The Priests Begin Their Ministry
Leviticus 9: 1-24

The priests begin their ministry DIG: What function is served by the various offerings in this service? Why do you think the sacrifice for Aaron’s sin was made before the sacrifice for the people’s sin? What is the significance of the fiery grand finale? What does that say about Aaron’s role in the process of restoring the people to a right relationship with God?

REFLECT: Do you think you can be your own high priest, offering sacrifices and dispensing with your pastor all together? Why or why not? Hebrews 7:11-28 tells us that Jesus is now our High Priest. How does that affect your spiritual journey?

On the eighth day the official priestly ministry began. The rabbis teach that the preceding week of the priestly dedication began on the twenty-third day of the twelfth month so that this eighth day was identical with the first day of the first month mentioned in 40:2 and 17 when the Tabernacle was erected. Up to this time, Moses functioned as the high priest, but now the priesthood will fall to Aaron and his sons. The elders of Isra’el served as witnesses to the inauguration. Moses then functioned as a prophet, because he had not written down the instructions yet. So Aaron immediately began his priestly duties by sacrificing a young bull calf without defect for his sin offering and a ram without defect for his burnt offering (Leviticus 9:1-2). The rabbis teach that because Aaron sacrificed a bull calf, God had forgiven him for the golden calf incident.

When the Tabernacle was erected, each of the twelve tribal leaders brought offerings for the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:10-88). On the first day, every kind of sacrifice was offered except for a guilt offering that was intended for specific offenses, which at this point had not been committed. In addition, on the first day most kinds of animals were sacrificed except for birds, because it did not involve those who were poor. The order of their gifts corresponded exactly with the arrangement of the tribes encamped around the Tabernacle.⁶⁴⁹

First Aaron began his ministry by slaughtering a bull calf for his own sin offering. His sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the bronze altar. In the future, that would normally be done on the altar of incense (Leviticus 4:7). But at this point no one had entered into the holy place and defiled it, so it did not need cleansing. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the bronze altar. On the bronze altar he burned the fat, the kidneys and the covering of the liver from the sin offering, as God commanded. The flesh and the hide were burned up outside the camp. Normally the priests ate the meat of the sin offering, but because this was a special occasion, normal rules did not apply (Leviticus 9:8-11).

Then Aaron slaughtered a burnt offering for himself. His sons handed him the blood, and he sprinkled it against the bronze altar on all sides. They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head. He washed the inner parts and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar (Leviticus 9:12-14).

Afterwards there was an offering made for the people. Aaron sacrificed a male goat for a sin offering. That was for their sin nature. Then brought the burnt offering, a calf and a lamb – both a year old and without defect – and offered it in the prescribed way. Then he slaughtered an ox and a ram for a peace offering, and waved the breasts and the right thigh before God as a wave offering. Then a grain offering mixed with oil was offered. He took a handful of the grain offering and burned it on the altar, in addition to the morning’s burnt offering. Aaron and his sons took the sacrifices that Moses commanded to the front of the Tabernacle, and the elders of Isra’el came near and stood before God (Leviticus 9:3-7, 15-21).

The dedication process concludes with the official acceptance by ADONAI. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people and blessed them. The actual content of the blessing is not stated, but it may have been the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. ADONAI bless you and keep you; ADONAI make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; ADONAI turn His face toward you and give you peace.

And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the peace offering, he stepped down. Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle together. When they came out, the Sh’khinah glory appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of ADONAI and totally consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the bronze altar. On that day, the Sh’khinah glory appeared to authenticate the Levitical priesthood. Always a visible manifestation of the presence of God, that day the invisible God become visible to them. God showed His acceptance of an offering in the same exact dramatic way three more times (Judges 13:15-20; Second Chronicles 7:1-3). And when all the elders of Isra’el saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown (Leviticus 9:22-24).

Whenever you see the people of God near His throne or His presence in the Bible they always fall facedown (Genesis 17:3; Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 20:6; Joshua 5:14; Ezeki’el 1:28, 3:23, 44:4; Revelation 7:11, 11:16). What attitude does that suggest? How should our heart attitude be when we approach the throne of grace? When was the last time that you fell face down in worship of the LORD?

Take the Ram for the Dedication
and Cook the Meat in a Sacred Place
Exodus 29:31-34 and Leviticus 8:31-32

Take the ram for the dedication and cook the meat in a sacred place DIG: Why were the priests the only ones who could eat the meal? Why couldn’t any of the food be eaten the next day? What kind of offering was it? What did the meal symbolize? What meal do believers celebrate today ratifies a New Covenant?

REFLECT: What do you do to dedicate yourself for God’s work, either daily, annually or once-for-all? What part does ritual play in that? Does ritual draw you closer to God, or does it hinder your ability to feel His presence? How? Why?

At the conclusion of the seven-day dedication ceremony, the participants shared a sacrificial meal together. It was a covenant meal and ratified a pact, in this case the Levitical priesthood, in order to celebrate a new relationship between God and His people. Central to this meal was the food that had been sacrificed at the bronze altar.

