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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
8:1-10:20 The Establishment of the Priesthood. The book of Exodus ends with the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 35-40), and Leviticus 1-7 provides a manual for sacrifice in the tabernacle. Now ch. 8 records the installation of the priesthood, and ch. 9 describes the first services in the tabernacle. Chapter 10 records an occasion when priests did not obey the words and instructions of the Lord in matters of worship.
8:1-36 The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons. This chapter describes the rite of priestly ordination as a fulfillment of the commands given in Exodus 28-29. It is a highly structured narrative divided into seven parts by the phrase "as the Lord commanded" (Lev. 8:4, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36). The number seven often symbolizes completion in the OT, and in this chapter the sevenfold layout signifies that, by the end, the installation of the priests is fully done.
8:1-4 Aaron and his sons, along with their garments, will be consecrated by the offerings, oil, and unleavened bread. Nearly one-third of the uses of the term commanded (v. 4) in Leviticus can be found in ch. 8, pointing to the absolute command of the Lord and the complete loyalty of Moses. entrance of the tent of meeting. That is, the entrance to the screened-off courtyard.
8:5-9 Moses clothes Aaron and his sons with gorgeous garments, which not only cover their nakedness (Gen. 3:7; Ex. 20:26), but also represent the Lord's glory and beauty and the glorious task of mediating between the Lord and his people (Ex. 28:40). On Urim and Thummim, see note on Ex. 28:30.
8:10-13 God had commanded Moses to anoint the tabernacle and its utensils with oil (Ex. 30:22-33), to set apart these items for holy use.
8:14-17 Moses presents a sin offering on the altar for the purification of the priesthood and the altar.
8:18-21 Cf. Ex. 29:15-18 and Leviticus 1. Aaron and his sons dedicate themselves by offering a ram as a burnt offering. This animal, probably costlier than a goat (cf. 4:28 with 5:15, 18; 6:6), is in keeping with the greater responsibility that they bear before the Lord (see note on 4:1-21).
8:22-29 Cf. Ex. 22:19ff. The ritual relating to the second ram bears the nature of the peace offering. Whereas the first ram (Lev. 8:18-21) purified the altar and the priests in general, the second ram is for the sacrifice of installation. Placing its blood on the right extremities of the priests constitutes a form of merism, where the two extremities of the body stand for the whole person. Thus, it symbolizes total dedication and purification.
8:30 This is the second anointing with oil, and this time "sprinkling" of blood on Aaron and his garments is added. Since the latter rite is mostly performed on the tent and its utensils, Aaron and his sons are probably regarded as equivalent to those objects with regard to holiness and consecration.
8:31-36 This is a meal of covenant ratification. The ceremony symbolizes the bond between the Lord and his priesthood.
