper the priests should attend particularly to it, though neither splendid in itself, nor attended with any perquisites to them; (7:8.) to teach them, that the souls of the poor were to be as carefully watched over, as those of the wealthy.

3 And the remnant of the meat-offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a

thanksgiving, than an Israelite could offer a bull or a goat, except as God hath first given unto us. Of his own we present unto him; and the more we do in his service, the greater are our obligations to him, both for the will, the ability, and the opportunity. (Note, 1 Chr. 29:10-19.) Though in many things he leaves us to determiné the proportion, which shall be immediately spent in his service, whether of our time or of our substance; and though two doves, or two mites, may in some cases be more acceptable, than thousands of gold and silver in others: yet, where Providence hath put more into a man's power, such scanty oblations will not be accepted; because they are no proper expressions of a willing mind. "But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."— While we, in all these sacrifices, have our own sinfulness and Christ's sufferings brought to remembrance, we should call upon ourselves to renew our repentance; to exercise faith in the Savior, and love to him; to reflect deeply upon the freeness and vastness of his love to us, and the immense price which our salvation cost him: that so we may deduce arguments and motives to increase our abhorrence of all sin, and deterPRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. mination of heart against it; and our devotedness It might have been said of all these sacrifices, in body and soul to his service, whatever he may "To what purpose is this waste?" All these bulls, call us to renounce, venture, do, or suffer for his and rams, and goats, might have been "sold for sake. Nor let us forget, that though our bodies very much, and given to the poor," and would should be living sacrifices unto God, yet the body have supported very many indigent families: why of sin must be destroyed; the flesh with its lusts, then burn all this flesh upon the altar? Yet were crucified; and the soul baptized with the Holy they appointed by God himself, and were "a Spirit and with fire, consuming all its dross, and sweet savor unto him." That can never be kindling all holy affections there. Nay, possibly, wasted which is spent in a manner acceptable to we may not only be called to other suffering and the Lord, and honorable to his name: and be our self-denying services, but even to lay down our obedience ever so expensive, we can be no losers lives for him, who was made a Sacrifice for our in the event; for he can supply our wants, and sins. In the mean time, contemplating those anrepay our losses, and also furnish us with a suffi-imals, which were appointed as emblems of the ciency to give to the poor, whom we have always Savior's purity, patience, meekness, and usefulwith us. But, if an Israelite might not grudge ness; let us endeavor, and pray to be enabled, the expense, labor, and inconvenience of his re- to transcribe every amiable and heavenly line in ligion; how inexcusable are we, if we ung rate- his perfect character, into our own temper and fully refuse the easy, pleasant, and reasonable conversation; that we may be conformed to his service, which is required of us under the Chris-image, and walk in his steps, as an evidence that tian dispensation! Indeed, the Lord always pre- we are washed in his blood, and stand accepted vents us with his goodness: and we can no more of- in his righteousness, "in whom the Father is well fer the sacrifice of a broken heart, or of praise and I pleased."

thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

i

4 T And if thou bring an oblation of a meat-offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.

5 And if thy oblation be a meat-offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.

6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat-offering.

7 And if thy oblation be a meat-offering baken in the frying-pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

n

8 And thou shalt bring the meat-offering that is made of these things, unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.

9 And the priest shall take from the meat-offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is

g 6:17. 10:12. 21:22. Ex. 29:37.
Num. 18:9.

h 1 Chr. 23:29. Ez. 46:20.
i 7:12. Ex. 12:8. 1 Cor. 5:7.
k Ex. 16:31. 29:2.

an

*Or, on a flat plate, or slice.

m 1:6.

n See on 1,2.

o Ex. 29:18. Rom. 12:1. 15:16.
Phil. 2:17. 4:18.

NOTES.

times: but oil must always be used, either as mix

with them, or poured on them; and a part must be burned on the altar, as an oblation to God, before the priests ate the remainder. It is supposed, that provision was made in the court of the tabernacle and temple, for preparing these meat-offerings; and perhaps this was the case when Israel was settled in Canaan, and such oblations were greatly multiplied; but the law seems rather to imply that the offerers first made them, and then brought them to the priests.

V. 9. The priest, and not the offerer, secms to have taken the portion from the meat-offerings, which he burnt on the altar; though the second verse leaves this rather doubtful.

CHAP. II. V. 1-3. Meat-offerings were ap-ed pointed along with other sacrifices; but these, here prescribed, were offered alone, as a voluntary oblation: yet the single circumstance, that a part of them was eaten by the priests, shews thein to have been entirely of a different nature from the burnt-offerings. Some expositors say, that the Israelites, who could not afford any other sacriûce, might bring this: but a sufficient quantity of flour, oil, and frankincense, would not, except in very peculiar cases, be less expensive than a single pigeon.-The meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to have been a thankful acknowledgment to God for providential blessings; and to have represented good works as acceptable to God, when performed in the proper manner. They are therefore mentioned after the burnt- || offerings; for without a believing reliance on the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, other services could not be accepted.They must consist of fine flour, one of the most useful of the productions of the earth; with oil poured upon it, which was used as butter is with us, and was therefore proper for an oblation which was food for the priests: it might also denote the necessity of the influences of the Holy Spirit, which are often represented by anointing with oil. Frankincense likewise was added, which might represent the intercession of Christ. All the frankincense and part of the oil and flour, as burnt upon the altar of burnt-offering, might remind the people, that their best services must be offered through the atonement of the Savior, presented through him, and done for his sake; and that their good works would thus come up as a memorial before God, and also be serviceable to men. This was signified by the residue of the meat-offering being eaten by the priests, who alone might partake of "the most holy things."

