April 26, 2025
Last week we looked at the 5 sacrifices established by God for the purpose of focusing the people’s minds on the truth that an innocent would take the place of the guilty.
Now we will turn our attention to the priesthood.
Chapter 8 outlines the complex ritual associated with the consecration of Aaron and his sons (also see Exodus 28-29) which emphasizes the canyon that exists between humans and a holy God.
Everything connected to the priesthood was intended to impress upon the people the holiness of God, the sacredness of His worship and the purity required of those who come into His presence.
It also emphasizes God’s initiative to create a way that makes him accessible – moving the priests (and the people) from the common/secular to the holy.
God told Moses to gather Aaron and his sons, (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar) and bring them to the entrance of the courtyard.
Moses washed Aaron and his sons.
Moses dressed Aaron in the garments of the High Priest.
Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the Tabernacle and everything in it. He sprinkled the same oil on the altar of burnt offering and the basin. The Sanctuary Complex was now consecrated.
He poured the same oil on Aaron’s head – consecrating him.
Moses took Aaron’s sons and dressed them in the tunics, sashes and headbands of the priesthood.
Aaron and his sons were now set apart for service to God, but they and the Tabernacle still needed to be cleansed.
• Bull for the Sin Offering – Aaron and his sons confessed their sins as they placed their hands on the head of the bull and then Moses slaughtered it. He took some of the blood and with his finger placed blood on the 4 horns of the Altar – to purify it – then poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar. Parts of the bull were burned on the Altar and the rest was burned outside the camp.
• Ram for the Burnt Offering – Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the Ram. Moses slaughtered the ram and sprinkled blood against all 4 sides of the Altar. The whole ram was burned (the legs and inner parts were washed first).
• Ram for the Consecration/Dedication Offering – Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. Moses slaughtered the ram then took some of the blood and put it:
o on the lobe of the right ear (a readiness to listen and obey).
o on the right thumb (what they did).
o on the right big toe (where they went)
The rest of the blood was sprinkled on the 4 sides of the altar of burnt offering. This was a unique offering – it is an act by which a new status is given to someone. They were to be fully committed in their service to God.
Moses took some of the anointing oil and blood and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments – consecrating them.
Finally, they were instructed to prepare and eat the consecration meal and then wait at the entrance of the Tabernacle for 7 days until their time of consecration was concluded. They were not to leave.
On the 8th day, Moses instructed Aaron, his sons and the elders of Israel to, “take a bull for your sin offering, a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them to the Lord.”
The people were instructed to, “take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defect, for a burnt offering, and ox and a ram for a fellowship offering, together with a grain offering mixed with oil, for today Yahweh will appear to you.”
The inauguration of the system of worship began with the cleansing of the people and it is here that Aaron began his priestly ministry.
After the sacrifices were offered, Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.
Leviticus 9:23-24 - Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
From this moment on, no other fire would be accepted by Yahweh – this fire must never be allowed to go out (see Leviticus 6:12-13).
Aaron and his sons had been consecrated for a holy work and the Children of Israel had witnessed and been a part of a very solemn and thought-provoking process. God had approved of their efforts by sending fire from heaven.
Now that Aaron and his sons had been consecrated, Leviticus 10 tells us just how seriously God takes the sacred responsibilities of the priests and roll of the priesthood before the people.
Leviticus 10:1-3 - Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent.
The bodies of Nadab and Abihu were taken outside the camp and Aaron was given two prohibitions. The 1st by Moses and 2nd directly from God:
Leviticus 10:6-7 - "Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because the LORD's anointing oil is on you."
It is also possible that Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar were instructed to continue their responsibilities because the day was not over and they still had to eat the grain and fellowship offerings, which were, “most holy” (see vs.12-15)
Leviticus 10:8-11- "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses."
Scholars believe that this command is inserted here because Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they went in before the Lord.
Finally, in the Chiastic Structure of Leviticus, chapters 8-10 are bookended with chapters 21 and 22. Theses chapters deal with the holiness of the priests in their daily lives and the holiness of the offerings that were to be brought to the Tabernacle.
The priests were called to a higher standard of living because they were to model holiness before the people and they had unique access to God - therefore:
Leviticus 21:6 - “They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the offerings made to the LORD by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy.”
Leviticus 22:9 - “The priests are to keep my requirements so that they do not become guilty and die for treating them with contempt. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.”
Leviticus 22:31-33 - "Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD. Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD."
Additionally, in the heavenly scheme of things, whom did the priests represent? Jesus. Therefore, everything they did inside and outside the Tabernacle must be holy – set aside.
Hebrews 10:3-23 - But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am-- it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" 8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
