Leviticus 7:35

This is the portion of the anointing— There is nothing for portion in the original: the Hebrew is, this is the anointing of Aaron, and the anointing of his sons; by which is meant, "this is the privilege or portion of their unction or appointment to the priest's office." Ainsworth has given us many examples of similar metonymies in the Hebrew. Thus divination is used for the rewards of divination, Numbers 22:7. Iniquity is often put for the punishment or desert of iniquity, Leviticus 7:18 of this chapter. Job 11:6. See also Romans 2:26 where circumcision is put for persons circumcised. Houbigant thinks that, as the word rendered anointed, applied both to kings and to the MESSIAH, denotes dignity and pre-eminence; so it may here, properly, be rendered prerogative. In Numbers 18:8 the LXX render it by γερας, honour, or excellence. Agreeably to this criticism, the passage might be rendered, this is the prerogative of Aaron, and the prerogative of his sons. In the day, &c. may signify from the day: from the day they draw near to the Lord, to minister in the priest's office, says Houbigant.