Exodus 40:9-11 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The Anointing With Holy Anointing Oil Of The Dwellingplace and All Its Furniture (Exodus 40:9-11).

Once again the anointing begins in the inner Sanctuary, then to the brazen altar and its vessels, then to the laver and its accompaniment and then to the priests themselves (the only holy things that leave the Dwellingplace regularly).

Exodus 40:9-11

‘And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the Dwellingplace, and all that is in it, and shall sanctify it and all its furniture: and it shall be holy. And you shall anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar shall be most holy. And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it.'

All is then to be anointed with the holy anointing oil to ‘sanctify' it, that is to set it apart to its holy purpose. It is now Yahweh's. All in the Sanctuary is holy, that is set apart to and belonging to Yahweh. The bronze altar is ‘most holy' in contrast to all else in the court, a warning to all but the priests not to approach it too closely except when necessary. It is not more holy than the Sanctuary and its contents (compare Exodus 30:29).

Exodus 40:9-11

9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.a

11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.