Exodus
28-29: “The Regulations For Building Of The Tabernacle: Part #3 (Priestly Garments &
Consecration)”
By
Jim Bomkamp
1.
INTRO:
1.1.
In our last study, we looked at chapters
26-27.
1.1.1. We looked at the construction of the curtains for the Tabernacle,
the boards for building the Tabernacle, the veil to separate the
1.1.2. We saw again how Jesus Christ was symbolized in all of
those things.
1.1.3. The Tabernacle would now be the place where all of the
sacrifices required in the Torah would be performed, including:
1.1.3.5.Heave offering.
1.1.3.6.Food and Drink Offerings.
1.1.3.7.The Red Heifer.
1.2.
In our study
today, we are going to look at chapters 28-29.
1.2.1. In this study, we are going to look at the regulations
for the garments for the high priest, then for the rest of the priests. Secondly, we will see the regulations for the
consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, as well as the consecration of
the altar and holy place.
1.2.2. The concept of the “priesthood” in the Bible
involves “fellowship” as the priest serves as a mediator in order to
maintain peace and fellowship between the Lord and His people. The priest does not establish the fellowship
but rather maintains it.
1.2.3. In our study today, we are going to focus upon the
regulations for the clothing of the high priest, and what we are going to see
is how that Jesus Christ is also represented in all of the details concerning
the high priest’s clothing and function.
This is because Jesus Christ is the anti-type to whom the priests pointed
as He is the “Great High Priest.”
The book of Hebrews which was written to encourage Jewish Christians to
continue to grow in the grace of God as Christians (and not just continue to
worship as a Jew) contains in it a major theme concerning the superiority of
the priesthood of Jesus Christ over the priesthood of the Jews, and here are
some of the things that are taught there concerning Jesus Christ’s superior
priesthood:
1.2.3.1.Jesus Christ was incarnated in human flesh not only so
that He might qualify as our kinsman redeemer in dying in our place, but also
so that through His human experience that He would become a merciful and
faithful high priest:
Hebrews
2:14-18: “14 Therefore, since the
children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the
same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of
death, that is, the devil, 15
and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all
their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not
give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore,
He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a
merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation
for the sins of the people. 18
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able
to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
1.2.3.2.Whereas human priests can empathize with those they
represent because they themselves are beset with weaknesses, Jesus Christ can
be effective because of His piety and holiness which causes Him to be heard by
the Father:
Hebrews
5:1-7: “1 For every high priest taken from
among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in
order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal
gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with
weakness; 3 and because of it he is
obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for
himself. 4 And no one takes the
honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as
Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not
glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten
You”; 6 just as He says also in
another passage, “You are a priest
forever According to the order of
Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of His flesh,
He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the
One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”
1.2.3.3.Jesus Christ has been designated by God to be a
priest according to the order of Melchizidek:
Hebrews
5:10: “10 being designated by God
as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews
7:11: “11 Now if perfection was
through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received
the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise
according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the
order of Aaron?”
1.2.3.4.Jesus Christ ever lives to make intercession for us
as our high priest:
Hebrews
7:20-25: “20 And inasmuch as it was
not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became
priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’ ”); 22
so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand,
existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from
continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other
hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those
who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
1.2.3.5.Because Jesus Christ is totally holy, righteous
(in other words He is perfect) He is the best possible high priest one could
ever have:
Hebrews
7:26-28: “26 For it was fitting for us
to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners
and exalted above the heavens; 27
who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices,
first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this
He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law
appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came
after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”
1.2.3.6.The Jewish high priests were a type of the pattern of
Jesus Christ’s priesthood, which is based upon a better covenant, promises,
and ministry:
Hebrews
8:1-6: “1 Now the main point in
what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken
His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both
gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have
something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth,
He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts
according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and
shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he
was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,”
He says, “that you make all things
according to the pattern which was shown
you on the mountain.” 6 But now He
has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator
of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”
1.2.3.7.Jesus Christ’s priesthood is greater because the
blood of the sacrifice is better (He became both the victim and the
officiator) as it provides for the cleansing of the conscience:
Hebrews
9:11-14: “11 But when Christ appeared as
a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this creation; 12 and not through the blood
of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once
for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of
a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of
the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?”
