John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering , etc.] According to the Targum of Jonathan, it was his right hand; but it is generally thought by the Jewish writers that both hands were laid on; so Ben Gersom and Aben Ezra, with whom Maimonides agrees, who says, he that lays on hands ought to lay on with all his strength, with both his hands upon the head of the beast, as it is said, “upon the head of the burnt offering”: not upon the neck, nor upon the sides; and there should be nothing between his hands and the beast: and as the same writer says f6 , it must be his own hand, and not the hand of his wife, nor the hand of his servant, nor his messenger; and who also observes f7 , that at the same time he made confession over the burnt offering both of his sins committed against affirmative and negative precepts: and indeed by this action he owned that he had sinned, and deserved to die as that creature he brought was about to do, and that he expected pardon of his sin through the death of the great sacrifice that was a type of. Moreover, this action signified the transferring of his sins from himself to this sacrifice, which was to be offered up to make atonement for them; so Gersom observes; (see Leviticus 16:21,22). This denotes the translation of our sins from us, and the imputation of them to Christ, who was offered up in our room and stead, to make atonement for them, as follows: and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him : that is, the burnt offering should be accepted in his room and stead, and hereby an atonement of his sins should be made for him, typical of that true, real, and full atonement made by the sacrifice of Christ, which this led his faith unto.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-9 - In the due performance of the Levitical ordinances, the mysteries of the spiritual world are represented by corresponding natural objects and future events are exhibited in these rites. Without this, the whol will seem unmeaning ceremonies. There is in these things a type of the sufferings of the Son of God, who was to be a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world? The burning body of an animal was but a fain representation of that everlasting misery, which we all have deserved and which our blessed Lord bore in his body and in his soul, when he died under the load of our iniquities. Observe, 1. The beast to be offered must be without blemish. This signified the strength and purit that were in Christ, and the holy life that should be in his people. 2 The owner must offer it of his own free will. What is done in religion so as to please God, must be done by love. Christ willingly offere himself for us. 3. It must be offered at the door of the tabernacle where the brazen altar of burnt-offerings stood, which sanctified the gift: he must offer it at the door, as one unworthy to enter, an acknowledging that a sinner can have no communion with God, but by sacrifice. 4. The offerer must put his hand upon the head of his offering, signifying thereby, his desire and hope that it might be accepted from him, to make atonement for him. 5. The sacrifice was to be killed before the Lord, in an orderly manner, and to honour God. I signified also, that in Christians the flesh must be crucified with it corrupt affections and lust. 6. The priests were to sprinkle the bloo upon the altar; for the blood being the life, that was it which mad atonement. This signified the pacifying and purifying of ou consciences, by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ upon the by faith. 7. The beast was to be divided into several pieces, and the to be burned upon the altar. The burning of the sacrifice signified the sharp sufferings of Christ, and the devout affections with which, as holy fire, Christians must offer up themselves, their whole spirit soul, and body, unto God. 8. This is said to be an offering of a swee savour. As an act of obedience to a Divine command, and a type of Christ, this was well-pleasing to God; and the spiritual sacrifices of Christians are acceptable to God, through Christ, 1Pe 2:5.
Original Hebrew וסמך5564 ידו3027 על5921 ראשׁ7218 העלה5930 ונרצה7521 לו לכפר3722 עליו׃5921
