1Ug misulti si Jehova kang Moises, nga nagaingon: 2Kuhaa si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake uban kaniya, ug ang mga bisti, ug ang lana nga igdidihog ug ang vaca nga lake nga alang sa halad-tungod-sa-sala, ug ang duruha ka carnero nga lake ug ang bukag sa mga tinapay nga walay levadura; 3Ug tigumon mo ang tibook nga katilingban didto sa pultahan sa balong-balong nga pagatiguman. 4Ug gibuhat ni Moises ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kaniya; ug gitigum niya ang katilingban didto sa pultahan sa balong-balong nga pagatiguman. 5Ug miingon si Moises sa katilingban: Kini mao ang gisugo ni Jehova nga pagabuhaton. 6Unya gidala ni Moises si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake, ug sila gidigo niya sa tubig. 7Ug iyang gisul-oban siya sa sinina, ug gibaksan niya ug bakus, ug gibistihan siya sa kupo, ug gisul-oban siya sa ephod ug iyang gibaksan sa maanindot nga pagkahabol nga bakus sa ephod ug kini gilikus kaniya. 8Ug siya gisul-oban niya sa tabon sa dughan, ug kaniya iyang gibutang ang urim ug ang Thummim. 9Ug gibutang niya ang mitra sa ibabaw sa iyang ulo, ug sa ibabaw sa mitra, sa atubangan, gibutang niya ang bangot nga bulawan, ang purongpurong nga balaan; ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kang Moises. 10Ug mikuha si Moises sa lana nga igdidihog, ug gidihogan niya ang tabernaculo, ug ang tanang mga butang nga diha niana, ug gibalaan sila. 11Ug kini gisablig sa ibabaw sa halaran sa nakapito, ug gidihogan niya ang halaran ug ang tanang mga copa niini ug ang hugasanan ug ang tungtunganan niini, aron sa pagbalaan kanila. 12Ug gibuboan niya sa lana nga igdidihog ang ibabaw sa ulo ni Aaron, ug gidihogan niya, aron sa pagbalaan kaniya. 13Ug gidala ni Moises ang mga anak nga lalake ni Aaron, ug gisul-oban sila ug mga sinina ug gibaksan sila sa mga bakus, ug sila gipurongan ug panapton , ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kang Moises. 14Ug gidala niya ang vaca nga lake sa halad-tungod-sa-sala, ug si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake nanagbutang sa ilang mga kamot sa ibabaw sa ulo sa vaca nga lake nga alang sa halad-tungod-sa-sala. 15Ug kini gipatay niya: ug gikuha ni Moises ang dugo, ug gibutang sa paglibut sa sungay sa halaran sa iyang tudlo, ug giputli niya ang halaran; ug gibubo niya ang uban nga dugo sa tungtunganan sa halaran, ug kini gibalaan niya aron sa pagbuhat sa pagtabon-sa-sala alang niini. 16Ug gikuha niya ang tanan nga tambok nga diha sa ibabaw sa mga tinae, ug ang habol-habol sa atay, ug ang duruha ka amimislon, ug ang tambok niini; ug kini gisunog ni Moises sa ibabaw sa halaran. 17Apan ang lakeng vaca ug ang panit niini, ug ang unod niini, ug ang tae niini, iyang gisunog sa kalayo sa gawas sa campo; ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kang Moises. 18Ug gihalad niya ang carnero nga lake sa halad-nga-sinunog, ug si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake gibutang nila ang ilang mga kamot sa ibabaw sa ulo sa carnero nga lake. 19Ug kini gipatay niya; ug gisablig ni Moises ang dugo sa paglibut sa ibabaw sa halaran. 20Ug gihiwa-hiwa ang carnero nga lake; ug gisunog ni Moises ang ulo ug ang mga bahin, ug ang tambok. 21Ug gihugasan niya sa tubig ang mga paa, ug gisunog ni Moises ang tibook nga carnero nga lake sa ibabaw sa halaran: kadto maoy halad-nga-sinunog alang sa usa ka kahumot; kadto maoy halad nga gihalad pinaagi sa kalayo kang Jehova; ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kang Moises. 22Ug gihalad niya ang usa usab ka carnero nga lake, ang carnero sa pagkabalaan, ug si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake gibutang nila ang ilang mga kamot sa ibabaw sa ulo sa lakeng carnero: 23Ug kini gipatay niya; ug mikuha si Moises sa dugo niini, ug gibutang niya sa langod-ngod sa dalunggan nga too ni Aaron, ug sa ibabaw sa kumalagko sa iyang kamot nga too, ug sa ibabaw sa kumalagko sa iyang tiil nga too. 24Unya gidala niya ang mga anak nga lalake ni Aaron; ug gibutangan ni Moises sa dugo sa langod-ngod sa ilang mga dalunggan nga too, ug sa ibabaw sa mga kumalagko sa ilang mga kamot nga too, ug sa ibabaw sa mga kumalagko sa ilang mga tiil nga too; ug gisablig ni Moises ang dugo sa paglibut sa ibabaw sa halaran. 