1.2.3.8.Jesus Christ’s priesthood is superior to the Jewish
priesthood because their many sacrifices which never do completely away with
sin are replaced by His one sacrifice for sins for all time, and that sacrifice
perfects those who are sanctified by it:
Hebrews
10:1-14: “1 For the Law, since it has
only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of
things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by
year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be
offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer
have had consciousness of sins? 3
But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and
goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes
into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and
offering You have not desired, But
a body You have prepared for Me; 6 In whole burnt offerings
and sacrifices
for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the
scroll of the book it is written of Me) To
do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them”
(which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold,
I have come to do Your will.” He
takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering
time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for
all time, sat down at the right hand of
God, 13 waiting from that time
onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.
14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those
who are sanctified.”
1.2.3.9.We have confidence to enter the holy place any time through the blood of Jesus, our great high
priest:
Hebrews
10:19-23: “19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter
the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for
us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the
house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water. 23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful.”
2.
VS 28:1-3 - “1
“Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him,
from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and
Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2 “You shall make holy garments for Aaron your
brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 “You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the
spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he
may minister as priest to Me.” - The Lord commands Moses to bring his brother
Aaron, and Aaron’s sons with him, to minister as priests to the Lord
2.1.
The Lord tells
Moses to bring his brother Aaron, and Aaron’s sons Nadab, Abihu and Eleazar to
‘minister as priest’ to Him.
2.2.
Next, the Lord
tells Moses to allocate ‘all the skillful persons’ whom the Lord has
given ‘the spirit of wisdom’ so that they can make the priestly garments
for Aaron, the one to be designated as high priest.
3.
VS 28:4-14 - “4
“These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod
and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall
make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister as
priest to Me. 5 “They shall take the gold
and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material and the fine linen.
6 “They shall also make the
ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine
twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman. 7 “It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its
two ends, that it may be joined. 8 “The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship,
of the same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and
fine twisted linen. 9 “You shall take two onyx
stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on the one stone and the names
of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth. 11 “As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave
the two stones according to the names of the sons of
3.1.1. Here are the items that the Lord required for the
construction of the garments and items of clothing for the high priests:
3.2.
The ‘ephod’
is to be made of fine twisted linen (the white designating his holiness)
interspersed with fibers of blue (designating the heavenly distinction
of Jesus Christ), purple (designating Jesus Christ’s royalty), gold
(designating Jesus Christ’s divinity), and scarlet (designating the
blood that He would shed for the sins of mankind).
3.3.
The names of the
tribes of
3.4.
The ‘ephod’
is to rest on the shoulders of the high priest and it is to contain an ‘onyx
stone’ on each shoulder, each of which is to have six of the names of the
tribes of
3.5.
The fact that the
names of each of the tribes is engraved on the stones which appear on the
shoulders of the ephod typifies the fact that the Lord bears each of us as
children upon His shoulders, and that He intends to carry our burdens for us,
as His word promises us:
3.5.1. Psalm 55:22: “22
Cast your burden upon the Lord
and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
3.5.2. Matthew 11:28-29:
“28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke
upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
3.6.
The onyx stones
were to be set in gold, and the ephod was to be connected via gold chains.
4.
VS 28:15-29 - “15
“You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman;
like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and
scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. 16 “It shall be square and folded double, a
span in length and a span in width. 17 “You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row
shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; 18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a
diamond; 19 and the third row a
jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they
shall be set in gold filigree. 21
“The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of
4.1.
Just like ephod,
the ‘breastpiece’ is to be made of fine twisted linen (the white
designating his holiness) interspersed with fibers of blue (designating
the heavenly distinction of Jesus Christ), purple (designating Jesus
Christ’s royalty), gold (designating Jesus Christ’s divinity), and scarlet
(designating the blood that He would shed for the sins of mankind).
4.2.
The ‘breastpiece’
is to have four rows of three precious stones placed in it, each set in gold,
and the stones are supposed to be: the first row (ruby,
topaz and emerald), the second row
(turquoise, sapphire and diamond), the third row (jacinth, agate and amethyst),
and the fourth row (beryl, onyx and jasper).
4.3.
Each of the
stones is to symbolize one of the tribes of
4.4.
Notice that it is
called the ‘breastpiece of judgment,’ and this is perhaps symbolic of
Jesus Christ going to Calvary to suffering and dying as our substitute and in
doing so having us over His heart.
4.5.
