And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times,.... The altar of burnt offering; the order for anointing it is given in
Exodus 30:28 but in that no directions are given for the manner of doing it by sprinkling, nor the number of times it was to be sprinkled: hence Jarchi confesses his ignorance, and says,
"I know not how it was ordered about these sprinklings;''
but no doubt Moses was instructed of God in what manner to anoint it, and how often; and the number seven may denote the perfect unction of it, and made it a fitter type of Christ, who received the unction of the Spirit without measure:
and anointed the altar, and all its vessels; pans, shovels, basins, flesh hooks, and fire pans:
both the laver and his foot; which was for the priests to wash at; and very probably this was done before Moses brought Aaron and his sons thither and washed them, Leviticus 8:6 since it seems most proper that it should be consecrated before used, as it follows:
to sanctify them; set them apart for sacred use.