Tyndale Open Study NotesLeviticus 8

In Exodus 28–29, the Lord gave Moses detailed instructions for clothing and ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. In Exodus 39:1–31; 40:12–16; and Leviticus 8, they followed these commands. Moses did not only tell them the instructions. He performed the ceremonies to show the priests exactly what to do, as the Lord had commanded him (8:9, 13, 17, 21, 29). Since disobedience could lead to death, God ensured the priests understood their duties clearly.

• Exodus 29:1–3, 7 also mentions these items.

• garments: See Exodus 28.

• The anointing oil had special ingredients that gave it a special smell. These included myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia (dried flowers from the cinnamon tree) mixed into olive oil (see Exodus 30:22–33).

• bull of the sin offering: See Leviticus 4:3–12.

• The first of the two rams was a whole burnt offering (8:18), while the second was a special ordination sacrifice (8:22).

• basket of unleavened bread: See 6:19–23.

The text repeatedly emphasizes that Moses did what the Lord instructed. He obeyed the commands God gave in Exodus 29 (see also Leviticus 8:9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36).

washed them with water: This was the first step to remove impurity. The priests needed to be ceremonially clean before serving the Lord in holiness (Exodus 29:4; see Psalm 24:4).

• The priestly tunic was woven from patterned linen cloth (see Exodus 28:39).

• The Israelites used same material for the tabernacle curtains as with the embroidered ephod (see Exodus 28:4, 6–14). The exact shape and size of the ephod are not known, but it seems to have been a long, sleeveless vest. It fit closely to the body and tied at the waist. Gold settings joined it at the shoulders, each holding an onyx stone engraved with the names of six tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:9). Later, an ephod also referred to a honored image (Judges 8:27; 18:17).

• They embroidered and made the decorative sash from the same materials as the ephod (see Exodus 28:8).

• The breastpiece (see Exodus 28:15–30) was made it from embroidered linen folded in half. It had twelve stones, each engraved with the name of an Israelite tribe. A gold chain from the gold shoulder pieces of the ephod held it over the chest.

• The priests placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece pocket (Exodus 28:30; 1 Samuel 23:9–12; 30:7–8). Their exact purpose is unclear. Most scholars think they are two stones, possibly different in color, that were cast as lots. They could give a positive, neutral, or negative answer to difficult questions (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21; 1 Samuel 28:6). Their mention in later Old Testament prophetic writings shows how important these items were for the work of the priest (Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65).

The turban worn by the high priest was made of linen. It was different from the headdresses the common priests wore (Exodus 28:40). A gold medallion hung from the turban. It had the words "HOLY TO THE LORD" inscribed on it (Exodus 28:36). With the names of the tribes on his shoulders and over his heart and the dedication to the Lord on his forehead, the high priest was clearly marked as the people’s representative to God and God’s representative to the people. In this role, the high priest mediated for the people and modeled the standard for all priests.

he consecrated them (or he made them holy): God is "the Holy One" (Psalm 78:41; 22:3). Only God can truly make a person or thing holy (Leviticus 20:8; 21:15, 23; 22:9, 16, 32; Exodus 31:13; see Hebrews 2:11). Moses poured the anointing oil on the tabernacle and everything in it. This action showed that God had chosen these objects and set them apart for worship (also in Leviticus 8:11, 12, 15).

To learn about the clothing of common priests, see Exodus 28:40–41.

• sin offering (see 4:3–12): They made two offerings for atonement:

  1. the sin offering (8:14–17) and

  2. the whole burnt offering (8:18–21).

• By placing their hands on the bull's head (see 1:4), Aaron and his sons identified themselves with the sacrifice (also in 8:18, 22).

Normally, the high priest performed these duties. Yet, priests could not ordain themselves. So, Moses, as God's representative, established the priesthood.

ram for the burnt offering: See the study note on Leviticus 1:10–13.

ram of ordination: See Exodus 29:19–34.

Aaron's right earlobe … thumb … big toe: These body parts represented the total person. This act emphasized the priest's role, with the blood stressing connections to the sacrificial system. The priest's main job was to mediate between God and his people. To do this well, he needed ears to hear God's words and his people's needs. He also needed hands ready to obey God's commands, and feet ready to go where needed.

Moses acted as a priest during the ordination ceremony, so he received the priest's portion of the offering (see Leviticus 8:15).

anointing oil: See the study note on Leviticus 8:2; see also Psalm 133:2.

The ordination offering was a type of peace offering (Exodus 29:28). It was a meal shared between God and the priests (Leviticus 7:11–18, 28–34). The parts of the offering burned on the altar belonged to God. The command to boil and eat the ordination offerings first appears in Exodus 29:32.

commanded by the LORD: The details of the sacrifice ceremonies were symbolic and important. But the most important part was for the priests to obey God's commands. Complete obedience to God is a major theme in both the Old Testament and the New Testament: “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

seven days: This command emphasized God's complete holiness and required strict obedience to his commands. The priests, now anointed as God's holy servants, had to stay in the tabernacle court for seven days before returning to daily life.