Sprinkling

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(springing). The blood of the sin-offering was sprinkled with the finger of the priest upon the mercy-seat of the inner sanctuary as an atonement for the holy place because of national uncleanness (Lev. 16:14-16). The “blood of sprinkling” or mediatorial blood of the new covenant (Heb. 12:24), is made antithetical with the blood of vengeance (Gen. 4:10).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This mode of applying blood as a witness of death was
1. For protection. When all the firstborn in Egypt were to be smitten, the Israelites were told to “strike,” that is “sprinkle,” the side posts and lintels of their doors with the blood of a lamb, and Jehovah said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” Death had already nullified the power of death (Ex. 12:7, 13).
2. For purification. Aaron and his sons were sprinkled with blood. Moses “sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood.” Death separated the priestly family from their own associations (Ex. 29:21; Heb. 9:21-22).
3. For presentation. In the burnt offering, the blood was sprinkled round about upon the altar; in the sin offering the blood was sprinkled seven times before the Lord before the vail of the sanctuary; and on the day of atonement the blood was sprinkled upon the mercy-seat eastward, and before the mercy-seat seven times (Lev. 1:5; Lev. 4:6; Lev. 16:14). Death became the means of God accomplishing His purposes of grace. The believer is redeemed, purified, and sanctified by the precious blood of Christ, and is ever before God “perfected” according to the preciousness of that blood (Heb. 9:14; Heb. 10:10, 14; 1 Pet. 1:19).
4. For confirmation. The covenant was sealed, and the people bound to it, by blood. Moses “sprinkled both the book and all the people” (Heb. 9:19).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Isaiah 52:15. So shall he sprinkle many nations.
Most commentators suppose the figure of sprinkling to be taken from the ceremonial sprinklings of the Mosaic law. It was customary to sprinkle blood in connection with different sacrifices. See notes on Exodus 23:15 (#130); Leviticus 6:9 (#151); 6:25 (#153); 7:1 (#154); 7:11 (#156); 16:34 (#161). In allusion to this custom the prophet, in the text, represents the Messiah as making atonement for the nations.
Some writers think there is an allusion to the custom of sprinkling guests at feasts with perfumed waters from a silver vessel of vase-like shape and with a perforated top, through which the fluid is thrown on the faces of the guests. This sprinkling is sometimes so copious as to cause embarrassment. Bruce, after describing an interview he once had with a certain dignitary, says: “Our coffee being done, I rose to take my leave, and was presently wet to the skin by deluges of orange-flower water.” Niebuhr relates a similar instance: “The first time we were received with all the Eastern ceremonies, (it was at Rosetto, at a Greek merchant’s house,) there was one of our company who was excessively surprised when a domestic placed himself before him and threw water over him, as well on his face as over his clothes.” See Taylor's Calmet; Fragments. No. 16.
Tile engraving represents a perfume-sprinkler of beautiful form, such as is used in some parts of India.

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