Here in chapter 29 we see the requirements for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests is given to Moses by God. Moses was 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.’ Then, take Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and ‘wash them in water.’ Next, he was 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 was to ordain Aaron and his sons for the priesthood (vv.1-9).
God then commanded Moses to take the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on it. He then slaughter the bull and put some of the blood on the ‘horns of the altar’ with his finger, and the remaining blood he was to pour at the base of the altar. The bull became a ‘sin offering’ and was completely consumed in fire. The fat was to be burned on the altar and the hide, flesh, and refuse is to be burned outside the camp (vv.10-25).
After the heave offering was made as commanded by God (vv.26-28), He 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 (vv.29-34). The ordination was to last seven days with a another bull offered each day as a sin offering and to purify the altar and consecrate (vv.35-37).
Next God gave a commandment for the continual twice daily offering of the Tabernacle (vv.38-42). 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 (bushel) of fine flour mixed with a fourth of a hin (5.5 quarts) of beaten oil and a fourth of a hin (5.5 quarts) of wine for a drink offering with one lamb. 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.
Finally, God Moses that by these things He will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar, as well as Aaron and his son as priests, and that He will dwell among the sons of Israel and be their God (vv.43-46).
Thanks be to God that we are under the new covenant, and blood sacrifices are no long needed to come near to God. Christ, the reality behind all these sacrifices, died for you and me. His shed blood (poured out at the base of the cross) cleansed us from all sin and replaced the need for any other sacrifices to be made. He has been ordained by God as our High Priest and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us day and night.
The Truth: “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11-14)
