Leviticus 8:3

Lev 8:13 . Offers a bullock for them as a sin-offering, Lev 8:14-17 . And a ram for a burnt-offering, Lev 8:18-21 . And another ram for a consecration-offering, Lev 8:22-24 . The fat, with cakes of unleavened bread, and the right shoulder of the ram, he offers as a wave-offering, and afterwards burns, Lev 8:25-28 . The breast, which was the part of Moses, he also waves, Lev 8:29 . And sprinkles oil and blood upon Aaron and his sons, Lev 8:30 . The flesh of the consecration ram is to be boiled and eaten at the door of the tabernacle, Lev 8:31 , Lev 8:32 . Moses commands Aaron and his sons to abide seven days at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, which they do accordingly, Lev 8:33-36 . Verse 2 Take Aaron and his sons - The whole subject of this chapter has been anticipated in the notes, Exo 28:1 (note), etc., and Exo 29:1 (note), etc., in which all the sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies have been explained in considerable detail; and to those notes the reader is referred. It is only necessary to observe that Aaron and his sons were not anointed until now. Before, the thing was commanded; now, first performed. Verse 8 He put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim - The Urim and Thummim are here supposed to be something different from the breastplate itself. See Clarke's note on Exo 28:15 , See Clarke's note on Exo 28:16 , See Clarke's note on Exo 28:30 . Verse 9 And he put the mitre - See Clarke's note on Exo 28:36 . Verse 14 The bullock for the sin-offering - This was offered each day during the seven days of consecration. See Exo 29:36 . Verse 23 Put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, etc. - See this significant ceremony explained in the note on Exo 29:20 (note). Calmet remarks that the consecration of the high priest among the Romans bore a considerable resemblance to the consecration of the Jewish high priest. "The Roman priest, clothed with a garment of silk, his head covered with a crown of gold adorned with sacred ribbons, was conducted into a subterranean place, over which there was a floor of planks pierced through with many holes. On this floor they sacrificed a bullock, whose blood was freely poured out on the planks or floor, which running through the holes fell upon the priest, who stood under to receive this sacred aspersion, and who, in order to be completely covered with the blood, took care to present the whole of his body, his clothes, face, eyes, nose, lips, and even his tongue, to receive the drops of blood falling through the pierced floor above. Being completely covered with this sanguineous shower, he ascended from his subterranean place, and was acknowledged and adored by the people as Pontifex Maximus, or supreme high priest." These rites, which bear a striking allusion to those used in the consecration of Aaron, and from which they were probably borrowed, and disguised by the introduction of their own superstitions, are particularly described by Aurelius Prudentius, in his poem entitled Romani Martyris Supplicium, from which I shall select those verses, the subject of which is given above, as the passage is curious, and the work not common. "Summus sacerdos nempe sub terram scrobe Acta in profundum consecrandus mergitur, Mire infulatus, festa vittis tempora Nectens, corona tum repexus aurea, Cinctu Gabino sericam fultus togam. Tabulis superne strata texunt pulpita, Rimosa rari pegmatis compagibus, Scindunt subinde vel terebrant aream, Crebroque lignum perforant acumine, Pateat minutis ut frequens hiatibus - Hic ut statuta est immolanda bellua, Pectus sacrata dividunt venabulo, Eructat amplum volnus undam sanguinis - etc. Tum per frequentes mille rimarum vias Illapsus imber, tabidum rorem pluit, Defossus intus quem sacerdos excipit, Guttas ad omnes turpe subjectans caput, Et veste et omni putrefactus corpore: Quin os supinat, obvias offert genas Supponit aures, labra, nares objicit, Oculos et ipsos perluit liquoribus, Nec jam palato parcit, et linguam rigat, Donec cruorem totus atrum combibat - Procedit inde pontifex vlsu horridus - etc. Omnes salutant atque adorant eminus, Vilis quod illum sanguls, et bos mortuus Foedis latentem sub cavernis laverint." Of these lines the reader will not be displeased to find the following poetical version: - "For when, with sacred pomp and solemn state, Their great high priest the Romans consecrate, His silken vest in Gabine cincture bound, A festal fillet twines his temples round: And, while aloft the gorgeous mitre shines, His awful brow a golden crown confines. In a deep dyke, for mystic ritual made, He stands, surrounded with terrific shade. High o'er his holy head a stage they place, Adorn with paintings, and with statues grace; Then with keen piercers perforate the floor, Till thronging apertures admit no more. Thither the victim ox is now convey'd, To glut the vengeance of the thirsty blade. The sacred spear his sturdy throat