(16) In their place.--'Omd?m. This word is used in this sense only in Daniel, Chronicles, Nehemiah. (Comp. 2Chronicles 34:31; 2Chronicles 35:10.) After their manner--i.e., "according to their order" (1Chronicles 6:31). According to the law . . . of God.--Another reference to the Pentateuchal legislation. (See 2Chronicles 23:18; 2Chronicles 24:6; 2Chronicles 14:4; 2Chronicles 17:9.) Sprinkled . . . Levites.--Rather, sprinkling the blood from the hand of the Levites. On this occasion the Levites, and not the laymen who presented the victims, slew the lambs and handed the blood to the priests to be dashed against the altar. The reason of this breach of the ordinary rule is given in next verse. Verse 16. - They stood in their place after their manner (see Leviticus 1:11-13, and many other references in Leviticus). 30:13-20 The great thing needful in attendance upon God in solemn ordinances, is, that we make heart-work of it; all is nothing without this. Where this sincerity and fixedness of heart are, there may yet be many things short of the purification of the sanctuary. These defects need pardoning, healing grace; for omissions in duty are sins, as well as omissions of duty. If God should deal with us in strict justice, even as to the very best of our doings, we should be undone. The way to obtain pardon, is to seek it of God by prayer; it must be gotten by petition through the blood of Christ. Yet every defect is sin, and needs forgiveness; and should be matter to humble, but not to discourage us, though nothing can make up for the want of a heart prepared to seek the Lord.And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God,.... The priests in their place, and the Levites in theirs, in which they were ordered to stand when they offered sacrifice:the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites; the blood either of the burnt offerings before mentioned, or of the passover lambs, which the Levites slew, and received the blood of them in basins; and which the priests took of them, and sprinkled, not on the door posts of houses, as in Egypt, but on the altar round about, and which none but priests might do, Leviticus 1:5. |