Leviticus 8

Leviticus 8 focuses on the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. God instructs Moses on how to sanctify them for their role in serving the tabernacle. The chapter outlines the ceremonial rituals necessary for their ordination, including offerings, anointing, and clothing. These actions emphasize the holiness required of priests and the importance of their mediation between God and the people of Israel.

Leviticus 8:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
3 and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”

God commands Moses to bring Aaron, his sons, and the necessary items for their consecration before the entire congregation. This public setting highlights the significance of the priesthood and allows the people to witness their leaders being set apart for holy service. The detailed list of materials emphasizes that this ordination was not a casual affair but a divinely prescribed ritual with deep spiritual meaning.

Leviticus 8:4-5 (NKJV)
4 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
5 And Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.”

Moses obeys God’s instructions by gathering the people and preparing Aaron and his sons for their consecration. He addresses the congregation, making it clear that these actions are not merely his own, but are directly commanded by the Lord. This underscores the importance of the priesthood as a divine institution.

Leviticus 8:6 (NKJV)
6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

Moses begins the consecration process by washing Aaron and his sons with water. This act symbolizes purification, showing that before they could serve as priests, they needed to be cleansed physically and spiritually. The washing points to the idea that those who serve in God's presence must be pure.

Leviticus 8:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And he put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the intricately woven band of the ephod, and with it tied the ephod on him.
8 Then he put the breastplate on him, and he put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate.
9 And he put the turban on his head. Also on the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Moses dresses Aaron in the priestly garments, each piece symbolizing different aspects of his role. The ephod and breastplate represent the responsibility of bearing the tribes of Israel before God, while the Urim and Thummim signify divine guidance. The golden plate on Aaron’s turban, called the holy crown, declares his consecration to the Lord. These sacred garments set Aaron apart as the high priest, showing the weight of his office.

Leviticus 8:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Also Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.
11 He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate them.
12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.

Moses uses anointing oil to sanctify both the tabernacle and Aaron, marking them as holy to the Lord. The sprinkling of oil on the altar and its utensils symbolizes their purification for use in worship. By pouring oil on Aaron’s head, Moses officially consecrates him as high priest, a public affirmation that he is now set apart for God’s service.

Leviticus 8:13 (NKJV)
13 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons and put tunics on them, girded them with sashes, and put hats on them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Aaron’s sons are also dressed in their priestly garments, symbolizing their readiness to serve. Like their father, their clothing represents their office and the sanctity of their duties. This uniformity in dress indicates that all priests, while under the authority of the high priest, share in the responsibility of representing the people before God.

Leviticus 8:14-17 (NKJV)
14 And he brought the bull for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering,
15 and Moses killed it. Then he took the blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar, and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
16 Then he took all the fat that was on the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar.
17 But the bull, its hide, its flesh, and its offal, he burned with fire outside the camp, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The bull is offered as a sin offering, signifying the need for atonement before God. Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the bull, symbolizing the transfer of their sins onto the animal. Its blood is used to purify the altar, reinforcing the idea that both the priests and the place of worship must be cleansed from sin. The burning of the fat and other parts shows the seriousness of sin and the complete dedication required for atonement.

Leviticus 8:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Then he brought the ram as the burnt offering. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,
19 and Moses killed it. Then he sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.
20 And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burned the head, the pieces, and the fat.
21 Then he washed the entrails and the legs in water. And Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The second offering, a ram, is presented as a burnt offering. Aaron and his sons again lay their hands on the animal, identifying with the sacrifice. This offering, unlike the sin offering, is entirely burned, representing complete dedication to God. The burnt offering is a symbol of total consecration, pleasing to the Lord as a “sweet aroma,” reflecting God's acceptance of the sacrifice.

Leviticus 8:22-24 (NKJV)
22 And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,
23 and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
24 Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.

The third ram is the ram of consecration, marking the final stage in the ordination process. By applying the blood to Aaron and his sons’ ears, hands, and feet, Moses signifies that their whole being—what they hear, what they do, and where they walk—is now dedicated to God. The sprinkling of blood on the altar symbolizes their service being accepted by the Lord.

Leviticus 8:25-29 (NKJV)
25 Then he took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh;
26 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened cake, a cake of bread anointed with oil, and one wafer, and put them on the fat and on the right thigh;
27 and he put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord.
28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar, on the burnt offering. They were consecration offerings for a sweet aroma. That was an offering made by fire to the Lord.
29 And Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ part of the ram of consecration, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The waving of portions of the offering before the Lord symbolizes presenting them to God, with the fat, cakes, and thigh representing the best portions. By placing these elements in Aaron and his sons’ hands, Moses emphasizes their role in bringing offerings before God. The wave offering is then burned on the altar, again producing a "sweet aroma," signaling God's acceptance of the priests and their service.

Leviticus 8:30 (NKJV)
30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him; and he consecrated Aaron, his garments, his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.

Moses mixes the anointing oil with the blood from the altar and sprinkles it on Aaron and his sons, along with their garments. This act reinforces their sanctification, ensuring that everything associated with their priesthood is set apart for God. The combination of oil and blood symbolizes both spiritual empowerment (through the oil) and the necessity of atonement (through the blood).

Leviticus 8:31-32 (NKJV)
31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of consecration offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’
32 What remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire.”

Moses instructs Aaron and his sons to consume the sacrificial meat and bread at the door of the tabernacle, signifying their participation in the offering. Eating the offering marks their fellowship with God and the consecration of their ministry. Anything left over must be burned, ensuring that nothing impure remains, and all is dedicated to God.

Leviticus 8:33-36 (NKJV)
33 And you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are ended. For seven days he shall consecrate you.
34 As he has done this day, so the Lord has commanded to do, to make atonement for you.
35 Therefore you shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you may not die; for so I have been commanded.”
36 So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.

Moses informs Aaron and his sons that they must remain at the tabernacle for seven days as part of their ordination. This extended period of consecration emphasizes the seriousness and completeness of their preparation for the priesthood. By staying near the tabernacle, they are showing their full dedication to their new role. Obedience to this command is critical for their protection and success as priests.