V. 4-8. Some of these meat-offerings would be prepared before they were presented, in different ways according to the customs of those

V. 11. Leavened bread, and probably honey, might be offered for the use of the priests; but no part of it must be burnt on the altar. (Marg. Ref. q, r. Note, 7:12-14.)-Leaven is the known emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, as honey may be of sensual indulgence: and these are opposite to the believer's character, and hindrances to his fruitfulness. Christ was perfect in humility, truth, and love; his suffering life and agonizing death were the opposite to worldly pleasure; and his people must follow him and be conformed to him.-It is thought that leaven and honey were much used by the heathen in their sacrifices: but we know scarcely any thing of their customs in those early ages; and afterwards they in some things imitated the Israelites, and in others adopted contrary observances.

V. 12. These first-fruits seem to be such as individuals brought, for a voluntary oblation out of all their increase; and not such as were offered by the congregation at the festivals. In this case, honey and leaven might form a part, as the priests used the whole for food, and no part was burned on the altar. (Notes, 23:15–21. Num. 15:17-21.)

V. 13. Salt of the covenant, &c.] Covenants were generally ratified at an amicable feast, in which salt was always used; hence it became an emblem of friendship. Many Scriptures represent reconciliation to God, and communion with

him, as a feast to which the Lord invites us, and at which he ratifies his covenant with us. Salt is an emblem of incorruption: and while this use of it intimated the perpetuity, yea, eternity, of the covenant made with believers; it also represented the grace of the Holy Spirit, by which their services and worship are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, and their example and conversation useful and instructive to mankind; in counteracting the effects of human depravity, and communicating a savor of piety around them. (Marg. Ref. t, u.)

V. 14-16. These first-fruits also, seem to have been the voluntary oblation brought by individuals, of the finest ears of corn out of the field, before the harvest was ripe, and prepared by drying or parching them at the fire, and then beating them out for use. As this was intended to be an early acknowledgment of the Lord's goodness in giving the increase of the earth; and as corn was used in this form for food among the Israelites, (1 Sam. 25:18.) it was presented as a meat-offering, and the rules before given were to be observed in respect of it.-Cain brought this kind of oblation; but Abel brought also the firstlings of his flock. (Note, Gen. 4:3-5.)

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his mediatorial work, which no types and shadows, however varied and multiplied, can adequately represent: and our need of him is so entire, and cur reliance on him should be so constant, that we ought never to lose sight of it in any thing we do. Even our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, our works of mercy, charity, and righteousness, yea, every good work, must spring from his grace, and from love to him; ascend, as it were, with his sacrifice from the altar of burntoffering; and be presented through his intercession; that "whatsoever we do, in word and in deed, we may do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Thus presented, our acknowledgments of common mercies, and our most ordinary actions of justice and benevolence to men, and especially of kindness to his servants and to the poor, will be "a sweet savor unto the LORD." (Note, Col. 3:16,1%) But let us take care, that we leaven not our works with pride and ostentation, hypocrisy or malice; or spoil them with indulging JOL. I.

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"fleshly lusts which war against the soul:" and that they be seasoned with the salt of grace, and continued in with perseverance; that so they may be comfortable to us, honorable to God, and instrumental to the good of others. In all this we must look unto Jesus, and follow his example, devoting the first and best of every thing which we possess to the service of God through him.

NOTES.

CHAP. III. V. 1. The original name for this oblation is (na) a sacrifice of peace, or peaces; for the word is plural.-Peace, in Scripture, is often used for all kinds of prosperity and comfort; and the language may imply, that, through the typical priesthood and atoning sacrifices, Israel would enjoy all blessings in the favor of God, dwelling among them upon a mercy-seat, while they adhered to his worship and service.The burnt-offerings were wholly consumed on the altar; the priests had a part of the meatoffering; but the peace-offering was divided be. tween the altar, the priests, and the offerer, and formed a kind of feast, in which the Lord, and his priests and people, met together.-Either male or female of the herd or flock if without blemish, might be offered in these sacrifices, both being good for food; but pigeons or turtledoves are not mentioned; for the division of such small creatures into the proper proportions would have been inconvenient. The peace-offerings seem to have especially represented the application of the redemption of Christ to the heart and conscience; the communications of peace and comfort through him; and the sweet communion which his reconciled people hold with him, and with each other, in his ordinances: (Matt. 20:29. Rev. 3:20.) while "his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed" to their souls; and while they are enabled to exercise faith in his atonement, love and gratitude to him, and love to each other for his sake, with enlarged hearts rejoicing in each other's comfort, and communicating to one another's necessities. The peaceofferings might likewise intimate, that all the blessings which sinners enjoy, come through the sacrifice of Christ; and that the greatest sweetness even of temporal mercies arises from receiving them as the fruit of his atonement and the pledges of his love, and from sharing them with

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