Leviticus 8-9 | Sunday April 6, 2025

In chapter 8 and 9 it is finally time for the tabernacle to be used, the priest will be consecrated, and worship will begin. It is important to understand the anticipation and preparation that has gone before the ceremony we are going to study. God started instructing Israel how to build the tabernacle all the way back in Exodus 25-30. The contribution to collect the materials happened in Ex 35. Bezalel and Oholiab and the other craftsman started making all the elements of the tabernacle and the furniture in Ex 35-38. The high priests’ clothing was woven in Ex 39, then the Tabernacle was constructed in Ex 40. Then at the start of Leviticus God called out from the newly made tabernacle. He gave 5 chapters of instructions to the people about the various offerings; when they were to bring them and how. Then God gave 2 more chapters instructing the priests in how to administer these offerings. God has spent 19 chapters to instruct and prepare His people in how to worship Him through the tabernacle. After all this preparation, it is finally time for the tabernacle to be used. God’s presence will be with His people and they know how to worship Him.

Leviticus 8:1-9:24 ESV

(1)  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (2)  “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. (3)  And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (4)  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. (5)  And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded to be done.” (6)  And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. (7)  And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. (8)  And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. (9)  And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses. (10)  Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. (11)  And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. (12)  And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. (13)  And Moses brought Aaron's sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the LORD commanded Moses. (14)  Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. (15)  And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. (16)  And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. (17)  But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the LORD commanded Moses. (18)  Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. (19)  And he killed it, and Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. (20)  He cut the ram into pieces, and Moses burned the head and the pieces and the fat. (21)  He washed the entrails and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering for the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. (22)  Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. (23)  And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. (24)  Then he presented Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. (25)  Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, (26)  and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. (27)  And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD. (28)  Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. (29)  And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD. It was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, as the LORD commanded Moses. (30)  Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons' garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him. (31)  And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ (32)  And what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn up with fire. (33)  And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you. (34)  As has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. (35)  At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.” (36)  And Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded by Moses.

Leviticus 9

(1)  On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, (2)  and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. (3)  And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, (4)  and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.’” (5)  And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. (6)  And Moses said, “This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” (7)  Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.” (8)  So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. (9)  And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. (10)  But the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burned on the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. (11)  The flesh and the skin he burned up with fire outside the camp. (12)  Then he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. (13)  And they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. (14)  And he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar. (15)  Then he presented the people's offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering, like the first one. (16)  And he presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the rule. (17)  And he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. (18)  Then he killed the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. (19)  But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— (20)  they put the fat pieces on the breasts, and he burned the fat pieces on the altar, (21)  but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded. (22)  Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. (23)  And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. (24)  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

The last step needed for the tabernacle to be used was for the priest to be made ready and set apart for their ministry. The priests were to represent humanity to God. God gave very specific instructions of how they needed to prepare, so His presence could dwell with them. God gives them the list of all the need to gather to consecrate the priest. This was to happen in front of the whole congregation. This either means in front of the elders who represented all the people, or during the 7-day process all of Israel came by the tabernacle to see the priests. Ethier way God wanted this to be done out in the open, He wanted all to see that He chose Aaron and His sons. Noone could choose to be a priest, God had to appoint them.

Hebrews 5:4-5 ESV

(4)  And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
(5)  So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”;

Just as Aaron was selected by God Jesus was appointed to be the perfect High Priest. The priesthood was not man’s idea. God went to great lengths to set up this system. Nine times in chapter 8 and 9 it is emphasized that all of this was happening “as the LORD commanded.” He made every detail point forward to Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice and the perfect priest. He is giving us a context and a system to better understand who Jesus is and what He needed to accomplish.

Leviticus 8:6 ESV

(6)  And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

The first step was to wash or bath the priest. This points to an important part of salvation that takes place for every believer.

Titus 3:5-7 ESV

(5)  He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
(6)  whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7)  so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When God saves a person, He uses the Holy Spirit to wash that person clean. They are regenerated and renewed in the Holy Spirit. This is not a self-cleansing. Notice it is not by our own works of righteousness. This is not us cleansing ourselves or fixing ourselves so we can come to God. He is the one who baths us. Through Jesus we are washed clean. This is the once for all bath Jesus mentioned to Peter during the Lord’s supper (John 13:10). Once we believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit washes us clean. We do not need to keep trying to take a bath again. He accomplished it, we are secure in Him. Then once the priest was bathed, they now can be clothed.

Leviticus 8:7-9 ESV

(7)  And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band.
(8)  And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.
(9)  And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Every part of the clothing was intentional.

Exodus 28:36-37; 40 ESV

(36)  “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the LORD.’
(37)  And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban.
(40)  “For Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty.

