Leviticus 8

Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil,^[a] the bull of the sin^[b] offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,

3 and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting."^[c]

4 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

5 Moses said to them, "This is what the Lord has commanded to be done."

6 Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

7 He put the tunic on Aaron, wrapped the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He put the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.^[d]

8 Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim^{[e] [f]} into the breastpiece.

9 He also put the turban on his head and placed the plate^[g] of gold, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the Lord had commanded Moses.^[h]

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it to consecrate them.

11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.^[i]

12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed and consecrated him.^[j]

13 Then Moses presented Aaron's sons, clothed them with tunics, wrapped sashes around them, and fastened headbands on them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

14 Then he brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering.

15 Then Moses slaughtered [it],^[k] took the blood, and applied it with his finger to the horns of the altar on all sides, purifying the altar. He poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it by making atonement for it.^[l]

16 Moses took all the fat that was on the entrails, the fatty lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and he burned them on the altar.^[m]

17 He burned up the bull with its hide, flesh, and dung outside the camp, as the Lord had commanded Moses.^[n]

18 Then he presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

19 Moses slaughtered it^[o] and^[p] sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar.

20 Moses cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces, and the suet,

21 but he washed the entrails and shanks with water. He then burned the entire ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma, a fire offering to the Lord as He had commanded Moses.

22 Next he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination,^[q] and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

23 Moses slaughtered [it],^[r] took some of its blood, and put [it] on Aaron's right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.^[s]

24 Moses also presented Aaron's sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then Moses sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar.

25 He took the fat-the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the fatty lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat-as well as the right thigh.

26 From the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of bread [made] with oil, and one wafer, and placed [them] on the fat portions and the right thigh.^[t]

27 He put all [these] in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the Lord as a presentation offering.^[u]

28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned [them] on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering for a pleasing aroma, a fire offering to the Lord.

29 He also took the breast and waved it before the Lord as a presentation offering; it was Moses' portion of the ordination ram as the Lord had commanded him.

30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled [them] on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. In this way he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as his sons and their garments.^[v]

31 Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Boil the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket for the ordination offering as I commanded:^[w] Aaron and his sons are to eat it.^[x]

32 You must burn up what remains of the meat and bread.^[y]

33 You must not go outside the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the time your days of ordination are completed, because it will take seven days to ordain you.^[z]

34 The Lord commanded what has been done today in order to make atonement for you.^[aa]

35 You must remain at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the Lord's charge so that you will not die,^[ab] for this is what I was commanded."

36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord had commanded through Moses.

Leviticus 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The consecration of Aaron and his sons. (1-13) The offerings of consecration. (14-36)

Verses 1-13 The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, ( revelation 1:5 revelation 1:6 ) ; and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, ( Hebrews 10:22 ) . The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.

Verses 14-36 In these types we see our great High Priest, even Christ Jesus, solemnly appointed, anointed, and invested with his sacred office, by his own blood, and the influences of his Holy Spirit. He sanctifies the ordinances of religion, to the benefit of his people and the honour of God the Father; who for his sake accepts our worship, though it is polluted with sin. We may also rejoice, that he is a merciful and faithful High Priest, full of compassion to the feeble-minded and tempest-tossed soul. All true Christians are consecrated to be spiritual priests. We should seriously ask ourselves, whether in our daily walk we study to maintain this character? and abound in spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Christ? If so, still there is no cause for boasting. Let us not despise our fellow-sinners; but remembering what we have done, and how we are saved, let us seek and pray for their salvation.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 30:22-25
• [b]. Or purification
• [c]. Ex 28:1-43; 29:1-4; 39:1-31
• [d]. Ex 28:4-14,25-40; 29:5,8; 39:20-27
• [e]. Two objects used to determine God's will
• [f]. Ex 28:15,22-30; Nm 27:21; Ezr 2:63
• [g]. Or medallion
• [h]. Ex 28:36; 29:6; 39:30
• [i]. Ex 30:18-28; 38:8; 40:7-11
• [j]. Lv 21:10-12; Ex 29:7; 30:30
• [k]. Or offering, and he slaughtered [it]. 15 Then Moses
• [l]. Lv 4:7; Ex 29:10-12,36-37
• [m]. Lv 4:7-10; Ex 29:13
• [n]. Lv 4:12; Ex 29:14
• [o]. Lv 8:14-15
• [p]. Or ram, 19 and he slaughtered it. Moses
• [q]. Ex 29:22,26,31-34
• [r]. Or ram, 23 and he slaughtered [it]. Moses
• [s]. Lv 14:14,17,25,28; Ex 29:20
• [t]. Lv 7:32; Ex 29:3,23; Nm 6:15-19
• [u]. Nm 8:9-14
• [v]. Ex 29:21; Isa 6:6-7; Heb 10:22
• [w]. LXX, Syr, Tg read was commanded; Ex 29:31-32
• [x]. Lv 6:16,18; 10:12; 1 Co 9:13-14
• [y]. Ex 29:34
• [z]. Lit because he will fill your hands for seven days
• [aa]. Ex 29:35-37; Heb 7:28
• [ab]. Lv 10:1-2

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 8

The order for the consecration of Aaron and his sons is renewed, Le 8:1-3 which accordingly was set about and performed by Moses, Le 8:4,5 who having first washed and clothed them, first Aaron, and then his sons, with the garments of the priesthood, anointing at the same time the tabernacle of the altar, and what appertained to them and Aaron also, Le 8:6-13 and then he slew the bullock for the sin offering, and the ram for the burnt offering, and the ram of consecration; and did with the blood, fat, shoulder, and breast, and the meat offering belonging thereunto, as he had been directed, Le 8:14-30 and the chapter is concluded with some instructions about boiling the flesh, and burning the remainder of it, and keeping the charge of the Lord night and day for seven days, Le 8:31-36.