What was left of the second ram was to be cooked for the priests to eat at the gate of the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons ate the sacrificial meal. They ate only the meat of the second ram and the bread that was left over in the basket, the offerings that set them apart at their dedication. But no one else was to eat them, because they were sacred. And if any of the meat of the second ram or any of the bread was left over till morning, it was burned up. It could not be eaten, because it was too sacred to be eaten at other times. This law was the same as the one given at the Passover (12:10).

The second ram was a peace offering (to see link click Fg – The Peace Offering). A blood offering, in this case the ram, always preceded the peace offering, because the basis of peace between mankind and God is always a blood sacrifice. Of the three different types of peace offerings, this was the thanksgiving offering, because it was an expression of thankfulness. Along with the thank offering, cakes of bread made without yeast (to point to sinlessness and purity) were eaten by Aaron and his sons. This meal symbolized their peace with God during the time of the meal. But very shortly, their sin nature would demand another sacrifice.

The Seder in the New Covenant is a meal of celebration. Jesus proclaims that this cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:20 CJB). It is modeled after the Passover meal of the TaNaKh, which was also a covenant meal of celebration. Whenever believers partake in the Seder, they are sharing in such a meal of joy because they are in a New Covenant relationship with Messiah.

John G. Patton, who was a missionary to the cannibals in the New Hebrides in the middle of the nineteenth century, tells the story of the first communion held on one of the islands. He said, “For three years we had worked and prayed for their souls. At the moment when I put the bread and wine into those dark hands, once stained with the blood of cannibalism but now stretched out to receive and partake of the Lord’s love, I had a foretaste of the joy of glory that almost broke my heart into pieces. I don’t think I will ever taste a deeper bliss until I gaze at the glorified face of Yeshua Himself.” May our hearts contain that kind of joy the next time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, the Seder.⁶⁴⁸

Aaron’s Sacred Garments Will Belong to His Descendants
So They Can Also Be Dedicated
29: 29-30

Aaron’s sacred garments will belong to His descendants so they can be ordained DIG: How was succession done in a solemn and yet respectful way? How did anyone know it was time for the transference to take place? How did the people respond?

REFLECT: Do you desire a succession of ministry, lay or professional, in your own family? What would it mean for you to have your children continue on with God’s work in their own unique way? Aaron had four sons, two continued the succession as priests and God killed two because of disobedience. Can you identify with that joy or that sorrow within your own family?

Every time a new high priest was dedicated in the future, he was to wear Aaron’s sacred garments. They were unique to him, and would belong to his descendants so that they could also be anointed and dedicated in them. The son who succeeded him as high priest and came to the Tabernacle to minister in the Holy Place was to wear them for the seven days of the dedication ceremony. The number seven, of course, symbolizes completion. The first dedication service was to set the pattern for all such future services. It was to continue to be seven days in length, and only the high priest was to be given such an elaborate ceremony.⁶⁴⁶

When Aaron was about to die, ADONAI commanded Moses His servant, saying: Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people and he will die there. Moses did as ADONAI commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Isra’el mourned for him thirty days (Numbers 20:25-29). The transference of the holy clothes was the symbol of the succession of the priesthood.

God not only cared for Isra’el’s immediate existence, He was also concerned for their posterity. Therefore, He gave instructions regarding the succession of the priesthood. Once at a dinner, Queen Victoria asked John Bright, “Where did all these learned men come from?” Bright answered immediately, “They came from babies!” The queen burst into laughter, but she got the point. Learned men do not merely appear, they must be brought up and groomed for the positions they are to fulfill. And that is how God dealt with Isra’el, the future priesthood needed to know the ways of the priesthood and the way of succession.

The same must be true for the Universal Church today, made up of Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14). We must be concerned about it and its leadership. We must train men and women well and early for positions of leadership. We must be clear what is to be expected of them. If we do that, then we can pass the Church into capable hands. Let us not only live in the here and now, but in the eternal community of believers.⁶⁴⁷

Take the Other Ram,
and Aaron and His Sons Will Lay Their Hands on Its Head
Exodus 29:19-28 and Leviticus 8:22-30

Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head DIG: Why apply blood to the right ear lobes, the right thumbs and their right big toes? Do you think the dedication process could have taken place without any of that? Why? Why was the second ram sacrificed differently than the first one?

REFLECT: How do you know when you are at peace with God? Who has to surrender? How is that done? What offering have you made to God to have peace with Him?

The third sacrifice was the other ram, or the ram for a peace offering. Once again Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, symbolically transferring the sins of the priests to the sacrifice. After Moses then slaughtered it, he took some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons (their hearing), on the thumbs of their right hands (their service), and on the big toes of their right feet (their walk), signifying that they were cleansed and purified. Later, priests would follow the same ritual as part of a cleansing ceremony for leprosy (Leviticus 14:14). So this seems to be an act of cleansing and purification. Aaron went first, and only after he was finished were his sons brought to go through the same ritual. That separation underscores the supreme importance of the high priest within the priesthood of Isra’el.⁶⁴² Then Moses sprinkled the blood against the altar on all sides (Exodus 29:19-20; Leviticus 8:22-24).

