Chapter 9

1 The first offerings of Aaron, for himself and the people. 8 The sin offering, 12 and the burnt offering for himself. 15 The offerings for the people. 23 Moses and Aaron bless the people. 24 Fire cometh from the Lord, upon the altar.

1. On the eighth day. The seven days of consecration were past and the time had come for Aaron to offer his first sacrifice. Prior to this time he had not performed any strictly priestly service for the people. His instruction had been thorough, yet it must have been with some anxiety that he faced the day of test.

Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of the people to come with the required sacrifices and begin their work. As they did so, all the people drew near and stood before the Lord (v. 5).

8. Aaron therefore went. Without further hesitation Aaron offered for himself, his sons assisting with the blood. He did everything “according to the manner,” making no mistake.

10. As the Lord commanded. Of all this Moses was an interested observer. He was the one with whom the Lord had communicated and who had instructed Aaron and his sons in what they were to do. Now he watched to see that all things were done according to God’s instructions. It would have been a serious mistake for Aaron to sprinkle the blood of the sin offering upon the altar round about. That must never be done. The blood of the sin offering must be put on the horns of the altar. Again, it would be a serious mistake to put the blood of the burnt offering upon the horns of the altar. That must never be done. The blood of the burnt sacrifice was always sprinkled on the altar round about. The symbolism demanded that everything be done in exactly the manner God had prescribed. Aaron therefore made no mistake.

15. The people’s offering. Having finished offering the sacrifices for himself, Aaron proceeded with the ritual for the people’s offerings. The procedure was somewhat different from the one that was to be followed later, for this was the first time Aaron officiated for the people. Ordinarily, the people’s sin offering consisted of a bullock (ch. 4:14), and its blood was to be brought into the first apartment of the sanctuary (ch. 4:17, 18); but here the sin offering was a goat. And, except on the Day of Atonement, the blood of a goat was not brought into the sanctuary. Aaron had definite instruction in regard to the offering of the day, and he followed these instructions. All was done as Moses had commanded, without error.

22. Aaron lifted up his hand. The people had been interested spectators. They had seen Aaron offer for himself; they had seen him offer for them. And now Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them. It was a solemn and a happy moment, for God had accepted their offerings.

23. The glory of the Lord. Moses and Aaron went in together into the sanctuary. What took place there we are not informed, but it must have been with awe that the two brothers faced the veil separating the holy from the most holy place. We may believe that Moses instructed Aaron in regard to the lamps, the shewbread, and the candlestick, the offering of incense, the sprinkling of the blood before the veil, and the touching of the blood to the horns of the altar of incense. We are not told whether the veil was parted and Aaron received instruction as to what he was to do on the Day of Atonement. The sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat was the most sacred act he would ever be called upon to perform.

Suddenly “the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.” We are not told the exact manner of this demonstration, but it must have been a striking testimony of God’s approval of the building the people had erected for Him, and of Moses and Aaron as His servants. Aaron had been consecrated to the priesthood; now God placed His seal upon him.

24. A fire. This fire could have consumed Moses, Aaron, and all the people (ch. 10:1, 2); instead, it consumed the offerings on the altar. God had fulfilled His promise (vs. 4, 6). According to Jewish tradition the sacred fire imparted upon this occasion was preserved at least until the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, perhaps longer.

God had accepted man’s work. The sanctuary was now dedicated and consecrated. So also were the priests. All preparations were complete for the service that would continue for more than 1,400 years, and then be transferred to the sanctuary above.

Ellen G. White comments

1-9, 22-24PP 359