Notice that the
Lord has each of the tribes depicted as a “precious stone.” This depicts the great value that the Lord
has for us. In 1 Peter 2:4-5, Peter
calls each of us who are believers in Christ a “living stone” and says
that as such we are being built up into a “spiritual house” and this is
because we are a “holy priesthood” :
“4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected
by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as
a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
4.6.
This teaching of
each of us as God’s people being depicted as precious stones to the Lord aligns
with Jesus’ kingdom parable of the Pearl of Great Price in which a man gave
everything that He had for it. The
believer in Christ in that parable is the pearl of great price, I believe, and
it is Jesus Christ who gave His all for us.
4.7.
We believers in
Christ are also symbolized in the priest because we are all priests to God and
mediate in prayers and supplications for others, as we officiate in the
spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4.8.
The high priest’s
breastpiece and ephod are to be of one piece, being bound together by blue
cords.
5.
VS 28:30 - “30
“You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and
they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment
of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord
continually.” - The
requirement for placing the Urim and Thummim into the breastpiece is given
5.1.
Inside the
breastpiece is to kept the ‘Urim and the Thummim´ in a pouch. These are to also be kept ‘over Aaron’s heart’.
5.2.
It is interesting
that no where in the scriptures are the Urim and Thummim ever described, nor is
the details of their construction. In
fact, we can only speculate about what they consist of. We can see in several places in the
scriptures that the Urim and Thummim were used for determining the Lord’s will
and leading in situations. This has led
some to speculate that they might have been two stones of equal size and shape
and thus when the priest would reach into the breastpiece pouch and pull out a
stone, that one stone would indicate an affirmative answer and the other would
indicate a negative answer.
5.3.
We see many times
in the scriptures that when the leaders of the Jews needed to determine God’s
leading that they had to find the high priest, and this was so that the high
priest could determine God’s will based upon use of the Urim and Thummim. The Urim and Thummim symbolize in type for us
the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is wisdom and knowledge to us as His
people:
5.3.1. Colossians 2:1-9:
“1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on
your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not
personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be
encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the
wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in
a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one
will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless
I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability
of your faith in Christ. 6 Therefore as you have
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being
built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and
overflowing with gratitude. 8
See to it that no one takes you
captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of
men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according
to Christ. 9 For in Him
all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”
5.3.2. 1 Corinthians 1:30:
“30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to
us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”.
6.
VS 28:31-35 - “31
“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 “There shall be an opening at its top in the
middle of it; around its opening there shall be a binding of woven work, as
like the opening of a coat of mail, so that it will not be torn. 33 “You shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue
and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of
gold between them all around: 34
a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all
around on the hem of the robe. 35
“It shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling shall be heard
when he enters and leaves the holy place before the Lord, so that he will not die.”
- The Lord gives the commandment
for constructing the robe of the ephod and gold bells and pomegranates on the
hem of the robe
6.1.
The ‘robe of
the ephod’ is to be made of ‘blue’ which symbolizes that Jesus
Christ as the great high priest has His priesthood in heaven.
6.2.
All around on the
hem of the robe of the ephod is to be ‘pomegranates of blue and purple and
scarlet’ as well as ‘golden bells.’
6.3.
The Lord tells
Moses that the bells on the hem of the high priest’s robe will ring and thus ‘he
will not die.’ The bells ringing may
have sounded like wind chimes. It may be
the case that the Lord wanted the priest to always be making the sound of the
bells ringing while in the holy place because this is symbolic of the praise
and worship that should always be in God’s house. The scripture tells us to continually offer
up a sacrifice of praise through Jesus Christ, and in the Old Testament we read
that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
7.
VS 28:36-38 - “36
“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the
engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the Lord.’
37 “You shall fasten it on a
blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the
turban. 38 “It shall be on Aaron’s
forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the
sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall
always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.”
- The Lord gives the requirement
for the construction of the turban that the high priest is to wear
7.1.
The requirements
for constructing the turban that the high priest is to wear is given. Here we see that there is to on the priests
forehead a ‘plate of pure gold’ on which is engraved as a seal with the words: ‘Holy to the Lord.’ This indicates the dedication (or
sanctification) of the priest to the Lord and His work.
7.2.
The turban is to
be held on by ‘a blue cord.’
8.