25Ug gikuha niya ang tambok ug ang ikog nga matambok, ug ang tanan nga tambok nga diha sa ibabaw sa mga tinae, ug ang habol-habol sa atay, ug ang duruha ka amimislon, ug ang tambok niini, ug ang paa nga too: 26Ug gikan sa bukag sa mga tinapay nga walay levadura nga diha sa atubangan ni Jehova, mikuha siya ug usa ka tinapay nga malingin nga walay levadura, ug usa ka tinapay nga malingin nga gilanahan, ug usa ka manipis nga tinapay, ug kini gibutang niya ibabaw sa tambok, ug sa ibabaw sa paa nga too. 27Ug gibutang niya ang tanan sa mga kamot ni Aaron, ug sa mga kamot sa iyang mga anak nga lalake, ug kini gitabyog niya: sa halad-nga-tinabyog sa atubangan ni Jehova. 28Ug gikuha ni Moises kadtong mga butanga gikan sa ilang mga kamot, ug kini gisunog niya sa halaran sa halad-nga-sinunog: kini mao ang usa ka paghalad nga gigahin alang sa Dios alang sa usa ka kahumot: kadto mao ang halad-nga-gisunog alang kang Jehova. 29Ug gikuha ni Moises ang dughan, ug kini gitabyog niya, sa pagkahalad-nga-tinabyog sa atubangan ni Jehova: kadto mao ang bahin ni Moises, sa carnero nga lake sa paghalad nga gigahin alang sa Dios ; ingon sa gisugo ni Jehova kang Moises. 30Unya mikuha si Moises sa lana nga igdidihog, ug sa dugo nga diha sa ibabaw sa halaran, ug iyang gisabligan si Aaron, ang ibabaw sa iyang mga bisti, ug ang ibabaw sa iyang mga anak nga lalake, ug ang ibabaw sa mga bisti sa iyang mga anak nga lalake uban kaniya; ug gibalaan niya si Aaron ug ang iyang mga bisti, ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake, ug ang mga bisti sa iyang mga anak nga lalake, uban kaniya. 31Ug miingon si Moises kang Aaron ug sa iyang mga anak nga lalake: Lutoa ninyo ang unod didto sa pultahan sa balong-balong nga pagatiguman; ug kan-on ninyo kini didto uban sa tinapay nga anaa sa bukag sa mga paghalad nga gigahin alang sa Dios , ingon sa akong gisugo nga nagaingon: Si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake magakaon niini. 32Ug kadtong mahasalin sa unod ug sa tinapay, pagasunogon ninyo sa kalayo. 33Dili kamo manggula sa pultahan sa balong-balong nga pagatiguman sulod sa pito ka adlaw, hangtud nga matuman ang mga adlaw sa paghalad sa paggahin alang sa Dios kaninyo: kay sa pito ka adlaw pagapanalanginan kamo. 34Ingon sa gihimo niining adlawa, mao ang gisugo ni Jehova nga pagabuhaton, aron sa pagtabon-sa-sala alang kaninyo. 35Ug sa pultahan sa balong-balong nga pagatiguman magpuyo kamo sa adlaw ug sa gabii sulod sa pito ka adlaw, ug magbantay kamo sa sugo ni Jehova, aron kamo dili mamatay; kay mao kini ang Piyang gisugo kanako. 36Ug si Aaron ug ang iyang mga anak nga lalake nanagbuhat sa tanang mga butang nga gisugo ni Jehova pinaagi kang Moises.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 God had given Moses orders to consecrate Aaron and his sons to the priests' office, when he was with him the first time upon mount Sinai, Ex. 28 and
Exod 29:1, where we have also the particular instructions he had how to do it. Now here we have,
I. The orders repeated. What was there commanded to be done is here commanded to be done
now, Lev 8:2,
Lev 8:3. The tabernacle was newly set up, which, without the priests, would be as a candlestick without a candle; the law concerning sacrifices was newly given, but could not be observed without priests; for, though Aaron and his sons had been nominated to the office, they could not officiate, till they were consecrated, which yet must not be done till the place of their ministration was prepared, and the ordinances were instituted, that they might apply themselves to work as soon as ever they were consecrated, and might know that they were ordained, not only to the honour and profit, but to the business of the priesthood. Aaron and his sons were near relations to Moses, and therefore he would not consecrate them till he had further orders, lest he should seem too forward to bring honour into his family.
