Leviticus 8 Study Notes

8:1-2 Take Aaron begins the installation service that was prescribed in Ex 29. Just as Aaron was a mediator for the nation, Israel was to function as priest to the nations (Ex 19:5-6). Christians serve as witnesses to the priesthood of the perfect high priest, Jesus (Heb 7:1-28; 1Pt 2:5,9).

8:3-5 The service was a public installation to assure the community of the legitimacy of the Aaronic priesthood.

8:6 Aaron underwent a ceremonial washing to show the moral purity required of priests (1Pt 3:21).

8:7-9 The outfitting of the priests in sacred garments gave them “glory and beauty” in the eyes of the congregation (Ex 28:2,40). Although the brightly colored garments symbolized the mediation of the nation in the presence of the Lord, the priesthood of Jesus is not accompanied by a dress code; his mediation is in his personhood as the perfect God-man who reigns with the Father (1Tm 2:5-6; Heb 1:4; 4:14; 6:20).

8:10-13 The holiness of God demanded a consecration of the place, items, and persons who ministered before him. This was satisfied by Christ through his perfect offering and as the perfect offerer (Heb 7:26; 9:11-12). Christians are anointed by a spiritual anointing (2Co 1:21-22; 1Jn 2:20). All its utensils refers to the items that enabled the carrying out of the offerings, such as forks, firepans, and the tabernacle furniture (Ex 27:3).

8:14-17 The priests made atonement for their own sins before they could mediate for the people. The death of an animal was necessary, but this could not take away the sins of the people (Heb 5:3; 9:22; 10:4). The death of Jesus Christ alone achieved complete atonement (2Co 5:21; Col 1:20). The high priest Jesus had no need to make atonement for his own sins since he was without sin (Heb 4:15; 5:9-10; 7:26-27; 10:11-12).

8:18-21 The complete incineration of the ram indicated the total dedication of the priests to the Lord’s service.

8:22-30 The application of the blood from the ram of ordination to the priests’ extremities symbolized the total cleansing of the priests. The ear indicated hearing the confessions of the people, the hand represented the touching and handling of the offerings, and the foot represented the holy courtyard and tent in which they served.

8:25-29 Moses placed the unleavened bread in the hands of Aaron and his sons to lift it up as a gesture of presentation to the Lord. Moses retrieved the presentation offering and burned it on the altar that was still smoking from the incineration of the first ram offering. As the officiating priest, Moses took the breast for himself and made it his presentation offering (7:31).

8:30 The Hebrew term for consecrated (qaddesh) refers to select persons, places, or things that were designated exclusively for the Lord’s service (Ex 29:21; Heb 10:22). The public nature of this rite gave the congregation confidence in the effectiveness of the Aaronic household. Christians can have greater confidence in their acceptance by the Lord through Jesus Christ (Eph 3:12).

8:31-32 The ordination meal was also public and was consumed by the priests to indicate the divine approval of their offerings and to symbolize their fellowship with the Lord. To avoid any polluting effect and to prevent its consumption by an unlawful person, the remainder of the meal was burned up on the same day (7:15).

8:33-36 The number seven symbolized the completion of the ritual’s purpose. Since the ordination rite was about consecration, the priests could not leave the sacred grounds during the ordination week. Although the priests enjoyed the privileges of service, the gravity of their responsibility put them at risk if they offended the holiness of God (10:1-2; 1Sm 2:12-17). Christian leaders, whether lay or clergy, have a special accountability before the Lord and the church (1Tm 1:7; 4:14-16; 2Tm 1:6; Jms 3:1).