VS 28:39 - “39
“You shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and shall make
a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of a weaver.” - The
requirements for the construction of the high priest’s tunic and sash are given
8.1.
The undergarment
‘tunic’ is to be constructed of ‘fine linen’ and therefore is the
color of white, and this color symbolizes Jesus Christ as the great high
priest who is totally holy and righteous.
8.2.
The turban as
well as the a sash for the tunic is to be made of ‘fine linen.’
9.
VS 28:40-43 - “40
“For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics; you shall also make sashes for
them, and you shall make caps for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 “You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on
his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate
them, that they may serve Me as priests. 42 “You shall make for them linen breeches to cover their
bare flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs. 43 “They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they
enter the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the
holy place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. It shall be a
statute forever to him and to his descendants after him.” - The requirements
for the clothing of the rest of the priests from Aaron’s family are given
9.1.
Here we see that
Aaron’s sons, when the perform as priests, are to wear tunics made of linen.
9.2.
Aaron’s sons are
to also wear ‘caps’ to cover their heads when they minister.
9.3.
The Lord warns
Moses that if the priests approach the Tabernacle to minister and they are not
clothed in these things that they will ‘incur guilt’ and may ‘die.’
10.
VS 29:1-9 - “1
“Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them to minister as
priests to Me: take one young bull and two rams without blemish, 2 and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed
with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; you shall make them of fine
wheat flour. 3 “You shall put them in
one basket, and present them in the basket along with the bull and the two
rams. 4 “Then you shall bring
Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with
water. 5 “You shall take the
garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod and the ephod
and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; 6 and you shall set the turban on his head and put
the holy crown on the turban. 7
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint
him. 8 “You shall bring his sons
and put tunics on them. 9 “You shall gird them with
sashes, Aaron and his sons, and bind caps on them, and they shall have the
priesthood by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.” - The
requirements for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests is given to
Moses, and it involves washing with water, putting the priestly garments on
Aaron (as high priest) and his sons, and anointing Anoint Aaron with oil
10.1.
Here the
requirements for consecrating the priests are given. Moses is to ‘take one young bull and two
rams without blemish, and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed with oil,
and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and make them of fine wheat flour.’
10.2.
Then, Moses is to
take Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and ‘wash them
in water.’ Next, Moses is to take
the high priestly garments and put them on Aaron, ‘take the anointing oil
and pour it on his head’ anointing him, then Moses is to bring Aaron’s sons
and put their priestly clothing on them.
Thus, Moses is to ordain Aaron and his sons for the priesthood.
11.
VS 29:10-25 - “10
“Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and
his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 11 “You shall slaughter the bull before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of
meeting. 12 “You shall take some of
the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your
finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar. 13 “You shall take all the fat that covers the
entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on
them, and offer them up in smoke on the altar. 14 “But the flesh of the bull and its hide and its
refuse, you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering. 15 “You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and
his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram; 16 and you shall slaughter the ram and shall take its
blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17 “Then you shall cut the ram into its pieces, and
wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its
head. 18 “You shall offer up in
smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the Lord: it is a soothing aroma, an
offering by fire to the Lord. 19 “Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and
his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 20 “You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its
blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the lobes of
his sons’ right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes
of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood around on the
altar. 21 “Then you shall take some
of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it
on Aaron and on his garments and on his sons and on his sons’ garments with
him; so he and his garments shall be consecrated, as well as his sons and his
sons’ garments with him. 22 “You shall also take the
fat from the ram and the fat tail, and the fat that covers the entrails and the
lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them and the
right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination), 23 and one cake of bread and one cake of bread mixed
with oil and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread which is set before
the Lord; 24 and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron
and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them as a wave offering before the
Lord. 25 “You shall take them from their hands, and offer
them up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering for a soothing aroma before
the Lord; it is an offering by
fire to the Lord.” - The Lord commands that Aaron and his sons
make a blood sacrifice and be anointed with the blood of the sacrifice
11.1.
Next, Moses is to
take the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay
their hands on it. They shall slaughter
the bull at that time, then some of the blood is to be put on the ‘horns of
the altar’ with his finger, and the blood is to then be poured at the base
of the altar. The bull is a ‘sin
offering’ and thus is completely consumed in fire. The fat is to be burned on the altar and the
hide, flesh, and refuse is to be burned outside the camp. We know from scripture that the burning of
the animal with fire outside of the camp symbolizes the fact that Jesus Christ
suffered outside of
11.2.