divides, Down, instant streaming, gush the gory tides, Through countless crevices the gaping wood Distils corrupted dew and smoking blood; Drop after drop, in swift succession shed, Falls on the holy pontiff's mitred head; While, to imbibe the sanctifying power, His outspread garments drink the crimson shower; Then on his back in reeking streams he lies, And laves in livid blood his lips and eyes; Bares every limb, exposes every pore, To catch the virtue of the streaming gore; With open mouth expects the falling flood, Moistens his palate and his tongue with blood; Extends his ears to meet the sanguine rain, Nor lets a single drop descend in vain. Then from the gloomy cave comes forth to light, Bathed in black blood, and horrible to sight! - By the vile torrent, and the victim slain, In the dark cavern cleansed from mortal stain, Their priest, enveloped in atoning gore, With trembling awe surrounding throngs adore." Prudentius was born about the middle of the fourth century, and was no doubt intimately acquainted with the circumstances he describes. Verse 27 And waved them for a wave-offering - See the nature of this and the heave-offering in the note on Exo 29:27 (note). Verse 30 And Moses took - the blood - and sprinkled it upon Aaron, etc. - Thus we find that the high priest himself must be sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice; and our blessed Lord, of whom Aaron was a type, was sprinkled with his own blood. 1. In his agony in the garden. 2. In his being crowned with thorns. 3. In the piercing of his hands and his feet. And, 4. In his side being pierced with the spear. All these were so many acts of atonement performed by the high priest. Verse 33 For seven days shall he consecrate you - This number was the number of perfection among the Hebrews; and the seven days' consecration implied a perfect and full consecration to the sacerdotal office. See Clarke's note on Exo 29:30 . Verse 36 So Aaron and his sons did - This chapter shows the exact fulfillment of the commands delivered to Moses, Exodus 29; and consequently the complete preparation of Aaron and his sons to fill the awfully important office of priests and mediators between God and Israel, to offer sacrifices and make atonement for the sins of the people. "Thus," says Mr. Ainsworth, "the covenant of the priesthood was confirmed unto the tribe of Levi in Aaron and his sons, which covenant was life and peace, Mal 2:5 . But these are made priests without an oath; also, there were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; and they served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, offering gifts and sacrifices which could not make him who did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience; for they were carnal ordinances imposed upon them till the time of reformation, that is, until the time of Christ, who was made a priest of God with an oath, and made surety of a better covenant established on better promises. And because he continueth for ever, he hath a priesthood which passeth not from one to another, and is a minister of the true tabernacle, which God pitched and not man. Not by the blood of bulls and of goats, but by his own blood, he entered once into the holy place, having found everlasting redemption for us; and is therefore able to save to the uttermost them who come unto God through him, as he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Taken in reference to his priesthood and sacrifice, all these rites and ceremonies are significant and edifying, but taken out of his relation, they would be as absurd and nugatory as the consecration of the Roman Pontifex Maximus, mentioned above by Prudentius. Introduction Aaron is commanded to offer, on the eighth day, a sin-offering and a burnt-offering, Lev 9:1 , Lev 9:2 . The people a

Consecration of Aaron and His Sons. ( b. c. 1490.) 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; 3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. 8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses. 10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. 11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. 12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. God had given Moses orders to consecrate Aaron and his sons to the priests' office, when he was with him the first time upon Mount Sinai, Exod. xxviii. and xxix. , where we have also the particular instructions he had how to do it. Now here we have, I. The orders repeated. What was there commanded to be done is here commanded to be done now, v. 2, 3 . The tabernacle was newly set up, which, without the priests, would be as a candlestick without a candle; the law concerning sacrifices was newly given, but could not be observed without priests; for, though Aaron and his sons had been nominated to the office, they could not officiate, till they were consecrated, which yet must not be done till the place of their ministration was prepared, and the ordinances were