THE OFFICE AND WORK OF THE PRIESTS

Passage: Leviticus 8:1-17

Key verse: 1

NIV

The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons(A)

8 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Bring Aaron and his sons,(B) their garments,(C) the anointing oil,(D) the bull for the sin offering,[a](E) the two rams(F) and the basket containing bread made without yeast,(G) 3 and gather the entire assembly(H) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” 4 Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

5 Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.(I)” 6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.(J) 7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him.(K) 8 He placed the breastpiece(L) on him and put the Urim and Thummim(M) in the breastpiece. 9 Then he placed the turban(N) on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem,(O) on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.(P)

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil(Q) and anointed(R) the tabernacle(S) and everything in it, and so consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.(T) 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed(U) him to consecrate him.(V) 13 Then he brought Aaron’s sons(W) forward, put tunics(X) on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.(Y)

14 He then presented the bull(Z) for the sin offering,(AA) and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.(AB) 15 Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood,(AC) and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar(AD) to purify the altar.(AE) He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it.(AF) 16 Moses also took all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull with its hide and its flesh and its intestines(AG) he burned up outside the camp,(AH) as the Lord commanded Moses.

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Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 8:2 Or purification offering; also in verse 14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

8 (A)The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and (B)the garments and (C)the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. 3 And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

5 And Moses said to the congregation, (D)“This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 And he put (E)the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band.[a] 8 And he placed the breastpiece on him, and (F)in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he set (G)the turban on his head, and (H)on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.

10 (I)Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 And (J)he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

14 Then he brought (K)the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons (L)laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 And he[b] killed it, and (M)Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16 (N)And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. 17 But (O)the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses.

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Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 8:7 Hebrew with it
  2. Leviticus 8:15 Probably Aaron or his representative; possibly Moses; also verses 16–23
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The glory of the Lord appears (8:1-9:24)

Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests. They were dressed in beautiful clothes to cover the ugliness of their sins, and atonement had to be made for them (8:3

). They could only stand before God to serve him and his people as forgiven sinners. The purpose of all the sacrifices was to cleanse the people so that the Holy God might dwell in their midst. When everything had been done according to God's command to Moses, God's glory filled the tabernacle, and the people shouted for joy. This was a glorious climax.

2. Nadab & Abihu-presumptuous sinners (1

:1-11)

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron's 2 oldest sons. When they offered sacrifices in their own way, fire came out from the Lord and consumed them. Aaron was forbidden to mourn their deaths; he must be a servant of God before he was a father.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you with a humble heart, in your way, according to your word. Cleanse us of sin and send your Spirit to dwell with us.

One Word: Fear God and obey him