The anointing oil — i.e., the oil mentioned in Exodus 25:6, and recently glanced at in Exodus 28:41. On its composition see Exodus 30:23-25.
Pour it upon his head. — As the ablution typified cleansing from sin, so the anointing was emblematic of the outpouring of Divine grace upon the person anointed. The pouring of the oil on Aaron’s head was perhaps to indicate the freeness and abundance with which God gives His grace to His servants. (Comp. Psalms 133:2.)
Coats — i.e., tunics. (See Note 1 on Exodus 28:40.)
The bonnets. — Rather, caps. (See Note 3 on Exodus 28:40.)
The priest’s office shall be their’s for a perpetual statute. — That is, not only shall they individually be priests, but the office shall descend to their posterity, and so be theirs perpetually.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. — Heb., Thou shalt fill the hand of Aaron and the hand of his sons. Induction into an office was usually effected in the East by placing its insignia in the hand of the person appointed to it. Aaron and his sons were to be inducted by having a portion of the sacrifices placed in their hands (Exodus 29:24).