Leviticus 8 explained: Aaron and His Sons Become Priests

The people gather (vv. 1-5)

The ceremony takes place in public, at the entrance to the tent where God met with Israel. Aaron was Moses' brother, so doing this openly likely helped show the priesthood came from God's command, not from family favoritism.

Washed and dressed (vv. 6-9)

Aaron and his sons were washed, marking a clean start for their new role. Aaron then received the high priest's clothes, including a chest piece holding the Urim and Thummim, objects used to seek God's decisions whose exact form is unknown.

Anointed with oil (vv. 10-13)

Moses anointed the tent and everything in it, sprinkled oil on the altar seven times, and poured oil on Aaron's head, setting each apart for God's use. Aaron's sons were then dressed in their own simpler priestly clothes.

Two first sacrifices (vv. 14-21)

The priests laid their hands on each animal, a gesture whose exact meaning scholars debate, though it seems to mark the animal as offered for them. The bull's blood purified the altar, and the ram was burned whole, which many interpreters read as a sign of complete dedication to God.

The ordination ram (vv. 22-29)

Blood was put on each priest's right ear, right thumb and right big toe, often understood as dedicating what they hear, what they do and where they go. Choice parts of the ram and bread were waved before God in their hands and then burned, while Moses kept the breast as his share.

Seven days at the tent (vv. 30-36)

Sprinkled with oil and blood, the priests ate the ordination meat and bread at the tent's entrance and had to stay there seven days, under warning of death if they failed. Christians later read this priesthood as pointing to Jesus, whom the New Testament calls the great high priest.

Key verse: Leviticus 8:30

Something to think about

What do you think a public ceremony, like a swearing in or a wedding, actually changes about a person stepping into a new role?