BSB
Leviticus 8
1Then the LORD said to Moses,
2“Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
3and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”
4So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
5And Moses said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.”
6Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
7He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.
8Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
9Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.
10Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them.
11He 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.
12He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
13Then Moses presented Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, wrapped sashes around them, and tied headbands on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.
14Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
15Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
16Moses also took all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it all on the altar.
17But the bull with its hide, flesh, and dung he burned outside the camp, as the LORD had commanded him.
18Then Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
19Moses slaughtered the ram and splattered the blood on all sides of the altar.
20He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces, and the fat.
21He washed the entrails and legs with water and burned the entire ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
22After that, Moses presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
23Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
24Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splattered the blood on all sides of the altar.
25And Moses took the fat—the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with their fat—as well as the right thigh.
26And from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer, and he placed them on the fat portions and on the right thigh.
27He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the LORD as a wave offering.
28Then Moses took these from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.
29He also took the breast—Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination—and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him.
30Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.
31And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons are to eat it.’
32Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread.
33You must not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are complete; for it will take seven days to ordain you.
34What has been done today has been commanded by the LORD in order to make atonement on your behalf.
35You must remain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the LORD’s charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have been commanded.”
36So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD had commanded through Moses.
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Aaron: Consecration of, to the Priesthood Leviticus 8:1
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Ablution of Priests Leviticus 8:6
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
Altar in the Tabernacle: How Sanctified Leviticus 8:10, 11
Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them. / 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.
Altar of Incense: Uses of Leviticus 8:15
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
Anointing in Consecration of High Priests Leviticus 8:12
He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Anointing in Consecration of Priests Leviticus 8:30
Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.
Anointing in Consecration of the Tabernacle Leviticus 8:10
Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them.
Anointing in Consecration: Altars of Leviticus 8:11
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.
Anointing in Consecration: Vessels of Leviticus 8:10, 11
Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them. / 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.
Anointing of the Holy Spirit: Typified Leviticus 8:12
He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Anointing: Typified Leviticus 8:12
He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Basket: General Scriptures Concerning Leviticus 8:2
“Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
Blood: Blood of the Ram of Consecration Put on the Tip of Right Ear, Thumb Leviticus 8:23, 24, 30
Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. / Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar. / Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.
Blood: Sacrificial of the Bullock of Sin offering, Put on the Horns of the Altar Leviticus 8:15
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
Blood: Sacrificial: Poured at the Bottom of the Altar Leviticus 8:15
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled all Around, and Upon the Altar Leviticus 8:19
Moses slaughtered the ram and sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar.
Bonnet: Worn by Priests Leviticus 8:13
Then Moses presented Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, wrapped sashes around them, and tied headbands on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Breastplate: for High Priest: Worn by Aaron Leviticus 8:8
Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Breastplate: The Urim and Thummim Placed In Leviticus 8:8
Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Caul: Probably the Upper Lobe of the Liver: Burnt with Sacrifice Leviticus 8:16, 25
Moses also took all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it all on the altar. / And Moses took the fat—the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with their fat—as well as the right thigh.
Church: Holy Leviticus 8:10, 11
Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them. / 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.
Crown: Prescribed for Priests Leviticus 8:9
Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.
Ear: Blood Put Upon, in Consecration of Priest Leviticus 8:23
Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Ephod: A Sacred Vestment Worn by the High Priest: It Was Called Coat Leviticus 8:13
Then Moses presented Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, wrapped sashes around them, and tied headbands on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
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Leviticus 8:2 Verse 2
Take Aaron and his sons--The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been ordered long before (Ex 29:1-46), but it is now described with all the details of the ceremonial, as it was gone through after the tabernacle was completed and the regulations for the various sacrifices enacted. 3-5. gather thou all the congregation together, &c.--It was manifestly expedient for the Israelitish people to be satisfied that Aaron's appointment to the high dignity of the priesthood was not a personal intrusion, nor a family arrangement between him and Moses; and nothing, therefore, could be a more prudent or necessary measure, for impressing a profound conviction of the divine origin and authority of the priestly institution, than to summon a general assembly of the people, and in their presence perform the solemn ceremonies of inauguration, which had been prescribed by divine authority.
Leviticus 8:6 Verse 6
Moses ... washed them with water--At consecration they were subjected to entire ablution, though on ordinary occasions they were required, before entering on their duties, only to wash their hands and feet. This symbolical ablution was designed to teach them the necessity of inward purity, and the imperative obligation on those who bore the vessels and conducted the services of the sanctuary to be holy. 7-9. he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle--The splendor of the official vestments, together with the gorgeous tiara of the high priest, was intended, doubtless, in the first instance, to produce in the minds of the people a high respect for the ministers of religion; and in the next, from the predominant use of linen, to inculcate upon Aaron and his sons the duty of maintaining unspotted righteousness in their characters and lives. 10-12. took the anointing oil, &c.--which was designed to intimate that persons who acted as leaders in the solemn services of worship should have the unction of the Holy One both in His gifts and graces. 14-17. brought the bullock for the sin offering, &c.--a timely expression of their sense of unworthiness--a public and solemn confession of their personal sins and a transference of their guilt to the typical victim. 18-21. brought the ram, &c.--as a token of their entire dedication to the service of God. 22-30. brought the other ram,--&c. After the sin offering and burnt offering had been presented on their behalf, this was their peace offering, by which they declared the pleasure which they felt in entering upon the service of God and being brought into close communion with Him as the ministers of His sanctuary, together with their confident reliance on His grace to help them in all their sacred duties.
Leviticus 8:33 Verse 33
ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, &c.--After all these preliminaries, they had still to undergo a week's probation in the court of the tabernacle before they obtained permission to enter into the interior of the sacred building. During the whole of that period the same sacrificial rites were observed as on the first day, and they were expressly admonished that the smallest breach of any of the appointed observances would lead to the certain forfeiture of their lives [Le 8:35].
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Leviticus 8:1-13 Verses 1-13
The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, Re 1:5, 6; and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb 10:22. The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.
Leviticus 8:14-36 Verses 14-36
In these types we see our great High Priest, even Christ Jesus, solemnly appointed, anointed, and invested with his sacred office, by his own blood, and the influences of his Holy Spirit. He sanctifies the ordinances of religion, to the benefit of his people and the honour of God the Father; who for his sake accepts our worship, though it is polluted with sin. We may also rejoice, that he is a merciful and faithful High Priest, full of compassion to the feeble-minded and tempest-tossed soul. All true Christians are consecrated to be spiritual priests. We should seriously ask ourselves, whether in our daily walk we study to maintain this character? and abound in spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Christ? If so, still there is no cause for boasting. Let us not despise our fellow-sinners; but remembering what we have done, and how we are saved, let us seek and pray for their salvation.