instituted, that they might apply themselves to work as soon as ever they were consecrated, and might know that they were ordained, not only to the honour and profit, but to the business of the priesthood. Aaron and his sons were near relations to Moses, and therefore he would not consecrate them till he had further orders, lest he should seem too forward to bring honour into his family. II. The congregation called together, at the door, that is, in the court of the tabernacle, v. 4 . The elders and principal men of the congregation, who represented the body of the people, were summoned to attend; for the court would hold but a few of the many thousands of Israel. It was done thus publicly, 1. Because it was a solemn transaction between God and Israel; the priests were to be ordained for men in things pertaining to God, for the maintaining of a settled correspondence, and the negotiating of all affairs between the people and God; and therefore it was fit that both sides should appear, to own the appointment, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 2. The spectators of the solemnity could not but be possessed, by the sight of it, with a great veneration for the priests and their office, which was necessary among a people so wretchedly prone as these were to envy and discontent. It was strange that any of those who were witnesses of what was here done should afterwards say, as some of them did, You take too much upon you, you sons of Levi; but what would they have said if it had been done clandestinely? Note, It is very fit, and of good use, that ministers should be ordained publicly, plebe praesente—in the presence of the common people, according to the usage of the primitive church. III. The commission read, v. 5 . Moses, who was God's representative in this solemnity, produced his orders before the congregation: This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. Though God had crowned him king in Jeshurun, when he made his face to shine in the sight of all Israel, yet he did not institute or appoint any thing in God's worship but what God himself had commanded. The priesthood he delivered to them was that which he had received from the Lord. Note, All that minister about holy things must have an eye to God's command as their rule and warrant; for it is only in the observance of this that they can expect to be owned and accepted of God. Thus we must be able to say, in all acts of religious worship, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. IV. The ceremony performed according to the divine ritual. 1. Aaron and his sons were washed with water ( v. 6 ), to signify that they ought now to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions and inclinations, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes to our God kings and priests ( Rev. i. 5, 6 ); and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb. x. 22 . Though they were ever so clean before and no filth was to be seen upon them, yet they must be washed, to signify their purification from sin, with which their souls were polluted, how clean soever their bodies were. 2. They were clothed with the holy garments, Aaron with his ( v. 7-9 ), which typified the dignity of Christ our great high priest, and his sons with theirs ( v. 13 ), which typified the decency of Christians, who are spiritual priests. Christ wears the breast-plate of judgment and the holy crown; for the church's high priest is her prophet and king. All believers are clothed with the robe of righteousness, and girt with the girdle of truth, resolution, and close application; and their heads are bound, as the word here is, with the bonnet or diadem of beauty, the beauty of holiness. 3. The high priest was anointed, and, it should seem, the holy things were anointed at the same time; some think that they were anointed before, but that the anointing of them is mentioned here because Aaron was anointed with the same oil with which they were anointed; but the manner of relating it here makes it more than probable that it was done at the same time, and that the seven days employed in consecrating the altar were coincident with the seven days of the priests' consecration. The tabernacle, and all its utensils, had some of the anointing oil put upon them with Moses's finger ( v. 10 ), so had the altar ( v. 11 ); these were to sanctify the gold and the gift ( Matt. xxiii. 17-19 ), and therefore must themselves be thus sanctified; but he poured it out more plentifully upon the head of Aaron ( v. 12 ), so that it ran down to the skirts of his garments, because his unction was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. Yet all believers also have received the anointing, which puts an indelible character upon them, 1 John ii. 27 .

All the congregation - The elders who represented all, and as many of the people as would, and could get thither, that all might be witnesses both of Aaron's commission from God, and of his work and business.