Leviticus 9

After seven days of ordination, Aaron begins his work as high priest. He offers sacrifices for himself and for the people, and Moses promises that the LORD will appear. The chapter ends with the glory of the LORD shown and fire from His presence falling on the altar, so that the people shout and bow.

Leviticus 9:1

The eighth day follows the seven days of ordination in chapter 8. Moses gathers Aaron, his sons and Israel’s elders, so the whole community can witness the start of the priests’ public work. Worship is about to move from preparation to action.

BSA: eighth (“following the seven-day ordination”): The eighth day is the first day of actual priestly service, after the priests had been fully set apart.

See also: Leviticus 8:33-35.

Leviticus 9:2

Aaron must first bring a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish. The priest has to deal with his own sin before serving others. God accepts only a perfect offering.

BSA: without blemish (“perfect, unblemished”): The animal given to God must be the best, with no defect.

See also: Hebrews 5:3.

Leviticus 9:3-4

The people bring their own offerings: a goat for sin, a calf and lamb for burning, an ox and ram for fellowship, and grain mixed with oil. Each offering has its own purpose: forgiveness, full surrender, and shared fellowship. The reason is given: today the LORD will appear.

BSA: burnt offering (“a sacrifice completely consumed by fire”): This offering was given wholly to God, a picture of total dedication. peace offering (“a voluntary sacrifice to show thanks”): This was a gift of gratitude, and its meal was shared in fellowship with God.

See also: Leviticus 1:3-4; Leviticus 3:1.

Leviticus 9:5-6

The whole congregation comes to the entrance of the Tent and stands before the LORD. Moses tells them that obeying God’s command is the way the glory will be seen. The people do not produce the glory; they come near in God’s appointed way.

BSA: glory (“great honor, splendor”): This is God’s weighty, radiant presence, made visible to His people.

See also: Exodus 40:34.

Leviticus 9:7

Aaron is told to approach the altar and make atonement first for himself, then for the people. Atonement means a covering for sin that restores a right relationship with God. Aaron acts as the LORD has commanded, not by his own ideas.

BSA: atonement (“to cover, to reconcile, to restore”): Sin is covered by a God-given substitute, and the relationship is restored.

Hebrew: כִּפֶּר (kipper, H3722) — “to cover, make atonement.” The Hebrew word carries the idea of covering over or wiping away, so the sacrifice deals with sin and its guilt before God.

See also: Hebrews 7:27.

Leviticus 9:8-9

Aaron kills the calf as a sin offering for himself. His sons bring the blood, and he puts it on the altar’s horns and pours the rest at its base. Blood stood for a life given in death, and the horns of the altar were the place where that life-giving payment was applied.

BSA: blood (“the liquid that flows through the body”): Blood stands for life; the life of the animal is given in place of the sinner.

See also: Leviticus 17:11.

Leviticus 9:10-11

The fat, kidneys and liver lobe go up on the altar as the LORD commanded, but the flesh and hide are burned outside the camp. For the priest’s own sin offering, the remains were treated as unclean for eating, a picture of sin removed from God’s people.

See also: Hebrews 13:11-12.

Leviticus 9:12-14

Aaron then offers the burnt offering. The blood is sprinkled around the altar, and the animal is burned piece by piece with the head, after the entrails and legs have been washed. Nothing is left over: the whole offering goes up to God.

BSA: burnt offering (“a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar for a burnt offering”): The Hebrew name means ’that which goes up,’ since the whole offering rises to God in smoke.

Hebrew: עֹלָה (olah, H5930) — “that which goes up.” The name for the burnt offering comes from the verb ’to go up,’ because the whole offering rose to God as smoke.

Leviticus 9:15

Now Aaron presents the people’s sin offering, a goat, in the same way as his own. Having dealt with his own sin first, he can now act for the people. The same sacrifice is needed by priest and people alike.

BSA: sin offering (“atonement, forgiveness”): This offering was given to deal with sin and bring forgiveness.

See also: Leviticus 4:27-31.

Leviticus 9:16-17

The burnt offering is made according to the ordinance, the set pattern God gave. The grain offering is added: a handful is burned on the altar beside the regular morning burnt offering. Everything is done as God directed.

BSA: ordinance (“manner, justice, God’s righteous judgment”): The offering follows the right, appointed order that God Himself set.

See also: Leviticus 2:1-2.

Leviticus 9:18-21

Aaron then kills the people’s peace offerings. The fat goes on the altar, and the breasts and right thigh are waved before the LORD. This offering was a shared meal of thanks, in which God, the priests and the people all had a part.

BSA: waved (“shook to and from, elevated”): The portion was lifted and moved before God as a gift, then given back for the priests to eat.

See also: Leviticus 7:30-34.

Leviticus 9:22

Aaron lifts his hands toward the people and blesses them. Then he steps down from the altar, because the sin, burnt and peace offerings are finished. The blessing comes after the sacrifice has been made.

BSA: blessed (“praising and honoring God for them”): The blessing asks for God’s favor to rest on the people.

See also: Numbers 6:22-27.

Leviticus 9:23

Moses and Aaron go into the Tent of Meeting, and when they come out they bless the people. Then the glory of the LORD appears to all. What Moses promised in verses 4 and 6 now comes true.

BSA: glory (“honor, splendor”): God’s splendor shows His real presence among His people.

See also: Exodus 29:43.

Leviticus 9:24

Fire comes from the LORD’s presence and consumes the offering. God Himself accepts the sacrifice. The people respond with a joyful shout and fall on their faces, showing both gladness and reverence before Him.

BSA: consumed (“devoured, ate up”): The fire shows that God has received the offering. shouted for joy (“sang or shouted for joy, overcame”): The people cry out in joyful praise at the sign of God’s acceptance.

See also: 1 Kings 18:38-39; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.