Bible Commentaries
Exodus 29

Verses 1-46

Exodus 29:6. The holy crown, a plate of gold, as appears from Leviticus 8:9. Exodus 28:36.

Exodus 29:9. A perpetual statute. Many promises of this kind occur; and they are all like the sure mercies of David, absorbed in the everlasting priesthood and kingdom of the Messiah, the Christ of God. For the Jews were to have a better priest than Aaron, Psalms 110:4; a better sacrifice than those offered under the law, Psalms 40:6; a better fountain than the brazen laver, Zechariah 13:1; a better covenant than that of Moses, Jeremiah 31:0.

Exodus 29:10. Shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock, to signify that they offered it for themselves and for their own sins, which the offerers performing this rite were to confess, Leviticus 16:21; and to testify their faith in the future sacrifice of Christ, upon whom their sins were to be laid, and by whose blood they were to be expiated.

Exodus 29:12. Horns of the altar. Not of incense, as some would have it, but of the burnt-offerings.

Exodus 29:14. It is a sin-offering, for the highpriest, as is plain from the whole context, and therefore ought to be burnt. There was indeed a law that the sin-offering, whose blood was not carried into the tabernacle, which was the case here, should not be burnt, but eaten. Leviticus 6:30. But that concerned the people, not the priests who did not eat, but burnt their own sin-offerings. Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 4:12.

Exodus 29:18. Sweet savour. Hebrews a savour of rest, wherewith God will be well pleased.

Exodus 29:19. Take the other ram, for a peace-offering. So here were all the three sorts of sacrifices, which were afterwards to be offered by them for the people. These are the full oblation, as in Genesis 15:0.

Exodus 29:20. Tip of the right ear and thumb. These parts are consecrated in the name and stead of all the rest; the ear, as the instrument of hearing and receiving the mind and will of God in all their sacred administrations, and in their whole conversation; the hand and foot, as the instruments of action, and execution of that which they hear and understand to be the mind of God. All these parts are sprinkled with blood, to show the absolute necessity of Christ’s sacrifice to qualify them for an acceptable and successful discharge of their office.

Exodus 29:22. A ram of consecration; of the priests in their office.

Exodus 29:26. It shall be thy part, namely, the breast alone, whereas both shoulder and breast were afterwards given to Aaron. The reason of this might be, that Moses was not a proper and complete priest, as Aaron afterwards was, but one appointed for this time to do the work.

Exodus 29:27. Waved and heaved up. The rabbins tell us the difference between these two is, that the former was waved up and down, east, west, north and south, to signify that he to whom it was offered was Lord of the whole world, the God who fills all space, and to whom all things of right belong. The latter was only lifted up towards heaven, in token of its being devoted to God: but both these words are often used for an offering in general.

Exodus 29:29. His sons’, his eldest sons successively.

Exodus 29:30. Seven days; for so long the solemnity of the consecration lasted, Exodus 29:35.

Exodus 29:31. The holy place. In the court-yard at the door of the tabernacle, where it was both boiled and eaten, as appears from this and the next verse, and from Leviticus 8:31.

Exodus 29:33. A stranger, one who is not of the priestly race.

Exodus 29:37. An altar most holy, because it was not only holy in itself, but by its touch communicated a legal holiness to the victims, and to the people.

Exodus 29:38. Two lambs day by day. There were other occasional sacrifices of various sorts; but these were constant, and never omitted. The whole church in their evening and morning devotion need the atonement of the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

Exodus 29:40. Tenth deal of flour, an omer, or the tenth part of an ephah; equal to about half a peck English. A hin, the sixth part of an ephah; so that the fourth part of a hin of wine, according to Dr. Cumberland, was about a quart and something more than the quarter of a pint English. It contained the quantity of seventy two eggs.

Exodus 29:45 . I will dwell, by my special grace, and favour and blessing.

REFLECTIONS.

The Hebrew ritual exhibits here a scale of tragic grandeur, to show the holiness of God, the sinfulness of sin, and the manner in which the contrite might approach; for without shedding of blood there was no remission. Hebrews 9:22.

The law concerning the morning and evening sacrifice is founded on the obligation all men are under to serve God continually; and in particular, of offering him, at the beginning and end of every day, the sacrifice of prayer and praise.

If God promised the Israelites to dwell among them, we cannot doubt but he is more intimately present to defend and protect the christian church. This Paul proves, when he applies the promise in this chapter to christians: “I will dwell among them, and will be their God.” Also when he exhorts them, from this very consideration, to “cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1.