Leviticus 16:17 Commentary - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(17) And there shall be no man.—Whilst the high priest was performing this process of cleansing, no one, whether priest or Israelite, was permitted to be present, thus precluding the possibility of anyone being within the precincts who had unwittingly contracted defilement. The fact that the high priest was thus alone in the sanctuary, with no one to see how he conducted the ritual, gave rise to the practice of his being sworn, on the eve of the Day of Atonement, by the chief priests and the elders of the Sanhedrin that he would make no change whatever in the traditional ceremonies of the day, as follows :—“We adjure thee, by Him who hath caused His name to dwell in this house, that thou shalt not alter anything of all that we do say unto thee.” This had especial reference to the points at issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees, as some of the high priests held the Sadducaic views. (See Lev. 16:2.)
Consult other comments:
Leviticus 16:17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Leviticus 16:17 - Calvin's Complete Commentary
Leviticus 16:17 - Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Leviticus 16:17 - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Leviticus 16:17 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Leviticus 16:17 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Leviticus 16:17 - Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Leviticus 16:17 - Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Leviticus 16:17 - English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Leviticus 16:17 - John Trapp's Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Leviticus 16:17 - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Leviticus 16:17 - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Charles John Ellicott (1819 - 1905) was a distinguished English Christian theologian, academic and churchman. He briefly served as Dean of Exeter, then Bishop of the united see of Gloucester and Bristol.
His works include:
- An Old Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1897. (Editor)
- A New Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1878.