Leviticus 8

Leviticus 8:1

III. CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTS (Chap. 810) A. Investiture of the Priests by Moses (Chap. 8)8:1-5 In Exodus 28 and 29, God gave Moses elaborate instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests. Now, in Leviticus 810, we read how Moses carried out these instructions. He called together the assemblypriests and peopleat the door of the tabernacle. It was a very public investiture service. 8:6-9 Moses washed both Aaron and his sons with water. Next Moses dressed Aaron in the complete vestments of the high priest: the tunic, the sash, the robe, the ephod, the band of the ephod, the breastplate, the Urim and the Thummim, the turban and the holy crown. It must have been an impressive sight. 8:10-13 Then Moses . . . anointed the tabernacle and all its contents, and sanctified them. The fact that he poured (not sprinkled) on Aaron’s head is a lovely picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out without measure on the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest. Next Moses put tunics and sashes, as well as hats (or head-pieces), on Aaron’s sons. 8:14-17 As Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering, . . . Moses killed it. Even the highest religious leaders (then as well as now) are merely sinners who need God’s atoning sacrifice as well as the least important member of the community. 8:18-21 Moses likewise brought a ram for a burnt offering for Aaron and his sons and carried out the prescribed rites. 8:22-29 The consecration offering for Aaron and his sons was also called the ram of consecration (or, more literally, the ram of the “fill offering”). It differed from the customary peace offerings as to the application of the blood (vv. 23, 24), and also as to the burning of the right thigh and bread cakes, which ordinarily would have been eaten. Since he officiated, Moses received the breast as his part. The blood was placed on . . . the ear, . . . hand, and . . . foot of Aaron and his sons, reminding us that Christ’s blood should affect our obedience, service, and walk. 8:30-36 Moses . . . sprinkled . . . Aaron and his sons with some of the blood and some of the anointing oil from the sacrifice. The priests were instructed to eat of the flesh of the peace offering along with the bread. The above consecration ritual was repeated for seven days, during which they were not allowed to go outside the door of the tabernacle. In commenting on this chapter, Matthew Henry discerns the one thing that is missing: But after all the ceremonies that were used in their consecration, there was one point of ratification which was reserved to be the honour and establishment of Christ’s priesthood, which was this, that they were made priests without an oath, but Christ with an oath (Heb. vii.21), for neither such priests nor their priesthood could continue, but Christ’s is a perpetual and unchangeable priesthood.