Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/210

 the Sanctuary. He purified  Aaron  with  water,  and  clothed  him with divers  sacred  vestments,  chief  of  which  was  the  ephod,  a marvellous  work  of  gold  and  purple  and  fine  linen,  the  edges  of which  were  ornamented  with  rich  embroidery  of  gold.



He suspended  from  his  neck  the rational, on  which  were  twelve  stones,  each bearing the  name  of  one  of  the  twelve tribes (Fig.  33);  he  placed  upon  his  head the mitre,  in  the  middle  of  which,  in  front, was a gold  plate,  with  the  inscription:

“Holy to  the  Lord.”  Finally,  he  poured oil upon  his  head,  and  consecrated  him.

After his  sons  and  the  Levites  had  also been consecrated,  Aaron  advanced  to  the altar, and,  having  offered  a victim,  stretched  his  hand  over  the people, and  blessed  them.

And behold! a fire came  forth  from  the  pillar  of  cloud  and consumed the  holocaust. Seeing this,  the  people  fell  prostrate on the  ground,  praising  the  Lord.

Sacrifice is  the  highest  and  most  perfect  form  of  worship;  therefore, God  ordained  sacrifices  to  be  the  centre  of  divine  worship  under  the Old  Law. What was  sacrificed,  was  given  to  God,  and  had  to  be wholly  consumed  in  His  honour. Thus victims  were  killed  and  burnt, wine  was  poured  out,  and  incense  was  burnt. These actions  were meant  to  express  on  the  part  of  him  who  made  the  offering  some  such thought  as  this:  “Thou,  O Lord,  hast  created  all  things! Everything