Exodus 29

without blemish: This phrase uses the same Hebrew word that is translated blameless and perfect when referring to human and divine behavior (for example, Genesis 17:1; Psalm 18:30, 32).

The animal offered as a sacrifice had to be without physical flaws. This showed that the sacrifice represented God’s own character. It also showed the kind of character God desires in human beings.

Moses had to consecrate (or sanctify) Aaron and his sons to serve the Lord. The focus on making the priests holy appears throughout the ceremonies (29:6, 21, 28, 29, 34, 36, 37). God set them apart not only for service. But he set them apart to serve a God whose nature is very different from that of sinful humans. Leviticus 8 gives the account of how they followed these instructions.

wash them with water: This action showed an important truth. No one can live in God’s presence while carrying the filth of sin in their lives (29:21).

The washing did not remove sin by itself. It was a sign. It showed that people must be made clean before coming near to God.

The anointing oil empowered a person for a task through the Holy Spirit (see Isaiah 61:1).

• permanent: The fulfillment of this promise, like the one to King David, clearly extends beyond human limits. Aaron behaved badly (for example, chapter 32; Numbers 11). His sons and descendants were no better (1 Samuel 2:12–17; Isaiah 28:7; Ezekiel 8:15–16; Malachi 2:1–9). The promise could only find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 7:26; 9:11).

• to ordain (literally you will fill the hands of): This means to give a person a task to perform.

The consecration of Aaron's priesthood involved:

• a sin offering (29:10–14),

• a burnt offering (29:15–18), and

• an ordination offering (29:19–28).

These patterns were later used for the people's regular offerings (see 29:38–46; Leviticus 1–5). In each case, Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the heads of the sacrificial animals (Exodus 29:10, 15, 19). This act showed that sin is a matter of life and death. God will only remove sin by a death.

Because it represents life, blood was important in these ceremonies (29:12, 16, 20, 21).

The fat was considered the best part and so was given to God.

• The remains stood for what was unclean in human behavior. They symbolized actions and attitudes that were sinful or morally impure.

• sin offering: See Leviticus 4.

The next offering was a gift of thanks to God. It also represented fully dedicating oneself to God.

pleasing aroma: Such language is anthropomorphism, describing God with human terms and experiences. God’s delight in an appropriately offered sacrifice is like a human’s enjoyment of a pleasing smell.

This ordination offering is very similar to the peace offering, which is also called the fellowship offering (Leviticus 3).

In this offering, the fat was burned as a gift to the Lord. The breast and the thigh were first lifted up before the Lord as a sign that they belonged to him (29:24–26). After that, they became the portion for the priests to eat (29:26–28).

In a regular peace offering, the person who brought the sacrifice also ate part of the meat. This meal was a fellowship meal shared in God’s presence (Leviticus 7:11–18). In this case, the priests ate the meal as part of their ordination (Exodus 29:31–34).

The placing of the blood on the earlobes, thumbs, and big toes represented dedication of the entire person to God. Sprinkling it on their clothes indicated that the clothing, too, could be used only for holy purposes.

The son who succeeds him: Each high priest who came after him had to be ordained in the same way. Ordained means formally set apart and appointed for holy service.

This holy place was probably in the courtyard of the tabernacle.

Eating in the presence of the Lord showed a close relationship with him (as in 24:9–11).

atonement: Traditionally, atonement has often been explained as a “covering over.” This means that sin is covered so it no longer stands between God and people.

Some modern scholars connect the word to another Semitic root (a related word family from ancient Middle Eastern languages). That root does not appear elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. Based on that idea, they understand the word to mean “blot out,” “erase,” or “cleanse.”

In both views, the result is the same. The effects of sin are removed. Because of this, people and even sacred objects can remain in God’s presence without being destroyed.

As with the priests, the altar was to be made holy so it could be used in service of the holy God.

Offering the daily sacrifices was one of the chief functions of the priest.

The purpose of the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle), the priesthood, and the sacrificial system was to help people have fellowship with God. Fellowship means a close relationship. The Lord would meet with his people there (29:42, 43). He would live among them as their God (29:45, 46).

The purpose of the Exodus was to reveal the grace, power, and holiness of God and to enable humans to experience God’s presence in their lives.