These being the first offerings that ever were offered by the levitical
priesthood, according to the newly-enacted law of sacrifices, the
manner of offering them is particularly related, that it might appear
how exactly they agreed with the institution. 1. Aaron with his own
hands slew the offering (v. 8), and did the work of the inferior
priests; for, great as he was, he must not think any service below him
which he could do for the honour of God: and, as Moses had shown him
how to do this work decently and dexterously, so he showed his sons,
that they might do likewise; for this is the best way of teaching, and
thus parents should instruct their children by example. Therefore as
Moses before, so Aaron now offered some of each of the several sorts of
sacrifices that were appointed, whose rites differed, that they might
be thoroughly furnished for every good work. 2. He offered these
besides the burnt-sacrifice of the morning, which was every day offered
first, v. 17. Note, Our accustomed devotions morning and evening, alone
and in our families, must not be omitted upon any pretence whatsoever,
no, not when extraordinary services are to be performed; whatever is
added, these must not be diminished. 3. It is not clear whether, when
it is said that he burnt such and such parts of the sacrifices upon the
altar (v. 10-20), the meaning is that he burnt them immediately with
ordinary fire, as formerly, or that he laid them upon the altar ready
to be burnt with the fire from heaven which they expected (v. 24), or
whether, as bishop Patrick thinks, he burnt the offerings for himself
with ordinary fire, but when they were burnt out he laid the people's
sacrifices upon the altar, which were kindled and consumed by the fire
of the Lord. I would rather conjecture, because it is said of all these
sacrifices that he burnt them (except the burnt-offering for the
people, of which it is said that he offered it according to the manner,
v. 16, which seems to be equivalent), that he did not kindle the fire
to burn them, but that then the fire from the Lord fastened upon them,
put out the fire that he had kindled (as we know a greater fire puts
out a less), and suddenly consumed the remainder, which the fire he had
kindled would have consumed slowly. 4. When Aaron had done all that on
his part was to be done about the sacrifices he lifted up his hand
towards the people, and blessed them, v. 22. This was one part of the
priest's work, in which he was a type of Christ, who came into the
world to bless us, and when he was parted from his disciples, at his
ascension, lifted up his hands and blessed them, and in them his whole
church, of which they were the elders and representatives, as the great
high priest of our profession. Aaron lifted up his hands in blessing
them, to intimate whence he desired and expected the blessing to come,
even from heaven, which is God's throne. Aaron could but crave a
blessing, it is God's prerogative to command it. Aaron, when he had
blessed, came down; Christ, when he blessed, went up.