Some of the oil
and the blood of the first ram that is to be slaughtered is to be sprinkled
around on the altar. This ram is a ‘burnt
offering’ and therefore it is to be completely consumed upon the altar.
11.3.
Aaron and his
sons are to lay hands on the second ram and the slaughter it, and then they are
to put its blood on the right ear, thumb, and big toe of Aaron and his
sons. Some of the blood is to be poured
around on the altar. Then, some of the
blood along with some of the anointing oil is to be sprinkled on Aaron and his
garments and on his sons and their garments.
Thus, Aaron and his sons, and their priestly garments, will be
consecrated to the Lord.
11.4.
Next, a cake of
bread and another cake of bread mixed with oil, and a wafer from the basket of
unleavened bread, shall be put in the hands of Aaron and his sons and they
shall offer them as ‘a wave offering’ before the Lord. Then, they are to offer those cakes upon the
altar as a ‘burnt offering for a soothing aroma before the Lord.’
12.
VS 29:26-28 - “26
“Then you shall take the breast of Aaron’s ram of ordination, and wave it
as a wave offering before the Lord;
and it shall be your portion. 27
“You shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the
heave offering which was waved and which was offered from the ram of
ordination, from the one which was for Aaron and from the one which was for his
sons. 28 “It shall be for Aaron
and his sons as their portion forever from the sons of Israel, for it is
a heave offering; and it shall be a heave offering from the sons of Israel from
the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their heave offering to
the Lord.” - The Lord commands that they make a wave
offering before the Lord as part of the consecration of Aaron and his sons as
priests
12.1.
The Lord tells
Moses that the breast of Aaron’s ram of ordination (the second ram) shall be
for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever, for it is a ‘heave offering.’
12.2.
Aaron and his
sons could then eat the thigh and breast of this second ram.
13.
VS 29:29-34 - “29
“The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them
they may be anointed and ordained. 30 “For seven days the one of his sons who is priest in his
stead shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the
holy place. 31 “You shall take the ram
of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. 32 “Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram
and the bread that is in the basket, at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 33 “Thus they shall eat those things by which
atonement was made at their ordination and consecration; but a layman
shall not eat them, because they are holy. 34 “If any of the flesh of ordination or any of the
bread remains until morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire; it
shall not be eaten, because it is holy.” - The Lord tells Moses that the holy garments
are to be worn for seven days by one of Aaron’s sons when he enters the tent of
meeting to minister, and that he shall take a ram of ordination and boil its
flesh in a holy place and Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram
13.1.
The Lord forbids
a layman from eating the things by which atonement was made for the priests
ordination and consecration.
13.2.
The Lord says
that if any of the flesh of the ordination remains until morning that it must
be burned because it is holy.
14.
VS 29:35-37 - “35
“Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have
commanded you; you shall ordain them through seven days. 36 “Each day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering
for atonement, and you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it,
and you shall anoint it to consecrate it. 37 “For seven days you shall make atonement for the
altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever
touches the altar shall be holy.” - The
ordination is to last seven days with a another bull offered each day as a sin
offering and to purify the altar and consecrate
15.
VS 29:38-42 - “38
“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each
day, continuously. 39 “The one lamb you shall
offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 40 and there shall be one-tenth of an ephah
of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth
of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb. 41 “The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and
shall offer with it the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in
the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord. 42 “It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout
your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to
speak to you there.”
- The Lord gives commandment for the
continual twice daily offering of the Tabernacle
15.1.
Day after day,
the Tabernacle altar is to have a morning and a twilight offering of a one year
old lamb. Likewise, there shall be a
tenth of a ephah of fine flour mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil and a
fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb.
15.2.
This offering is
to be completed daily throughout their generations, and it is to be made at the
doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where He will meet with them
and speak to them.
16.
VS 29:43-46 - “43
“I will meet there with the sons of
16.1.
The Lord tells Moses
that the Israelites will know that He is the Lord who brought them out of the
16.2.
The Lord also
promises that He will dwell among the Israelites and be the Lord their God.
17.
CONCLUSION:
17.1.
Since we have such
a high priest as Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, let us draw near to God
in full assurance of faith knowing that He will empathize with us and provide
all that we need.
17.2.
Hebrews
4:16: “16 Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.”