THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And he addressed me, Son of man! This is the declaration of the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar when it is constructed, where burnt offerings will be presented, and blood will be poured out. To the Levitical priests descended from Zadok, who approach Me to serve, says the Lord God, present a bull from the herd as a sin offering. You shall take some of its blood and apply it to the four horns of the altar and to the four corners of the ledge, and around the crown, purifying and consecrating it. The bullock designated for sin must be consumed in a designated place outside the sanctuary. The following day, you shall choose from the goats a goat without blemish to cleanse the altar, similar to how it was cleansed with the bullock.
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After revealing to the prophet the dimensions of the altar, along with the four horns, he specified the process for its cleansing and sanctification once it was finished. The initial sacrifice should be offered to the Levitical priests of Zadok's lineage. Some translations mention a calf, while others refer to an ox. In various Scriptures, the signifies the sacrificial bull, paralleling references found in the epistle of Barnabas, which is considered apocryphal.
On the subsequent day, a sin offering is to be taken from among the goats, which corresponds to those preparing for the Passover, who select both a lamb and a goat. Those who could not observe the Passover at its appointed time may offer it in the second month, representing the righteous and the repentant. In considering the translation by the Seventy, it states that two unblemished goats are brought for a sin offering the day after the Lord's suffering. It is essential to acknowledge the insights of others who believe that after Christ’s passion, these offerings symbolized James and Stephen: the former being an apostle and the latter the first of the seven chosen to serve. This James witnessed the Lord’s transfiguration and was present at the resurrection of the synagogue ruler’s daughter. He tragically met his demise at the hands of Herod, akin to the offering of an unblemished goat the day after the Savior’s suffering.
Stephen, who faced stoning for his uncompromising wisdom and teachings, beheld the Son standing at the right hand of the Father, exclaiming, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ These early believers served as the beginnings of faith in Achaia and Asia, pioneering the path of martyrdom through their unwavering testimony of Christ.
Notably, the entirety of the bullock is offered up as a burnt offering, its fat consumed by divine flame. Although we once knew Christ in the flesh, we no longer regard Him in such a manner. However, James and Stephen, alongside the goat referred to in the Hebrew text, were offered amidst further sacrifices, pending the final burnt offering until the Lord's return.
The blood of Christ, as Peter emphasizes, redeems us from our vain lives, and Paul instructs that we were bought with a price. Additionally, he explains that through the blood of His cross, peace is established. This signifies that by the Savior’s blood, the four horns of the altar, symbolizing the four corners of the earth, are cleansed, and the foundation is sprinkled to ensure reconciliation for all.
On the second day, whether it involves two goats or just one, a goat signifies striving upwards, remaining safe where others falter. In Greek, the association of goats with high places reflects their ascent. Thus, the altar of Christ is purified through blood to ensure that the prayers of the saints reach God untainted.
It is worth noting that the Hebrew text instructs Ezekiel, as a priest, to take a bullock and carry out the burnt offering, sprinkling its blood around the altar and its corners, while the Seventy translators awaken us to the active role of other priests designated to perform these rituals, as the command states, Give to the priests-Levites of Zadok's line who approach Me.