Exodus 29:1-20

1 [The LORD continued,] "Now, this is what you must do in order to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests: "Take a young bull that has no defects and two rams that have no defects.

2 Use the finest wheat flour, but no yeast, and bake some loaves of bread, some rings of bread made with olive oil, and some wafers brushed with olive oil.

3 Put the bread in a basket, and bring the basket along with the young bull and the two rams.

4 "Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them.

5 Take the clothes, and put them on Aaron--the linen robe, the ephod and the robe that is worn with it, and the breastplate. Use the belt to tie it on him tightly.

6 Put his turban on him, and fasten the holy crown to it.

7 Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

8 "Have his sons come forward. Dress them in their linen robes,

9 and put turbans on them. Tie belts around the waists of Aaron and his sons. They alone are to be priests; this is a permanent law. In this way you will ordain Aaron and his sons.

10 "Then bring the young bull to the front of the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head.

11 Slaughter the bull in the LORD's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

12 Take some of the bull's blood, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger. Pour the rest of it out at the bottom of the altar.

13 "Then take all the fat that covers the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.

14 But burn the bull's meat, skin, and excrement outside the camp. It is an offering for sin.

15 "Take one of the rams. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head.

16 Slaughter it, take the blood, and throw it against the altar on all sides.

17 Cut the ram into pieces, wash the internal organs and legs, and put them with the other pieces and the head.

18 Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It's a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

19 "Take the other ram. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head.

20 Slaughter it, take some of the blood, and put it on the right ear lobes of Aaron and his sons, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Throw the [rest of the] blood against the altar on all sides.

Exodus 29:1-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 29

This chapter gives an account of the form and order of the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priestly office; preparatory to which Moses is ordered to take a young bullock, two rams, bread, cakes, and wafers unleavened, and bring them and Aaron and his sons to the door of the congregation, where the ceremony was to be publicly performed, and which began with washing them, Ex 29:1-4 and then proceeded by putting on the priestly garments directed to be made in the preceding chapter, first on Aaron, who also was anointed, Ex 29:5-7 and then upon his sons, Ex 29:8,9 after which the bullock and the two rams were to be slain, and orders are given what was to be done with their blood, and the several parts of them, as well as with the cakes and wafers, Ex 29:10-23 and directions are given to make these wave and heave offerings, Ex 29:24-28 and that the garments of Aaron's should be his son's that succeeded him, Ex 29:29,30, and that the flesh of the ram of consecration with the bread should be eaten by Aaron and his sons and no other, Ex 29:31-35, the altar also where they were to officiate was to be cleansed, sanctified, and an atonement made for it, Ex 29:36,37 after which two lambs every day, morning and evening, were to be offered on it in all succeeding generations, Ex 29:38-42, and the chapter is closed with a promise that the Lord would meet with the children of Israel at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and would sanctify the tabernacle, and dwell among them, and be their God, Ex 29:43-46.