Moses would later write: The life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life (Leviticus 17:11). The blood that secures atonement symbolizes both propitiation (appeasing God’s wrath) and expiation (forgiving and removing the sins of God’s people). The blood applied to the altar represented God’s acceptance of the priestly sacrifice. Willingness to hear and obey was symbolized by the application of blood to the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons. Putting the blood on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet symbolized readiness and ability to serve (just as cutting off those thumbs and big toes symbolized the effective removal of those qualities as in Judges 1:6-7).⁶⁴³

First, from the ram for the fat, the fat tail, and the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat round them, and the right thigh (Exodus 29:22; Leviticus 8:25). These were to be sacrificed on top of the first ram that had already been burnt on the bronze altar.

Anyone who brought a peace offering was to bring the breast and the right thigh of the sacrifice, and wave them before ADONAI . Therefore, from the basket of bread made without yeast, Moses took a loaf, a cake made with oil, and a wafer, and he put these on the fat portions and on the right thigh. The rabbis teach that Moses then put the right thigh in the hands of Aaron, and then his sons individually, then placed their own hands underneath Aaron’s hands and moved both up and down. Waving it up symbolized giving it to God, and waving it back down symbolized God giving it back to the priest. So both God and Moses were both involved in dedicating the priesthood. Then the sacrifice was all burned on the bronze altar along with the burnt offering of the first ram (Exodus 29:23-25; Lev 8:26-29). Normally, the priests would eat the wave offering, but because of the special dedication ceremony, it was offered back to God on the bronze altar.

Afterwards, Moses took the breast of the second ram waved it before ADONAI to conclude the wave offering. In contrast to the right thigh, the rabbis teach that Moses placed his hands under the breast and moved it forwards toward the bronze altar in a horizontal direction, symbolizing giving it to God, and then backwards symbolizing receiving it back from God as a gift. The breast was his share, because he was the officiating priest. However, God explained to Moses that this would be a unique event. Later, after the dedication ceremony and assuming the full duties of the priesthood, the breast would belong to Aaron, his sons and their families to eat. It would be the contribution the Israelites were to make to ADONAI from their peace offering (Exodus 29:26-28; Leviticus 7:31-34, 10:14; Numbers 18:11-12).

Then completing the ceremony, Moses took some of the oil of dedication and some of the blood from the bronze altar and sprinkled the oil and the blood on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. So he dedicated Aaron and His garments and his sons and their garments (Exodus 29:21; Leviticus 8:30). The sprinkling of blood, and the oil of dedication on Aaron, his sons and their clothes, was the consummate sign of the priesthood. Blood then covered all aspects of the scene; the horns, the sides and base of the bronze altar, the priests’ right ear lobes, thumbs and big toes; and the priests themselves along with their garments. All had been purified and set apart for service to God.

The dedication of the clothing of the priesthood played an interesting role in the later story of the sin of Nadab and Abihu. These two priests, sons of Aaron, came before ADONAI and offered unauthorized fire. They themselves were consumed by fire that came directly from God. Afterward, Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, to remove the rebels’ bodies outside the camp. So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp (Leviticus 10:1-5). Although Nadab and Abihu had been destroyed by fire, their priestly tunics had not been consumed. Although the men were profane, their clothing was not.⁶⁴⁴

It is hard to believe that Isra’el would not have been extremely impressed with the truth that the element of blood was absolutely essential to dedication, purification and atonement. Here the priests were having blood put on their right ear lobes, right thumbs and right big toes, and having it sprinkled on their clothing, and then splattered on the rest of their bodies. In front of them was the bronze altar that was covered with blood – on the top where the horns were, on the sides and all around the base. The entire sacrificial system of Isra’el was bloody. Flavius Josephus, a former Jewish general, turned Jewish writer and Roman citizen of the first century AD, told of one specific Passover during the reign of Nero where the Hebrews offered 256,500 lambs as sacrifices. The blood must have been flowing just about everywhere, and must have been on everything and everyone.

The writer to the Hebrews gets to the heart of the issue when he says: In fact, the Torah requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22). But in His mercy, ADONAI graciously sent His Son Jesus Christ to shed His blood for His people. As the writer says: The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God (Hebrews 9:13-14). Thus, we no longer need the bloody priesthood and the bloody sacrifices of the Tabernacle, for the Messiah has come, once for all, to shed His blood for eternal purification and eternal atonement.⁶⁴⁵

Take One of the Rams and
Aaron and His Sons will Slaughter It
Exodus 29:15-18 and Leviticus 8:18-21

Take one of the rams and Aaron and His sons will slaughter it DIG: How was the burnt offering different from the sin offering? Why did they lay their hands on the head of the sacrifice?

REFLECT: Is dedication for all believers, or only for the professional ministry?

The second sacrifice was the first of the two rams for a burnt offering (to see link click Fe – The Burnt Offering), atoning for their unintentional sin. Unlike sacrifices that were consumed by the worshiper and the priests, the burnt offering was to be entirely consumed on the bronze altar.⁶⁴⁰ Once again, Aaron and his four sons laid their hands on its head symbolizing the transference of sin from the men to the sacrifice. These animals were dying a substitutionary death. They were not guilty of the sins of Aaron and his sons. But since the priests were not to die, the animals took their place.

