Ordaining The Priests (Exodus 29)

Does the ordination of Aaron and his sons: washing, clothing, anointing, sacrificing and eating, hint at the sacrifice of Christ and the Christian life? Let’s look at Exodus 29.

Washing

Was this ceremonial washing symbolic of what was to take place in the heart? Are our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22)?

Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Take one bull of the herd and two rams without blemish, and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and bring the bull and the two rams. You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. (Exodus 29:1-4 ESV)

Clothing

Were Aaron and his sons to be dressed with the holy garments? Do we put on righteousness garments (Ephesians 6:14; Revelation 19:8)?

Then take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe for the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastpiece; fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and place the holy diadem on the turban. (Exodus 29:5-6 HCSB)

Anointing

Was anointing with oil also part of this ordination process? Is Jesus our high priest anointed (Acts 10:38)? Are we also anointed (1 John 2:20; 27)?

Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him. You must also bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. Tie the sashes on Aaron and his sons and fasten headbands on them. The priesthood is to be theirs by a permanent statute. This is the way you will ordain Aaron and his sons. (Exodus 29:7-9 HCSB)

Sacrificing

What was to be done with the bull during this ordination ceremony? Was Jesus’ sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 7:27)? Do we offer sacrifices (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5)?

You are to bring the bull in front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the head of the bull. Then you are to slaughter the bull in the Lord’s presence at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. Take some of the blood of the bull, put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. You are to take all the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them and send them up in smoke on the altar. You are to burn the flesh of the bull, its hide, and its refuse with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (Exodus 29:10-14 ISV)

What was to be done to one of the two rams during the ordination ceremony?

Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar. And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head. And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the Lord: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Exodus 29:15-18 KJV)

What was to be done with the second ram during the ordination ceremony?

Then you shall take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the lobes of his sons’ right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and splash the rest of the blood around on the altar. Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments and on his sons and on his sons’ garments with him; so he and his garments shall be set apart as holy, as well as his sons and his sons’ garments with him. (Exodus 29:19-21 LSB)

What else was to be done with the second ram during the ordination ceremony?

You shall also take the fat from the ram and the fat tail, and the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination), and one loaf of bread, and one cake of bread mixed with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread which is set before the Lord; and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then you shall take them from their hands, and offer them up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering for a soothing aroma before the Lord; it is an offering by fire to the Lord. (Exodus 29:22-25 NASB)