Exodus 29

Exodus 29:1

2. The Consecration of the Priests (Chap. 29)29:1-9 God ordained Aaron and his sons as the first priests. After that the only way to become a priest was by being born into the priestly tribe and family. In the church the only way to become a priest is by the new birth (Rev_1:5-6). For man to ordain priests is sheer human presumption. The ritual described here was carried out in Leviticus 8. The consecration of the priests is somewhat similar to the cleansing of lepers (Lev. 14). In both cases, sacrificial blood was applied to the person himself, teaching the necessity for expiation before sinful man can approach God. The materials for the offerings are introduced in verses 1-3; detailed instructions are given later concerning their use. The first step in the consecration of the priests was the washing of Aaron and his sons . . . with water at the door of the tabernacle (v. 4). Second, Aaron was clothed with the garments described in the previous chapter (vv. 5, 6). Then he was anointed with oil (v. 7). Next, the sons were clothed in their priestly tunics (vv. 8, 9). 29:10-21 Three offerings followed: a bull for a sin offering (vv. 10-14); a ram for a burnt offering (vv. 15-18); another ram of consecration (vv. 19-21). Laying hands on the head of a sacrificial victim signified identification with it and indicated that the animal was to die in place of the offerer (v. 10). The blood, of course, was a picture of the blood of Christ, shed for the forgiveness of sins. The fat was considered the choicest part of the animal and was therefore offered to the Lord (v. 13). The first ram was completely burned on the altar (vv. 15-18). This speaks of Christ’s complete devotion to God and His being completely offered up to God.

The blood of the second ram (the ram of consecration) was to be put . . . on the tip of the right ear of Aaron . . . and . . . his sons, on the thumb of their right hand, upon the big toe of their right foot (v. 20), and sprinkled on their garments (v. 21). This signified the need of cleansing from sin in every area of human lifethe ear for obedience to God’s Word, the hand for action or service, and the foot for walk or deportment. It might seem strange that the priests’ beautiful garments should be sprinkled with blood; atoning blood might not seem attractive in man’s eyes, but it is absolutely necessary in the sight of God. 29:22-34 Next, Moses was ordered to fill the priests’ hands with the materials necessary for sacrifice and thus authorize them to sacrifice (vv. 22-28). The first offering (vv. 22-25) was to be waved before the LORD and then burned on the altar of burnt offering. The breast of the ram was waved before the LORD, perhaps horizontally, and the shoulder or thigh was heaved before the Lord, doubtless vertically. These two portions were then given to the priests for food (vv. 26-28). The waved breast speaks of God’s affection for us, and the heaved shoulder symbolizes His power stretched forth in our behalf. Aaron’s garments became the property of his sons after him, since the priesthood was handed down from father to son (vv. 29, 30). The food of the priests and how it was prepared is described in verses 31-34. 29:35-46 The consecration ceremony lasted seven days, with the sacrifices repeated every day and the altar cleansed by blood and anointed with oil (vv. 35-37). From then on, the priests were required to offer on the altar of burnt offering two lambs which were one year oldone lamb . . . in the morning and the other in the evening of every day at twilight (vv. 38-42). God then promised to meet with the people at the . . . tabernacle, to dwell among them and to be their God (vv. 43-46).