II. The congregation called together,
at the door, that is, in the court
of the tabernacle, Lev 8:4. The elders and principal men of the congregation, who represented the body of the people, were summoned to attend; for the court would hold but a few of the many thousands of Israel. It was done thus publicly, 1. Because it was a solemn transaction between God and Israel; the priests were to be
ordained for men in things pertaining to God, for the maintaining of a settled correspondence, and the negotiating of all affairs between the people and God; and therefore it was fit that both sides should appear, to own the appointment, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 2. The spectators of the solemnity could not but be possessed, by the sight of it, with a great veneration for the priests and their office, which was necessary among a people so wretchedly prone as these were to envy and discontent. It was strange that any of those who were witnesses of what was here done should afterwards say, as some of them did,
You take too much upon you, you sons of Levi; but what would they have said if it had been done clandestinely? Note, It is very fit, and of good use, that ministers should be ordained publicly,
plebe praesente -
in the presence of the common people, according to the usage of the primitive church.
III. The commission read,
Lev 8:5. Moses, who was God's representative in this solemnity, produced his orders before the congregation:
This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. Though God had crowned him king in Jeshurun, when he made his face to shine in the sight of all Israel, yet he did not institute or appoint any thing in God's worship but what God himself had commanded. The priesthood he delivered to them was that which he had received from the Lord. Note, All that minister about holy things must have an eye to God's command as their rule and warrant; for it is only in the observance of this that they can expect to be owned and accepted of God. Thus we must be able to say, in all acts of religious worship,
This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. IV. The ceremony performed according to the divine ritual. 1. Aaron and his sons were
washed with water (
Lev 8:6), to signify that they ought now to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions and inclinations, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes to our God kings and priests (
Revel 1:5,
Revel 1:6); and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water,
Hebre 10:22. Though they were ever so clean before and no filth was to be seen upon them, yet they must be washed, to signify their purification from sin, with which their souls were polluted, how clean soever their bodies were. 2. They were clothed with the holy garments, Aaron with his (
Lev 8:7-
Lev 8:9), which typified the dignity of Christ our great high priest, and his sons with theirs (
Lev 8:13), which typified the decency of Christians, who are spiritual priests. Christ wears the breast-plate of judgment and the holy crown; for the church's high priest is her prophet and king. All believers are clothed with the robe of righteousness, and girt with the girdle of truth, resolution, and close application; and their heads are
bound, as the word here is, with the bonnet or diadem of beauty, the beauty of holiness. 3. The high priest was anointed, and, it should seem, the holy things were anointed at the same time; some think that they were anointed before, but that the anointing of them is mentioned here because Aaron was anointed with the same oil with which they were anointed; but the manner of relating it here makes it more than probable that it was done at the same time, and that the seven days employed in consecrating the altar were coincident with the seven days of the priests' consecration. The tabernacle, and all its utensils, had some of the anointing oil put upon them with Moses's finger (
Lev 8:10), so had the altar (
Lev 8:11); these were to sanctify the gold and the gift (
Matt 23:17-
Matt 23:19), and therefore must themselves be thus sanctified; but he poured it out more plentifully upon the head of Aaron (
Lev 8:12), so that it ran down to the
skirts of his garments, because his unction was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. Yet all believers also have received the anointing, which puts an indelible character upon them,
1John 2:27.