Though they were described very briefly, putting the animal to death was the central and most important act in the sacrificial process. The Hebrew word for altar literally means the place of slaughter, and the location of the bronze altar in the center of the eastern half of the Tabernacle courtyard made it the focus of attention when sacrificial offerings were brought to God. Similarly, the cross became the altar on which Jesus died (Philippians 2:8) for our sins (First Corinthians 15:3), substituting Himself for us just as animals had earlier been substituted by offerings for themselves or others (Genesis 22:13). That the cross is central to the New Covenant proclamation of salvation is clear when Paul said: I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (First Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14).⁶⁴¹

So the ram was slaughtered and its blood was sprinkled against all four sides of the altar. Then Moses cut the ram into pieces and washed the inner parts, and the legs, and put them with the head and the other pieces. After it was cut up, the entire ram was burned on the bronze altar. It is a burnt offering to ADONAI, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to ADONAI by fire (Exodus 29:15-18; Leviticus 8:18-21).

All who believe in Yeshua Messiah are saved (Acts 16:31), not because of what we have done but, because His blood purifies us from every sin (First John 1:7). Indeed, He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world (First John 2:2; Romans 3:25).

Bring a Bull to the Front of the Tabernacle
and Slaughter It There
Exodus 29:10-14 and Leviticus 8:14-17

Bring a bull to the front of the Tabernacle and slaughter it there DIG: What was the difference in the three offerings? Why were they in that order? How did the sacrifice of the bull prefigure Christ’s sacrifice?

REFLECT: Were these rituals mainly for God’s benefit, the priests benefit or the peoples benefit? Why? How do we cleanse ourselves of our sin today (First John 1:9)?

After being washed in the bronze basin, dressed with the sacred garments and anointed with holy oil, the dedication service started. The three types of sacrifices consisted of first, one young bull for a sin offering (which atoned for their sin nature). The second sacrifice was a ram for a burnt offering (which atoned for unintentional sin). And the third sacrifice was a second ram, along with a basket of bread without leaven, cakes without leaven kneaded in oil, and thinner cakes without leaven sprinkled with oil, for a peace offering (which was a communal meal that the worshiper and his family ate before God). In other words, after the sin issue was taken care of, the priest was at peace with God.

First, a bull was brought to the bronze altar for a sin offering, atoning for their sin nature. At three separate times in the dedication service, Moses and his four sons laid their hands on the heads of each of the animals, in each case symbolizing the transfer of sin from the worshiper to the sacrifice (especially see Leviticus 16:21-22). Similarly, Jesus, Yeshua, bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness (First Peter 2:24-25). When God the Father laid our sins on God the Son, Isaiah 53:6 was fulfilled, saying: ADONAI has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.⁶³⁸

The bull was the required sin offering for a priest (Leviticus 4:3-12). His sons were to become the first of the common priests, because all priests had to be direct descendants of Aaron. After being slaughtered, the blood of the bull was then put on the four horns of the bronze altar with the finger of Moses, and the rest was poured out at the base of the altar. That purified the bronze altar, because the blood purified that on which it was smeared. It was then ready for sacrificial use (Exodus 29:10-12; Leviticus 8:14-15).

Then all the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat around them, was taken and burned on the bronze altar. But the bull’s flesh and its hide and its offal were burned outside the camp. This was a sin offering for both Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:13-14; Leviticus 8:16-17).

Whether as a sin offering or as a burnt offering, certain parts of the slaughtered animal were to be burned. Those that were presented as a burnt offering on the bronze altar are described as emitting a pleasing aroma to ADONAI. Obviously, the burning was not a burning of destruction but of submission into something finer and more acceptable than it was before. Sacrifice involves dedication as atonement.

Jesus’ death freed us from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5), but it also represented an act of dedication on His part. Yeshua Messiah gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2). Although we ourselves will never be able to die for another person and remove their sins, we can, in response to all that Christ has done for us, offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). Such is the very least that we should be willing to give to God’s dear Son, who is at the same time our great High Priest and our Sacrifice (Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10, 6:19 to 7:28, 8:3, 9:1-28, 10:10, 14, 21-22; First Timothy 2:5).⁶³⁹

Take Seven Days to Dedicate Aaron and His Sons
Exodus 29:35-37 and Leviticus 8:33-36

Take seven days to dedicate Aaron and his sons DIG: What parts of the dedication ceremony were seven days long and which were offered daily? Is the dedication to ministry a “once-for-all-time” event or is it a continual process?

REFLECT: What parts of the dedication ceremony listed here would you want included for your dedication into ministry? If your dedication ceremony lasted seven days, what could you see yourself adding that was not included here for the Levites?

The dedication service lasted a total of seven days. Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to dedicate them. The phrase dedicate you for seven days in the Hebrew literally reads, He will fill your hand. It was an idiom that meant investing with an office. They were to be invested with the office of the priesthood. A bull calf was sacrificed each day as a sin offering to make atonement for them. In that way, making atonement for it purified the bronze altar. ADONAI commanded them to stay at the entrance to the Tabernacle day and night for seven days and make atonement for their sins by offering a bull calf on each of the seven successive days. They were limited to one specific area of the Tabernacle compound to avoid any ritual contamination. Do not leave the gate of the Tabernacle for seven days, until the days of your dedication are completed. Then the bronze altar would be most holy, and whatever touched it was holy. Aaron and his sons were obedient and did everything ADONAI commanded through Moses (Exodus 29:35-37; Leviticus 8:33-36).

