Exodus 29

Consecration of the Priests

1 “This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect.

2 And from the finest wheat flour make round loaves without yeast, thick loaves without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves without yeast and brushed with olive oil.

3 Put them in a basket and present them along with the bull and the two rams.

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

5 Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband.

6 Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred emblem to the turban.

7 Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

8 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics

9 and fasten caps on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons.^[a] The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. “Then you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

10 “Bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.

11 Slaughter it 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, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar.

13 Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.

14 But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its intestines outside the camp. It is a sin offering.^[b]

15 “Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.

16 Slaughter it and take the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar.

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

18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.

19 “Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.

20 Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar.

21 And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.

22 “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.)

23 From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf.

24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.

25 Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, a food offering presented to the LORD.

26 After you take the breast of the ram for Aaron’s ordination, wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share.

27 “Consecrate those parts of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons: the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.

28 This is always to be the perpetual share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD from their fellowship offerings.

29 “Aaron’s sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them.

30 The son who succeeds him as priest and comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days.

31 “Take the ram for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place.

32 At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket.

33 They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred.

34 And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred.

35 “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.

36 Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.

37 For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.

38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old.

39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.

40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah^[c] of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin^[d] of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.

42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;

43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.

44 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.

45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Exodus 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

The sacrifice and ceremony for the consecration of the priests. (1-37) The continual burnt-offerings, God's promise to dwell among Israel. (38-46)

Verses 1-37 Aaron and his sons were to be set apart for the priest's office, with ceremony and solemnity. Our Lord Jesus is the great High Priest of our profession, called of God to be so; anointed with the Spirit, whence he is called Messiah, the Christ; clothed with glory and beauty; sanctified by his own blood; made perfect, or consecrated through sufferings, ( Hebrews 2:10 ) . All believers are spiritual priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices, ( 1 Peter. 2:5 ) priests, ( revelation 1:5 revelation 1:6 ) . They also are clothed with the beauty of ( 1 John. 2:27 ) Spirit of God is called the finger of God, ( ( Luke 11:20 ) , compared with ( Matthew 12:28 ) ,) and by him the merit of Christ is applied to our souls. This consecration signifies the admission of a sinner into the spiritual priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Verses 38-46 A lamb was to be offered upon the altar every morning, and a lamb every evening. This typified the continual intercession which Christ ever lives to make for his church. Though he offered himself but once for all, that one offering thus becomes a continual offering. This also teaches us to offer to God the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise every day, morning and evening. Our daily devotions are the most needful of our daily works, and the most pleasant of our daily comforts. Prayer-time must be kept up as duly as meal-time. Those starve their own souls, who keep not up constant attendance on the throne of grace; constancy in religion brings in the comfort of it.

