The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

81 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2 'Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bullock of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened things, 3 and all the company assemble thou unto the opening of the tent of meeting.' 4 And Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded him, and the company is assembled unto the opening of the tent of meeting, 5 and Moses saith unto the company, 'This 'is' the thing which Jehovah hath commanded to do.' 6 And Moses bringeth near Aaron and his sons, and doth bathe them with water, 7 and doth put on him the coat, and doth gird him with the girdle, and doth clothe him with the upper robe, and doth put on him the ephod, and doth gird him with the girdle of the ephod, and doth bind 'it' to him with it, 8 and doth put on him the breastplate, and doth put unto the breastplate the Lights and the Perfections, 9 and doth put the mitre on his head, and doth put on the mitre, over-against its front, the golden flower of the holy crown, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 10 And Moses taketh the anointing oil, and anointeth the tabernacle, and all that 'is' in it, and sanctifieth them; 11 and he sprinkleth of it on the altar seven times, and anointeth the altar, and all its vessels, and the laver, and its base, to sanctify them; 12 and he poureth of the anointing oil on the head of Aaron, and anointeth him to sanctify him. 13 And Moses bringeth near the sons of Aaron, and doth clothe them 'with' coats, and girdeth them 'with' girdles, and bindeth for them turbans, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

14 And he bringeth nigh the bullock of the sin-offering, and Aaron layeth—his sons also—their hands on the head of the bullock of the sin-offering, 15 and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses taketh the blood, and putteth on the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and cleanseth the altar, and the blood he hath poured out at the foundation of the altar, and sanctifieth it, to make atonement upon it. 16 And he taketh all the fat that 'is' on the inwards, and the redundance above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses maketh Perfume on the altar, 17 and the bullock, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, he hath burnt with fire, at the outside of the camp, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 18 And he bringeth near the ram of the burnt-offering, and Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the head of the ram, 19 and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about; 20 and the ram he hath cut into its pieces, and Moses maketh perfume with the head, and the pieces, and the fat, 21 and the inwards and the legs he hath washed with water, and Moses maketh perfume with the whole ram on the altar; it 'is' a burnt-offering, for sweet fragrance; it 'is' a fire-offering to Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 22 And he bringeth near the second ram, a ram of the consecrations, and Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the head of the ram, 23 and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses taketh of its blood, and putteth on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot; 24 and he bringeth near the sons of Aaron, and Moses putteth of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot. And Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about, 25 and taketh the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that 'is' on the inwards, and the redundance above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right leg; 26 and out of the basket of unleavened things, which 'is' before Jehovah, he hath taken one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one thin cake, and putteth 'them' on the fat, and on the right leg; 27 and putteth the whole on the hands of Aaron, and on the hands of his sons, and waveth them—a wave-offering before Jehovah. 28 And Moses taketh them from off their hands, and maketh perfume on the altar, on the burnt-offering, they 'are' consecrations for sweet fragrance; it 'is' a fire-offering to Jehovah; 29 and Moses taketh the breast, and waveth it—a wave-offering before Jehovah; of the ram of the consecrations it hath been to Moses for a portion, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 30 And Moses taketh of the anointing oil, and of the blood which 'is' on the altar, and sprinkleth on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him, and he sanctifieth Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 8:1-30

Commentary on Leviticus 8:1-13

(Read Leviticus 8:1-13)

The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, Hebrews 10:22. The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.

Commentary on Leviticus 8:14-36

(Read Leviticus 8:14-36)

In these types we see our great High Priest, even Christ Jesus, solemnly appointed, anointed, and invested with his sacred office, by his own blood, and the influences of his Holy Spirit. He sanctifies the ordinances of religion, to the benefit of his people and the honour of God the Father; who for his sake accepts our worship, though it is polluted with sin. We may also rejoice, that he is a merciful and faithful High Priest, full of compassion to the feeble-minded and tempest-tossed soul. All true Christians are consecrated to be spiritual priests. We should seriously ask ourselves, whether in our daily walk we study to maintain this character? and abound in spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Christ? If so, still there is no cause for boasting. Let us not despise our fellow-sinners; but remembering what we have done, and how we are saved, let us seek and pray for their salvation.