The concept of holiness jumps out at us as we read this passage. It is important to understand that holiness is not inherent in creation, but comes only from God. He alone is the source of holiness. There is nothing innately holy in the materials of the Tabernacle, or in the cloth or the materials of the priest, or the priesthood itself. They were common things and common people. But what made them different was that they were set apart for the purposes of a holy God.

One of the primary names for the righteous of the TaNaKh is the holy ones (Deut 33:2-3; Job 5:1; Psalms 16:3, 34:9; Zechariah 14:5). This is also true in the New Covenant, in which the word often translated saint literally means holy one (Romans 1:7; First Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1). Now people in their natural state are common and, indeed, fallen (Genesis 3:1-24). For someone to be called a holy one, the work of God must have taken place in that person’s heart. It is God who changes something, or someone, from common to holy. It is His work, and it is to His glory that He does such things. Do you think that God will allow you to enter His heaven? God is holy, sees every heart and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). A holy heart is what is needed to enter a holy heaven. God wants to give you that holy heart, if willing to love and follow Him as your LORD and Savior. If you merely respect Yeshua as a good person, that is not enough. A heart of love towards God, is needed for God to make you holy. Make a wise choice to follow the ADONAI who loves you so very much! You will never be sorry when you chose to love and to follow God with all your heart!

Dedicate Aaron and His Sons
So They May Serve Me As Priests
Exodus 29:1-9, 30:22-33, 40:9-16 and Leviticus 8:1-13

Dedicate Aaron and his sons so they may serve Me as priests DIG: When was this ceremony held? Why was it important to gather the leaders of the nation, the seventy elders of Isra’el, to witness this dedication ceremony?

REFLECT: Do you think dedication of spiritual leaders is as important for the community of believers today as it was for ancient Isra’el?

After the Tabernacle was completed, Aaron and his sons were dedicated by a series of sacrifices and offerings, an anointing with oil (30:30-33), and the donning of the tunics, headbands and sashes. The entire ceremony is neatly summarized here. The end of this section begins to focus on Aaron’s descendents, not jut his own sons, but in perpetuity: The priesthood was theirs by a lasting ordinance.

Moses functioned as the mediator between ADONAI and the priesthood during the dedication. But after the dedication, Aaron assumed the duties of the high priest. This is what you are to do to set them apart, or dedicate them, so they may serve Me as priests. Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil. Put them in a basket and present them in it, along with the bull and the two rams. Then gather the leadership of the nation, the seventy elders of Israel who went up on Mount Sinai (24:9-10a), at the gate of the Tabernacle (Exodus 29:1-3; Leviticus 8:2b-4).

The bull and two rams chosen were to be young and without defect. They were to be the best the worshiper had – in the prime of life and showing no visible scars blemishes. Since God never asks His people to do anything that He is unwilling to do Himself, He offered to us His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – in the prime of life and without blemish or defect (First Peter 1:19). Every step in the sacrificial process of the TaNaKh typifies the perfect sacrifice of Christ Himself.⁶³⁷

Then Moses said to the leadership of the nation: This is what God has commanded to be done. In other words, he did not pick Aaron as the high priest because he was his brother. He was merely dedicating the one whom God had already chosen. Then Moses, as mediator, brought Aaron and his four sons to the bronze basin and washed them with water. This was the normal practice before putting on priestly garments. Aaron was dressed as the high priest in his white linen undergarments, robe, ephod, the breastpiece that contained the Urim and the Thummim, the turban on his head with the golden plate or sacred diadem attached to it. Aaron’s sons were dressed in tunics and sashes with headbands on them. They were dedicated for the ministry just as their father had been so honored, so that they would also serve as priests for all generations to come (Exodus 29:4-6, 40:12-16; Leviticus 8:1-2a, 5-9a).

Then Moses took the oil of dedication and sprinkled the Sanctuary and everything in it, thus, anointing everything to the priesthood (30:22-29). Then he went out into the courtyard of the Tabernacle and sprinkled some of the oil on the bronze altar seven times, dedicating it with all its utensils, and he also dedicated the bronze basin with its foot stand. After dedicating the Tabernacle, Moses anointed Aaron, the high priest. Moses took some of the oil and poured it on Aaron’s head. Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and put headbands on them as Ha’Shem commanded. The priesthood was theirs until the Dispensation of Torah had ended (Exodus 19:1 to Acts 1:26), and the Dispensation of Grace had begun (Acts 2:1 to Revelation 19:21). That was how Aaron and his sons were dedicated to the ministry of the Tabernacle (Exodus 29:7 and 9b, 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10-13).