14 The covenant of priesthood must be made by sacrifice, as well as other covenants,
Pss 50:5. And thus Christ was consecrated by the sacrifice of himself, once for all. Sacrifices of each kind must be offered for the priests, that they might with the more tenderness and concern offer the gifts and sacrifices of the people, with compassion on the ignorant, and on
those that were out of the way, not insulting over those for whom sacrifices were offered, remembering that they themselves had had sacrifices offered for them, being
compassed with infirmity. 1. A bullock, the largest sacrifice, was offered for a sin-offering (
Lev 8:14), that hereby atonement might be made, and they might not bring any of the guilt of the sins of their former state into the new character they were now to put on. When Isaiah was sent to be a prophet, he was told to his comfort,
Thy iniquity is taken away, Isa 6:7. Ministers, that are to declare the remission of sins to others, should give diligence to get it made sure to themselves in the first place that their own sins are pardoned. Those to whom is
committed the ministry of reconciliation must first be reconciled to God themselves, that they may deal for the souls of others as for their own. 2. A ram was offered for a burnt-offering,
Lev 8:18-
Lev 8:21. By this they gave to God the glory of this great honour which was now put upon them, and returned him praise for it, as Paul thanked Christ Jesus for
putting him into the ministry, 1Tim 1:12. They also signified the devoting of themselves and all their services to the honour of God. 3. Another ram, called the
ram of consecration, was offered for a peace-offering,
Lev 8:22, etc. The blood of it was part put on the priests, on their ears, thumbs, and toes, and part sprinkled upon the altar; and thus he did (as it were) marry them to the altar, upon which they must all their days give attendance. All the ceremonies about this offering, as those before, were appointed by the express command of God; and, if we compare this chapter with Ex. 29, we shall find that the performance of the solemnity exactly agrees with the precept there, and in nothing varies. Here, therefore, as in the account we had of the tabernacle and its vessels, it is again and again repeated,
As the Lord commanded Moses. And thus Christ, when he sanctified himself with his own blood, had an eye to his Father's will in it.
As the Father gave me commandment so I do, John 14:31;
John 10:18;
John 6:38.
31 Moses, having done his part of the ceremony, now leaves Aaron and his sons to do theirs.
I. They must boil the flesh of their peace-offering, and eat it in the court of the tabernacle, and what remained they must burn with fire,
Lev 8:31,
Lev 8:32. This signified their thankful consent to the consecration: when God gave Ezekiel his commission, he told him to eat the roll,
Ezek 3:1,
Ezek 3:2.
II. They must not stir out of the court of the tabernacle for seven days,
Lev 8:33. The priesthood being a good warfare, they must thus learn to endure hardness, and to disentangle themselves from the affairs of this life,
2Tim 2:3,
2Tim 2:4. Being consecrated to their service, they must
give themselves wholly to it, and
attend continually to this very thing. Thus Christ's apostles were appointed to
wait for the promise of the Father, Acts 1:4. During this time appointed for their consecration, they were daily to repeat the same sacrifices which were offered the first day,
Lev 8:34. This shows the imperfection of the legal sacrifices, which, because they could not take away sin, were often repeated (
Hebre 10:1,
Hebre 10:2), but were here repeated seven times (a number of perfection), because they typified that
one offering, which perfected for ever those that were sanctified. The work lasted seven days; for it was a kind of creation: and this time was appointed in honour of the sabbath, which, probably, was the last day of the seven, for which they were to prepare during the six days. Thus the time of our life, like the six days, must be our preparation for the perfection of our consecration to God in the everlasting sabbath: they attended
day and night (
Lev 8:35), and so constant should we be in our meditation on God's law,
Pss 1:2. They attended to
keep the charge of the Lord: we have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, needful duty to be done, our generation to serve; and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us to an account about it, and it is at our utmost peril if we neglect it. Keep it
that you die not; it is death, eternal death, to betray the trust we are charged with; by the consideration of this we must be kept in awe.
Lastly, We are told (
Lev 8:36) that
Aaron and his sons did all that was commanded. Thus their consecration was completed; and thus they set an example before the people of an exact obedience to the laws of sacrifices now newly given, and then they could with the better grace teach them. Thus the
covenant of peace (
Num 25:12),
of life and peace (
Mal 2:5), was made with Aaron and his sons; 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 (
Hebre 7:21), for neither such priests nor their priesthood could continue, but Christ's is a perpetual and unchangeable priesthood.
Gospel ministers are compared to those who served at the altar, for they
minister about holy things (
1Cor 9:13), they are God's mouth to the people and the people's to God, the pastors and teachers Christ has appointed to continue in the church to the end of the world: they seem to be meant in that promise which points at gospel times (
Isa 66:21),
I will take of them for priests and for Levites. No man may take this honour to himself, but he who upon trial is found to be clothed and anointed by the Spirit of God with gifts and graces to qualify him for it, and who with purpose of heart devotes himself entirely to the service, and is then by the
word and prayer (for so every thing is sanctified), and the imposition of the hands of those that
give themselves to the word and prayer, set apart to the office, and recommended to Christ as a servant and to the church as a steward and guide. And those that are thus solemnly dedicated to God ought not to depart from his service, but faithfully to abide in it all their days; and those that do so, and continue
labouring in the word and doctrine, are to be accounted
worthy of double honour, double to that of the Old Testament priests.