This unique uniform was meant to be beautiful and glorious. Jim Henderson’s Sermons on Exodus 28 and 29 do a great job explaining the symbolism behind each article of clothing. The golden inscription on the front of His turban declared “Holy to the Lord” this was a high and special calling. As the High priest put all this on it was a constant reminder that He was set apart, and doing something Holy. All of this was to point to Jesus the true High Priest. In Luke 4:17-19 Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 and declares that He is the one who fulfills it.

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

(10)  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; My soul shall exult in My God, for He has clothed Me with the garments of salvation; He has covered Me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks Himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Jesus is the perfect High Priest and has been clothed in the garments of salvation. He has the beautiful headdress, He is the one who is truly Holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 8:10 ESV

(10)  Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.

God gave instructions for how to make the anointing oil in Exodus 30:23-25 and it showed that the tabernacle and the priest were set apart for service to God.

Psalm 133:1-2 ESV

(1)  A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
(2)  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

David is praising unity that brothers can have and compares it to the oil that ran down Aaron’s head and beard. This was a precious holy moment. The new beautiful garments had oil stains on them. The priest was set apart. The process did not stop here though.

Leviticus 8:23, 30 ESV

(23)  And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
(30)  Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons' garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him.

Moses took the blood of the ram of ordination and smeared some of it on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe of Aaron and His sons. The priest needed to have a spiritual ear to listen to the will of God, hands to do His will and feet that walked with Him. Then he also mixed the blood with the oil and sprinkled it onto their cloths. The priest garments were now stained with blood.

Hebrews 9:18; 21-22 ESV

(18)  Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
(21)  And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.
(22)  Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The anointing oil is so beautiful in comparison to the blood. Everything in that tabernacle, even the priest had to be sprinkled in blood. The horns on the Altar were even wiped with blood to make atonement for it (Lev 8:15). God wanted it to be very clear that the only way to approach Him, they only way to be in His presence was through blood. Without the shedding of blood sin cannot be forgiven! For Aaron this was just the start of the process it was going to continue for 7 days.

Leviticus 8:33-35 ESV

(33)  And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you.
(34) As has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. (35) At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.”

This was going to take seven days and Exodus 29:35-37 tells us every day they needed to offer another bull as a sin offering. I hope that the detail God required and what it took Aaron and His sons to be in God’s presence stands out. Each detail had to be followed perfectly or Aaron and His sons would die. We serve a holy God. Sin permeated Aaron, His sons, and us, deeper than we care to admit. Even after Seven days staying in the tabernacle with daily sacrifices notice what Aaron had to do on day 8.

Leviticus 9:1-4 ESV

(1)  On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel,
(2)  and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
(3)  And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering,
(4)  and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.’”

Earlier in this journey the people of Israel had Aaron make them a golden calf to worship. Now God was asking for many calves to be killed and offered to Him in worship. Man wanted to worship gold, something that was pretty, God demanded blood. Even after all these offerings Aaron needed to bring another. The blood of animals and the priesthood that was being set apart was inadequate to deal with sin.

Hebrews 7:11-12; 18-19; 25-28 ESV

(11)  Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
(12)  For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
(18)  For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
(19)  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
(25)  Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
(26)  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
(27)  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.
(28)  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

If Aaron and the priests that followed in his line were able to deal with sin, then there would be no need for any change. We would still bring our animals to pay for sin. The constant offerings showed the systems weaknesses. Nothing could be made perfect under the law. After 7 days of offerings and living in the court of the tabernacle Aaron still needed more animals to die. A better hope was introduced through Jesus. We can dwell in God’s presence through Him. He is the perfect High priest; He gave the offering once for all time. The priesthood showed man’s weakness and our need for a Son, Jesus Christ to be our perfect High Priest. It took eight days of offerings, anointing oil, blood so God could be with Isreal.

Leviticus 9:6; 23-24 ESV

(6)  And Moses said, “This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”
(23)  And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
(24)  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Israel fulfilled each part of the law that God asked and the glory of God appeared to the people. God sent fire from out of the Holy of Holies to consume the offerings on the Altar. It was God’s way of accepting their worship. God wants us to see what it takes to be in His holy presence. When we understand this, it gives us more of a love and appreciation for what Jesus has done.

Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV

(19)  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
(20)  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh,
(21)  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
(22)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with 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.

Eight days of ceremony and Israel caught a glimpse of fire. Through Jesus Christ’s death and His perfect offering of blood, we have access to the holy place. We can draw near to God. Our high priest is faithful. Our hope and confidence rests in Him and what He has done. Our Great High priest has given us access to God and made us priests!

Revelation 20:6 ESV

(6)  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.