THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And He spoke to me, saying, “Son of man, hear the Word of the Lord God: these are the prescribed rituals for the altar when it is constructed, that burnt offerings may be made upon it and blood poured forth. To the priests of Levi, from the lineage of Sadok, who approach Me to serve, the Lord God commands, offer a calf from the herd as a sin offering. You shall take its blood and apply it to the four horns of the altar and the four corners of its ledge and the surrounding crown, thereby purifying and sanctifying it. The bullock designated for sin shall be consumed in a designated area outside the sanctuary. On the following day, present two unblemished goats from the flock and cleanse the altar in the same manner as was done with the bullock.
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After revealing the dimensions of the altar to the prophet, including the cubits that detail its construction and the measures of cleanliness required, the man—equipped with a measuring rod and cord—began to instruct him on how the altar is to be consecrated once completed. The first step involves presenting the sacrifice to the priests from the family of Levi, specifically those descended from Sadok, whose name signifies 'righteous.' Depending on the interpretation of the scriptures, this offering may be referred to as a calf, an ox, or phar in Hebrew. The slain bullock is referenced throughout scripture, including in the epistle of Barnabas, which, while apocryphal, carries noteworthy considerations.
Then, on the following day, a goat is brought forth for the sacrifice. This parallels the Passover observance, where a lamb and a goat from the flock are selected, with those who could not partake initially given a chance to celebrate it in the second month; representing righteousness and repentance. Supporting the translation from the Seventy, we also recognize the belief that after the Lord's suffering, two perfect goats were offered unto the Lord’s altar—James and Stephen—one being an apostle and the other the first of the seven deacons chosen to serve. This is the James who witnessed the Savior’s transfiguration on the mount, who, along with Peter and John, saw the resurrection of the synagogue leader's daughter, and who appears before his brother in the apostolic listings. James was executed by Herod, likened to an unblemished goat, the day following the Savior’s ordeal. Stephen, renowned for his wisdom and teaching, was stoned by the Jews and beheld the Son standing at the right hand of the Father, proclaiming, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
As the Apostle addresses some believers as the first fruits of Achaia and Asia, they stood as the initial martyrs crowned through their confession of Christ. It is critical to note that the entire bullock is offered up as a burnt offering, with its fatty portions consumed by divine fire. Though we perceive Christ in the flesh, we must now regard Him no longer in that manner. James and Stephen, appearing the next day or represented as the goat mentioned in Hebrew scripture, signify that their burnt offerings await until the Lord appears.
The blood reference holds significance as Peter asserts, “We were redeemed from vain conduct by the precious blood of Christ,” and Paul teaches that we were “bought with a price,” indicating the reconciliation saw through His blood. This signifies that the four horns of the altar—representative of the four corners of the earth—are consecrated by the Savior’s blood, ensuring that the cleansing reaches all corners, thereby firmly establishing reconciliation.
On the second day, either two goats or one are selected for the offering, as goats naturally strive upwards, finding safety on elevated terrains where others might fall. This informs us that in Greek, the terminology for goats alludes to divine elevation and transformation. Additionally, note that Ezekiel, within the Hebrew text, is directed as a priest to offer a bullock and to sprinkle its blood around the altar, corners, and base, while the Septuagint indicates that this duty falls to the priests descended from Sadok who draw near to Him.