Exodus 29
Consecrating the Priests
Blood
It has often been used as a tool of horror. People faint at the sight of it, are repulsed by it, and even get squeamish at the discussion of it. Perhaps it is because, as God said in Genesis, the life is in the blood. Therefore, the sight of blood is the first indicator that someone or something has lost that which is necessary for life.
However, as understandable as the reactions people have to the sight and discussion of blood may be, the Scriptures tell us understanding how God sees blood is very important. Consider what is said in the New Testament concerning our time of study in Exodus:
“And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” - Hebrews 9:21-22
As the writer of the book of Hebrews notes, under the Law of Moses, almost everything was purified with blood. Exodus 29 is one of those passages that illustrates this in detail. While the actions themselves are not discussed here, the commands for what is to be done certainly is.
Blood is going to be used everywhere throughout this chapter. The altar, the priests, all of them are going to be touched with the blood of bulls and goats. One of the primary jobs discussed for the priests will be an offering of lambs in the morning and evening.
While we might find this repulsive, it should illustrate to us two layers of thought. The first is the impact of sin. Without the bringing of sin into the world, the shedding of blood would not have been necessary for atonement.
The second is the blessing of Jesus. A few verses further in Hebrews 9 the writer states: “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (26-28)
As you study Exodus 29, be reminded of how grateful we should be for the sacrifice of Christ. It is only because of that sacrifice that we no longer have to live with the expectations of worship before God to include the practices discussed below.
Exodus 29
The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons. (Vs. 1-9)
The items for the consecration ceremony. (Vs. 1-2)
One bull of the herd.
Two rams without blemish.
Unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil - all made with fine wheat flour.
The unleavened items are to be placed in a basket and brought to the entrance of the tabernacle along with the animals. (Vs. 3)
How Aaron and his sons are to prepare for the ceremony. (Vs. 4-9)
They are to be brought to the door of the tabernacle and washed with water. (Vs. 4)
The high priests’ garments are to be placed on Aaron. (Vs. 5-6)
The coat.
The robe.
The ephod.
The breastplate.
The turban.
Anointing oil is to be poured on Aaron’s head. (Vs. 7)
Aaron’s sons will have their coats placed on them. (Vs. 8)
Finally, the sashes and caps will be placed on them. The ordination is complete. (Vs. 9)
Orders Concerning the Sin Offering. (Vs. 10-14)
The first acts the new priests will undertake is the offering of sacrifices.
The bull will be offered as a sin offering.
Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the head of the bull. (Vs. 10)
The bull is to be killed at the entrance of the tabernacle. (Vs. 11)
Some of the blood of the bull is to be placed on the horns of the altar, while the rest of the blood is to be poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. (Vs. 12)
Only the fat that covers the entrails, the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys are to be burned on the altar, the rest of the bull (including its skin and dung) is to be burned outside the camp. (Vs. 13-14)
Orders Concerning the Burnt Offering. (Vs. 15-18)
One of the rams is going to be taken, with Aaron and his sons laying their hands on the head like was done with the bull. (Vs. 15)
The ram is to be killed, and its blood thrown against the sides of the altar. (Vs. 16)
It is then to be cut into pieces, its entrails and legs washed and placed with all the pieces and head upon the altar - the entire ram is to be burned. (Vs. 17-18)
This is a burnt offering to the Lord - which the Lord describes as a pleasing aroma.
Orders for the Other Ram. (Vs. 19-28)
The other ram is to be taken, hands laid on it, and killed as with the previous ram. (Vs. 19)
Part of its blood is to be put on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot. Then, it is to be touched to the same place on his sons. (Vs. 20)
The rest of the blood is to be thrown against the sides of the altar. (Vs. 20)
From the blood on the altar, some is to be taken with the anointing oil and sprinkled on Aaron, his sons, and their garments - they will be holy. (Vs. 21)
The fat from the ram, the long lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat, the right thigh, one loaf of the unleavened bread, one cake, and one wafer are to be placed on the palms of Aaron and his sons and waved as a wave offering before the lord before being burned on the altar on top of the burnt offering. (vs. 22-25)
The breast of the ram will be waved before the Lord, and it will be Aaron and his sons’ portion of the sacrifice. (Vs. 26-28)
This would be the portion, from this point forward, that the priests are to take as the contribution to the priests.
This is the peace offering before the Lord.
Seven Days of Ordination. (Vs. 29-37)
The garments Aaron wears will be for his sons after him. (Vs. 29-30)
They will be anointed and ordained in them.
The son who succeeds him to minister in the holy place will wear them for seven days.
The flesh of the ram of ordination (the second ram) is to be boiled in a holy place (notice, not THE holy place - this is a place set aside for this purpose). (Vs. 31)
Aaron and his sons are to eat of the boiled flesh, as well as the rest of the bread in the basket at the entrance of the tabernacle. (Vs. 32)
Nobody else is to eat of these items because they are holy. (Vs. 33)
If any of the flesh or bread is remaining the next morning, it is to be burned and not eaten. (Vs. 34)
This is going to be done every day for seven days to consecrate Aaron, his sons, and the altar. (Vs. 35-37)
A bull is to be offered each day as a sin offering.
The altar is to be purified.
Whatever touches the altar (to be offered upon it) shall become holy, thereby not being used for another purpose.
The Offerings on the Altar. (Vs. 38-46)
The priests will be responsible for offering two lambs of a year old every day. (Vs. 38-41)
One lamb is to be offered in the morning with a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. (Vs. 40)
The other lamb is to be offered at twilight with a grain offering and drink offering. (Vs. 41)
This is to be the regular burnt offering schedule at the entrance of the tabernacle before the Lord. (Vs. 42)
The Lord says He will meet with the people there at the entrance of the tabernacle. (Vs. 43-44)
The tabernacle would be sanctified by His glory.
The tabernacle, the altar, Aaron, and his sons will be consecrated.
Finally, the Lord says He will dwell among Israel and be their God. (Vs. 45-46)