Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Hebrews 9:21

καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν δὲ.… “And he also in like manner sprinkled with the blood the tabernacle and all the instruments of the service”. The tabernacle, however, was not yet erected when the covenant was instituted. Delitzsch supposes that a subsequent though kindred transaction is referred to; and colour is given to this supposition by the separation of this verse from Hebrews 9:19. But against it is the article in τῷ αἵματι, “the blood,” apparently the blood defined in Hebrews 9:19-20; although it is just possible the writer may have meant “the blood” which formed part of the means of service. Neither was it by Moses but by Aaron the tabernacle and the altar were sprinkled with blood and so cleansed on the day of Atonement. When first erected ἡ σκηνὴ καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτῆς were anointed with oil (Exodus 40:9) but Josephus records a tradition that it was consecrated not only with oil but also with blood (Ant. iii. 8, 6). It seems that the author adopts this tradition, and ascribes to Moses at the original consecration of the tabernacle the cleansing rites which afterwards were annually performed by Aaron on the day of Atonement.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Hebrews 9:21

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