The Ordination of Aaron And His Sons

Leviticus 8:1–17
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The Lord said to Moses (v. 1): Send for Aaron and his sons, as well as their priestly clothes for ordination, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and a basket of bread made without yeast (v. 2). Then bring the whole community of Israel together at the entrance to the sacred tent (v. 3). Moses obeyed the Lord, and when everyone had come together (v. 4), he said, “We are here to follow the Lord’s instructions (v. 5).” After Moses told Aaron and his sons to step forward, he had them wash themselves (v. 6). He put the priestly shirt and robe on Aaron and wrapped the sash around his waist (v. 7). Then he put the sacred vest on Aaron and fastened it with the finely woven belt. Next, he put on Aaron the sacred breast piece that was used in learning what the Lord wanted his people to do (v. 8). He placed the turban on Aaron’s head, and on the front of the turban was the narrow strip of thin gold as a sign of his dedication to the Lord (v. 9).

Moses then dedicated the sacred tent and everything in it to the Lord by sprinkling them with some of the oil for ordination (v. 10). He sprinkled the bronze altar seven times, and he sprinkled its equipment, as well as the large bronze bowl and its base (v. 11). He also poured some of the oil on Aaron’s head to dedicate him to the Lord (v. 12). Moses dressed Aaron’s sons in their shirts and tied sashes around them (v. 13).

Moses led out the bull that was to be sacrificed for sin (v. 14). After it was killed, Moses smeared some of it’s blood  on each of the four corners of the bronze altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the altar (v. 15). This purified the altar and made it a fit place for offering the sacrifice for sin. Moses then took the fat on the bull’s insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and sent them up in smoke on the altar fire (v. 16). Finally, he took the skin and the flesh of the bull, together with the food still in its stomach, and burned them outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded (v. 17).

Application

I am glad that I did not have to go though this ritual to be ordained by God to tell people about Jesus.