Cross References

• 1. ver 21,44; Leviticus 20:7; Joshua 3:5; 1 Chronicles 15:12
• 2. Ezekiel 43:23
• 3. ver 23; Leviticus 2:1,4; Leviticus 6:19-23; Numbers 6:15
• 4. ver 15,19
• 5. Exodus 40:12; Leviticus 14:8; Leviticus 16:4; Hebrews 10:22
• 6. S Exodus 28:2; Leviticus 8:7
• 7. Exodus 28:8
• 8. Exodus 28:39; Isaiah 3:23; Zechariah 3:5
• 9. S Exodus 28:36; Leviticus 8:9
• 10. ver 21; S Exodus 28:41; Exodus 30:25,30,31; Exodus 37:29; Exodus 40:9; Leviticus 8:12; Leviticus 21:10; Numbers 35:25; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 1:39; Psalms 89:20; Psalms 133:2; Psalms 141:5
• 11. S Exodus 28:4; Leviticus 16:4
• 12. Exodus 28:40
• 13. S Exodus 27:21; Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:10; Numbers 18:7; Numbers 25:13; Deuteronomy 18:5; Judges 17:5; 1 Samuel 2:30; 1 Kings 12:31
• 14. ver 19; Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 4:15; Leviticus 16:21; Numbers 8:12
• 15. Leviticus 1:5,11; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 6:16,25; Leviticus 14:13
• 16. S Exodus 27:2
• 17. Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 9:9
• 18. ver 22; Leviticus 1:8; Leviticus 3:3,5,9; Leviticus 4:10; Leviticus 6:12; Leviticus 7:3,5,31; Leviticus 9:10; Numbers 18:17; 1 Samuel 2:15; 1 Kings 8:64; 2 Chronicles 7:7; 2 Chronicles 29:35; 2 Chronicles 35:14; Isaiah 43:24; Ezekiel 44:15
• 19. S Exodus 12:9
• 20. Nahum 3:6; Malachi 2:3
• 21. Leviticus 4:12,21; Leviticus 16:27; Lev 4:11-12,21; Numbers 19:3-5; Hebrews 13:11
• 22. S ver 3
• 23. ver 10; Leviticus 3:2; 2 Chronicles 29:23
• 24. Leviticus 1:9,13
• 25. S Genesis 8:21; 2 Corinthians 2:15
• 26. S ver 3
• 27. S ver 10
• 28. Leviticus 14:14,25
• 29. ver 16; Leviticus 1:5,11; Leviticus 3:2
• 30. Hebrews 9:22
• 31. S ver 7; Exodus 30:25,31
• 32. S ver 1
• 33. S ver 13
• 34. Leviticus 7:30; Leviticus 9:21; Leviticus 10:15; Leviticus 14:12; Leviticus 23:11,20; Numbers 6:20; Numbers 8:11,13,15
• 35. ver 18
• 36. Leviticus 7:31-34
• 37. Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 7:31,34; Numbers 18:11,12; Deuteronomy 18:3
• 38. ver 22-27; Leviticus 7:30,34; Leviticus 10:15
• 39. S Exodus 28:2; S Leviticus 16:4
• 40. Numbers 20:28; Numbers 20:26,28
• 41. Leviticus 6:22; Numbers 3:3; Numbers 20:28
• 42. Leviticus 7:37; 2 Chronicles 13:9
• 43. Leviticus 10:14; Numbers 19:9; Ezekiel 42:13
• 44. Matthew 12:4
• 45. Leviticus 10:14; Leviticus 22:10,13
• 46. S Exodus 12:10
• 47. Hebrews 10:11
• 48. ver 33,37; Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 4:20; Leviticus 16:16; Numbers 6:11; Numbers 8:12,19; Numbers 16:46; Numbers 25:13; 2 Chronicles 29:24
• 49. Exodus 40:10; Numbers 7:10
• 50. Exodus 30:28-29; Exodus 40:10; Ezekiel 43:25; Matthew 23:19
• 51. Leviticus 23:2; Numbers 28:3-8; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Ezekiel 46:13-15; Daniel 12:11
• 52. Numbers 28:4,8; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Chronicles 13:11; Ezra 3:3; Psalms 141:2; Daniel 9:21; Ezekiel 46:13-15
• 53. Exodus 30:24; Numbers 15:4; Numbers 28:5
• 54. S Genesis 35:14; Leviticus 23:37; 2 Kings 16:13
• 55. 1 Kings 18:29,36; 2 Kings 3:20; 2 Kings 16:15; Ezra 9:4,5; Psalms 141:2; Daniel 9:21
• 56. Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 5:13; Leviticus 10:12; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 6:17; 1 Kings 8:64; Isaiah 43:23
• 57. Exodus 30:8,10,21,31">Exodus 30:8,10,21,31; Exodus 31:13; Exodus 30:8
• 58. Ezekiel 46:15
• 59. S Exodus 26:1; S Exodus 27:21
• 60. ver 43; Exodus 25:22; Exodus 33:9,11; Numbers 7:89
• 61. Exodus 33:18; Exodus 40:34; Leviticus 9:6; 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 5:14; 2 Chronicles 7:2; Psalms 26:8; Psalms 85:9; Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 43:5; Haggai 1:8; Haggai 2:7
• 62. S ver 1; Leviticus 21:15
• 63. S Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 26:12; Numbers 35:34; Zechariah 2:10; John 14:17; S Romans 8:10
• 64. S Genesis 17:7; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3
• 65. S Exodus 6:6; Exodus 19:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:6; Psalms 114:1; Haggai 2:5
• 66. S Genesis 17:7; Exodus 20:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew; Septuagint "on them"
• [b]. Or "purification offering" ; also in verse 36
• [c]. That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
• [d]. That is, probably about 1 quart or about 1 liter

Chapter Summary

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.