The Dedication of Aaron and His Family
Exodus 29:1-37, 40:9-16

One of the most sacred events in connection with Tabernacle service was the dedication of the priests. The dedication of the high priest consisted of nine acts (Leviticus 8:7-9), whereas that of the common priests involved but three. The actual ceremony in the case of Aaron and his sons was performed by Moses (Leviticus 8:1-36). The candidate for dedication was taken to the bronze basin, and his body was washed with water. Following the washing, he was dressed with the sacred garments and dedicated with holy oil. One cannot help but be impressed with the splendor and significance of both the priest’s garments and his responsibility as mediator between God and man. Aaron serves well as a type of Christ. His duties and dress all point to the Person and work of Messiah as our high priest. What the priesthood of Aaron could not do, our Lord is able to do, because He is our perfect high priest. He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 6:20 and 7:21). Melchizedek beautifully pictures Christ as a type of high priest (see my commentary on Hebrews Bk – The New Priesthood Lasts Forever). Aaron’s priesthood was only the shadow, whereas the Messiah’s priesthood is the reality.⁶³⁶

Make Tunics, Sashes and Headbands for Aaron’s Sons
28:40-41 and 39:27-29

Make tunics, shashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons DIG: Why were Aaron’s son’s priestly clothing different from their father’s?

REFLECT: What must you have under your belt to serve God? A pure heart? A spiritual gift? A love of righteousness? A love for Him? A willing spirit?

The tunic comes next. Not much is said about this piece of clothing except one important statement: You are to weave the tunic out of fine line (29:39). The fabric, linen, would have been white. It was the piece of clothing worn closest to the body. From this information, we conclude that one of the possible pictures it paints for us is one of purity. Representing mankind before ADONAI, the high priest wearing the white tunic teaches us that no one may approach Ha’Shem with impurities  . . . sin.

The LORD commanded Moses: Make undergarments as a covering for the body reaching from the waist to the thigh (to see link click Fx – The Linen Undergarments of Aaron and His Sons), tunics (or long robes) and sashes (or belts) of finely twisted white linen were to be made for Aaron’s sons (28:40). Their headbands, however, were different. The term turban from 28:37 is not used here, because the Hebrew word for headbands is a completely different word. It is derived from the root which is usually translated as a “hill.” In other words, the common priests’ headbands looked literally like a hill on their heads! Hence, we suggest that it was a common skull-cap. These headbands of the common priests were not as majestic as the one for the high priest. There was no engraved plate of pure gold on their foreheads. Even so, it and the tunics and sashes were greatly valued.

The five inch wide sash was beautiful and made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, the work of an embroiderer. Their clothing added dignity and honor to the priesthood and increased the people’s appreciation for them and for God.⁶³⁵ After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve Me as priest (28:41). After their clothes were put on them, they were dedicated to God for His service. Without these garments they could not serve as priests, they were an external sign of the priesthood. Then they were anointed with some of the oil of dedication and some of the blood from the bronze altar. A combination of oil and blood was sprinkled on their clothes (29:21). That set them apart for the ministry that they would undertake.

Make a Plate and Engrave On It:
Holy to the LORD
28:36-38 and 39:30-31

Make a plate and engrave on it: Holy to the LORD DIG: How did the golden plate serve as a reminder? An exhortation? Hope? When was the turban and the royalty of Isra’el removed? What did it signal? When would it end?

REFLECT: Who stamps your sacrifices and gifts as HOLY TO ADONAI on your forehead? What insights does this give you into the role of Jesus as your High Priest?

The phrase: HOLY TO ADONAI was engraved on a plate of pure gold, the seventh piece of clothing, which in turn, was attached by a blue cord to the front of the turban worn by the high priest over his forehead. The turban was the sixth piece of clothing. The word plate stems from the root meaning to sparkle or to shine. The noun normally refers to a flower or a blossom, but here it refers to a shining object. The word holy in Hebrew, or godesh, means to be set apart, distinct or uncommon. Here it probably means that Aaron had been especially set apart for his ministry as high priest. The turban, which was wrapped around his head, was to be made of white twisted linen, pointing to righteousness and purity that must be visible in the one who stands in the presence of God, on the behalf of others.

The Hebrew word for turban is a feminine noun and is used exclusively in connection with the high priest, except for one instance where it symbolizes royalty (Ezeki’el 21:26). It never signifies the headgear worn by the common priesthood. A totally different word, headbands, is used for that (28:40).⁶³²

On his head was the golden plate, a sacred diadem, to remind him and the Israelites that their sacrifices and gifts were always to be brought to God in the proper way with the proper motivation. It was the seventh, and last piece of clothing. Therefore, the golden crown was the very essence of Isra’el’s worship. As the representative of the people, he bore their guilt when presenting their sacred sacrifices at the bronze altar in the courtyard or the golden altar of incense in the Sanctuary. The LORD’s people should always be holy in all they say and do.⁶³³

The priesthood started with Aaron in the desert, but it ended with Zedekiah, the profane and wicked king, in Jerusalem. Against the prophecy of Isaiah, King Zedekiah and Judah had rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylonia. The result was that both the turban of the high priest and the crown of the king, were removed when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. It marked the start of the time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). And as Ezeki’el prophesied: The turban and the crown would not be restored until Jesus, the Messiah, came to whom it rightfully belonged (Ezeki’el 21:26-27).

