Hebrews 9:19

19. For To show with what tokens of death the first covenant testament was dedicated, our apostle goes back to the memorable scene when Jehovah and Israel first formed their covenant under Moses. Exodus 24:3-8. Fresh from Sinai, Moses, having written the law in a book, reads it to the people, who fully assent to the compact between law and obedience. To ratify this compact or covenant, Moses is here described as taking the usual sprinkling-brush a sprig of hyssop tipped with red wool dipping it into the blood of slain animals, and sprinkling it over book and people, and, at a later period, (see note Hebrews 9:21,) over tabernacle and vessels used in the ceremonial ministry. Blood, shed forth or sprinkled, was the emblem of that death which the sinner deserved; of that death which the victim’s death symbolized for him instead of his own death; and which symbolized that death which symbolizes and is made substitute for the death of the world of sinners. As a symbol of the Substitute’s death, the blood represents the offerer’s remission of sin, and so purification, sanctification, and life. And with the sinner’s purification all his ritual surroundings must be purified. As these surroundings are made by sinful man they are tainted with his impurity, and must be purified; and blood is the sole, sovereign, universal, ritual purifier. Blood-besprinkled, they are holy; and so this newly made holy man walks and works amid holy things, a type of the holy beings of a holy heaven.

Had spoken Had read from the book by him written for the purpose.

According to the law The authority for all this use of typical blood.

Calves… goats Calves and goats are not mentioned, but were doubtless used, as appears from other passages of the law. In Exodus 24:5, (the narrative of the dedication,) “it is said that Moses sent young men who offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed sacrifices, which (Hebrews) were peace offerings to Jehovah, even bullocks. Now, although goats are not mentioned here, yet it is quite probable that the burnt offerings on this occasion were goats; for a burnt offering is a holocaust; that is, an offering entirely consumed by fire; while the peace offerings were mostly eaten by the offerers. That goats were used for all kinds of sacrifices, as well as bullocks, is quite evident from a mere inspection of the Levitical law; for example, goats are named as a burnt offering, Leviticus 1:10; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 4:28, etc., and elsewhere. It is altogether probable, then, that the holocausts or burnt offerings mentioned in Exodus 24:5, as offered on the occasion of renewing the covenant, were goats; and were, of course, understood by a Jewish reader to be such, inasmuch as the peace offerings only are affirmed to have been bullocks.” Stuart.

Water, scarlet wool, and hyssop ”That water was used as well as blood in order to sprinkle various things is clearly implied in Leviticus 14:4-7, compared with Leviticus 14:49-52; Numbers 19:18; Psalms 51:7; Ezekiel 36:25. The scarlet wool was connected with a branch of hyssop in order to make a convenient instrument for receiving and sprinkling the blood and water. It is not, indeed, expressly mentioned in Exodus xxiv, but it is, doubtless, implied; for this was the common instrument by which the rite of sprinkling was performed. So in Exodus 12:7, direction is simply given to sprinkle the door posts of the Israelites with blood; and afterwards, in Hebrews 9:22, it is mentioned that this was to be done with a branch of hyssop. So in Leviticus 14:4-7, the scarlet wool and the hyssop are mentioned as employed in the office of sprinkling; and again in Leviticus 14:49-52. The hyssop is also mentioned in Numbers 19:18; Psalms 51:7.” Stuart.

The book of the law ”That Moses did sprinkle the book with blood no intimation is given in Exodus 24:3-8. Yet nothing can be more probable than that such was the fact. Aaron, and his sons, and their garments, were sprinkled with blood when consecrated to the priest’s office. Exodus 29:19-21. The blood of sacrifices was sprinkled upon the altar, Exodus 29:16; Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 1:11; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 3:13; also before the veil of the sanctuary, Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 4:17; compare Leviticus 6:27; Leviticus 7:14; Leviticus 8:15; Leviticus 8:19; Leviticus 8:24; Leviticus 8:30; Leviticus 9:12; Leviticus 9:18, and others. Philo ( de Vita Mosis, page 675, B.) has a passage which speaks of all the various apparatus of the tabernacle as being anointed with holy oil, and the vestments of the priests being sprinkled with blood. So Josephus, also, speaks of sprinkling the garments of Aaron and his sons with the blood of the slain beasts, and with spring water and holy chrism.” Stuart.