1Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, and said, 2‘Take Aaron and his sons, along with their robes, the anointing oil, a calf for a sin offering, two rams, and a basket of fermentation-free bread, 3then assemble the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. 4So Moses did just as Jehovah told him. He assembled the gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, 5and Moses told them, ‘This is what Jehovah has commanded us to do.’ 6Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. 7Next, he put the robe on him, wrapped him with the sash, put on the tunic, and then the Expression of Judgment. 8He wrapped [his tunic] so the Expression of Judgment would fit, then he clasped it tight and put on the Expression of Judgment; and he put the Revelation and the Truth on top of that. 9Next, he put the turban on [Aaron’s] head and mounted the gold plate (this most holy thing) on the front of the turban, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 10Then Moses took the anointing oil 11and sprinkled it on the Altar seven times, to anoint the Altar and make it holy, along with everything on it, including its base and the basin. He made them holy, and he anointed the Tent and all its furniture, and made them holy. 12Then Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron’s head to anoint him and make him holy. 13And Moses brought up Aaron’s sons, put on their robes and wrapped on their sashes, then put on their turbans, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 14Next, Moses brought over the calf for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the sin-offering calf, 15and Moses slaughtered it. Then he took some of the blood and put it around the horns of the Altar with his finger, to purify it. Then he poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, to make it holy, so that it could be used to pay for sins. 16And Moses took all the inner fat, plus the liver and kidneys and the fat around them, and he offered it on the Altar. 17Then he burned the rest of the calf (its skin, flesh, and dung) in a fire outside the camp, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 18Next, Moses brought over the ram for the whole-burnt offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, and Moses slaughtered the ram, and he poured the blood around the Altar. 19Then he divided the ram by each of its limbs, and Moses offered up the head, the limbs, and the fat, after washing the feet and belly with water. 20So Moses offered the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering, and it was burned as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 21Then Moses brought over the second ram, the last ram, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, and he slaughtered it. 22And Moses took its blood and put some on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 23Then Moses brought in Aaron’s sons and put 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 poured the rest of the blood around the Altar. 24Then he took the fat, the rump, the belly fat, the liver and kidneys and the fat that’s on them, as well as its right shoulder; 25and from the basket of consecration that was before Jehovah, he took one fermentation-free loaf, one loaf made with oil, and one cake (along with the fat and the right shoulder), 26and put them all in the hands of Aaron and his sons, who waved them before Jehovah. 27Then Moses took it from their hands and put it on the Altar as the whole-burnt offering of the last lamb, and it was burned as an offering to Jehovah, providing a sweet-smelling odor to Him. 28Then Moses took the last lamb’s breast and set it aside before Jehovah, and this was given to Moses as his portion, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 29Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the Altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. 30So he made Aaron and his garments, and his sons and their garments, holy. 31Then Moses told Aaron and his sons, ‘Now, boil the flesh in the Holy Place inside the Tent of Proofs, and eat it there along with the loaves in the last basket, just as Jehovah told me when He said, Aaron and his sons must eat this. 32Then you must burn whatever is left of the flesh and loaves in a fire. 33Thereafter, you must stay inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs until the end of seven days. For in seven days He will complete you, 34the same as He did on the day that Jehovah commanded me to do this to pay for your sins. 35So, you must remain inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs for seven days and nights. You must obey this rule of Jehovah so you won’t die… for that is what Jehovah God commanded me.’ 36So, Aaron and his sons followed the instructions that Jehovah gave as commandments to Moses.
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.