This prophecy points us back to Genesis 49:10, which speaks of the scepter in the line of Judah. The line of King David would not be restored until the righteous, God-appointed, King would come. There would be no valid claims until Jesus rode into Yerushalayim to claim His rightful rule (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:4). Jesus Christ will completely fulfill Ezekiel’s prophecy. He will be both King and Priest of Isra’el.⁶³⁴ And just as the high priest wore his beautiful turban and plate of pure gold, one day Yeshua will be crowned with many crowns (Revelation 19:12).

The Urim and Thummim:
The Means of Making Decisions
28: 30

The Urim and Thummim: the means of making decisions DIG: How exactly did the high priest go about making decisions for the people? How does this way of making decisions differ from Jethro’s idea of decentralized decision- making (18:13-23)?

REFLECT: How do you determine what the will of God is in a particular situation?

The purpose of the breastpiece was for making decisions. The fifth piece of clothing, Urim and the Thummim, were the means by which the high priest made those decisions for the Israelites that were beyond human perception. The breastpiece was folded double (28:16) and formed kind of pouch for those precious stones. The fact that they were over Aaron’s heart whenever he entered the presence of ADONAI, reminded him of his awesome responsibility to discern the will of God when making decisions for the twelve tribes. It would be by the means of these stones, that the divine will was revealed.

The Urim means lights and the Thummim means perfections. The Septuagint, or the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, rather than translating the words, translates their meaning as revelation and truth. The words don’t mean revelation and truth, but the Urim and the Thummim reveled the truth. The fact that Urim begins the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet and Thummim begins with the last letter, probably meant that the lots were restricted to giving a positive or negative response to questions asked of them by lighting up. That is why they were named lights and perfections, or perfect light. Therefore, they were used to determine what “light” from ADONAI could be shed on a pending decision, or what His will would be (a “perfection“) for a particular matter. In other words, they brought a little of God’s judgment and wisdom down to needy mankind.

In the TaNaKh they are mentioned by name seven different times. In Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8 and Numbers 27:21 they were seen as a means of inquiring of God’s mind. In Deuteronomy 33:8 they were seen as a unique possession of the tribe of Levi. In First Samuel 28:6 they refused to respond to King Saul’s questions.

There are nine biblical examples of how the Urim and the Thummim worked, although the words Urim and Thummim are not used explicitly. First, the high priest would cast lots to decide which of the two goats would be sacrificed as a sin offering to Ha’Shem on the Day of Atonement, and which one would be the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:7-10).

Secondly, Joshua had a problem. He needed to find out who was guilty of violating the herem ban on taking any plunder from Jericho that brought about Isra’el’s defeat at Ai. Joshua demanded: In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that ADONAI takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that He takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that He takes shall come forward man by man. The one who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of ADONAI and has done a disgraceful thing in Isra’el (Joshua 7:14-15).

Early the next morning Joshua had Isra’el come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken (Joshua 7:16-18). God could have simply told Joshua who the guilty person was. But He wanted him to use the Urim and the Thummim of the high priest, because they could only answer yes or no depending on the lighting of the stones. Each tribe had to pass by, but they only lit up when the tribe of Judah passed. Each clan passed, each family passed and each person within that family passed, and eventually they lit up and Achan was found to be the guilty party by the Urim and the Thummin.

A third example is also found in Joshua. There were seven tribes that had not received their inheritance of the Land. They were supposed to survey the Land and divide it up into seven parts. After they had written descriptions of each, they were to return to Joshua who would then have the high priest cast lots for them in the presence of ADONAI to determine which plot of land they would receive (Joshua 18:3-6).

Fourthly, there is another in First Samuel. So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Isra’el’s hand?” But God did not answer him that that day. Saul therefore said: Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. A sin had been committed that resulted in Saul losing in battle. So he used the Urim and the Thummin to find out who the guilty party was. Then Saul prayed to ADONAI, the God of Isra’el, “Give me the right answer.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men cleared. Saul then said: Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken (First Samuel 14:37-42).

Here is a fifth example. One of the sons of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. King Saul had killed all the priests of God, and only he had escaped and brought the ephod, which contained the Urim and the Thummin with him. When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring the ephod. David said: ADONAI, God of Isra’el, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? ADONAI, God of Isra’el, tell your servant. And YHVH answered: He will. Again David asked: Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul? And the LORD said: They will (First Samuel 22:20-21, 23:6, 10-12). By asking those yes and no questions to the Urim and the Thummin within the ephod, David was directed what to do by God.

David would use the ephod again in the sixth example. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of God, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” God answered, “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue” (First Samuel 30:7-8). The reason that David knew that he should pursue after the invading party was that he questioned by means of the Urim and the Thummin.

In the seventh example, David inquired of God. He asked: “Shall I go up to one of the towns in Judah?” YHVH said: “Go up.” So it was by the means of the Urim and the Thummin that David knew it was time to return to Isra’el.

In the eighth example the final decision on whether an exile qualified as a priest but was unable to prove it through genealogical records was decided by a priest and the Urim and Thummin (see the commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah, to see link click Ag – The First Return). They sought their genealogical records, but could not find them. So they were disqualified from the priesthood. As a result, the ruler (most likely Zerubbabel) said to them that they should not eat any of the most holy food until a cohen was ministering with the Urim and Thummim (Ezra 2:63).

