Exodus 24:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Given that Moses had previously documented the commandments—the divine words inscribed in the Ten Commandments—and subsequently recited them, it follows that when the time came to sprinkle the attendees, the book of God’s law was rightly placed either on the altar or in an appropriate location close to the sanctuary. As all areas of the Lord's altar and the items used in the sanctuary were consecrated with blood, and everything was sprinkled with both water and blood, it is reasonable to infer that the Law of God was also sprinkled. Thus, it can be confidently stated that the details briefly mentioned by Moses were further elucidated by the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit and taking into account the customs of the legal rites typically employed in such purifications. Moreover, it is clear that Saint Paul, who was educated in Jewish law, possessed a comprehensive understanding of the ancient rites of the Jewish Church, which he would have gained through reading the Scriptures and regular participation in divine worship.

Moses again refers to the act of sprinkling with blood, asserting, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words." The Apostle Paul notes that this blood was mixed with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, as referenced in Hebrews 9:19. When we consider the necessity of these actions, it becomes evident that the sprinkling took place according to the procedure Moses detailed. For the ritual required a mixture of water and blood. The practicality of this is clear, as the sheer number of people present necessitated the inclusion of water to facilitate the sprinkling with sacrificial blood. Additionally, animal blood tends to thicken in cooler conditions, which would render it ineffective for sprinkling without the addition of water to keep it liquid. Therefore, mixed with water, the blood became suitable for the sprinkling of many. In this process, a particular tool, crafted from branches of a recognized plant, was essential; without it, neither the people nor the sacred items could be properly sprinkled. As commanded by God, a bundle of hyssop and scarlet wool was to be bound together for this purpose, serving as a means of sprinkling.

Moses documents that he sprinkled the people with blood: "Moses took the blood and sprinkled the people," and the Apostle Paul states that he sprinkled all the people. "Receive the blood of goats and calves, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkle the book itself and all the people" (Hebrews 9:19). This may seem improbable given the vast assembly. However, it can be accurately stated that this people, with whom God established a covenant, were indeed sprinkled. The mention that all the people were sprinkled should not be taken to mean that every individual in such a great multitude was personally touched by the ritual—something quite challenging—but rather in terms of its significance. When Moses approached the assembly, he actively sprinkled the people, outstretching his hand. Even though not every person may have been directly sprinkled, those who received the sacrificial blood transmitted the benefits of that sprinkling to the entire assembly, ensuring that all present ultimately derived its effects.