Lastly, we see the same thing when Ezra returned to lead a spiritual revival in Yerushalayim (see Ezra-Nehemiah Bf – The Second Return). These sought their names in the genealogies, but were not found; so they were disqualified from the priesthood. The ruler (most likely Ezra) said to them  that they should not eat any of the most holy things until a choen arose with the Urim and Thummim (Nehemiah 7:65).

The casting of lots by an Israelite high priest was by no means the same as throwing dice, because the results were not determined by chance. The high priest knew that the lots’ every decision was from ADONAI (Proverbs 16:33). The last mention of a divine decision mediated through lots in the Bible is found in Acts 1:23-26. When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Shavu’ot (Acts 2:1-4), the need for casting lots disappeared.⁶³¹

Fashion a Breastplate for Making Decisions
28:15-29 and 39:8-21

Fashion a breastplate for making decisions DIG: What other duties of the high priest do you see here, especially in the bearing of the names of the sons of Isra’el? How would this elaborate breastplate help Aaron’s decision making? How were the precious stones similar to those in Revelation?

REFLECT: When God Almighty says you are one of His jewels, how does that make you feel? In what ways do you shine for Him? In what ways do you reflect His light? If you lived your life like one of His jewels, how would it change your life?

The fourth piece of clothing, the breastplate, was the most important and most costly of the high priest’s clothing. All his other clothing was merely a background to it, because it pointed to the very heart of Jesus Himself. It was best described as a vest, all be it a very beautiful one, that went over the ephod. It was attached to the front of it and was made of the same material, of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn and of finely twisted linen. The breastplate was about nine inches square and was folded double to form a pouch, open at the top, where the Urim and the Thummim were placed (28:15-16, 38:8-9).

Although beautiful, the purpose of the breastplate was functional, contributing to some of the duties of the high priest, who was considered to be a mediator between ADONAI and the people. On the one hand, he was to bring some of the sancitity, glory and splendor of the Eternal One to the people. But on the other hand, he was to represent sinful mankind to YHVH.

Mounted on the front of the breastplate were four rows of precious stones, three in each row. Each of the stones was engraved with the name of one of the twelve sons of Isra’el. There is no comparison between the kinds of stones listed here with those that will decorate the foundations of the city walls in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19-20). In the first row there shall be a ruby or sardius (NKJ), a topaz and a beryl. In the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald. In the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst. In the fourth row chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. The first and the last stones, the sardius and jasper, also describe the Lord’s appearance as He sits on His throne in heaven (Revelation 4:3). Moses was commanded to mount them in intricate gold settings (28:17-21, 38:10-14). Just as the breastplate stones bear the names of the twelve tribes of Isra’el, so the foundations of the New Jerusalem will bear the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). Although the two lists are not identical, in each case the precise identification of a few of the stones is uncertain. Further research will perhaps clarify the nature of one or more of the unknown stones and possibly bring the two lists into closer agreement with each other.⁶²⁶

God tells us that we are His jewels. They will be mine, says ADONAI Almighty, in the day when I make them My jewels (Malachi 3:17 NKJ). We are very precious to Him, so precious that He paid a very costly price for our redemption, the price of His one and only Son. Every beam of light from the Sh’khinah glory that fell upon Aaron, fell upon the names of the tribes of Isra’el. And the Father’s smile upon His beloved Son also falls upon His bride; for we have been accepted and loved by Him. In His eyes we are identified with Jesus, crucified with Him, risen with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4; Ephesians 1:3).⁶²⁷

The breastplate was firmly fastened to the ephod over the high priest’s heart by means of four braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. It was not to be loosened or removed in any way. Two of the chains were slipped through the gold rings at the upper corners of the breastplate and attached to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. The other two braided chains were slipped through two golden rings at the lower corners of the breastplate just above the waistband. The rings of the breastplate were tied with a blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so it would be firmly attached to the ephod (28:22-28, 38:15-21).⁶²⁸

Whenever Aaron entered the Holy Place, he wore the names of the sons of Isra’el over his heart, on the breastplate of decision, as a continuing memorial before ADONAI (28:29). Having the breastplate of decision over Aaron’s heart is mentioned three times here, because it pictures Jesus standing at the right hand of God interceding for us. God not only carries us on His shoulders, the place of power and ability, but He carries us on His breast. We are engraved on His heart. He loves us! This is a picture of His love for us.⁶²⁹

In the TaNaKh, ADONAI revealed Himself to His people in a variety of ways. He revealed Himself through many mighty acts, such as the creation, the plagues on Egypt and the dividing of the Red Sea. He also gave His people a divine Word. This was done both orally, such as the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, and in written form, such as the Book of the Covenant. Often, God employed prophets to speak His Word to His people. In addition, God revealed Himself, and the future, through the means of dreams (Genesis 41:1-37). The casting of lots was a common means of receiving revelation in the Hebrew Scriptures. Gideon even laid out a fleece so that God would make known to him His will (Judges 6:36-40). There were other methods as well by which God revealed His will.

Today some believers are often quite troubled by these various means by which God spoke to the righteous of the TaNaKh. They want to know if ADONAI speaks in these ways today. And, if not, why not? Or, if He does, does He speak to each one of us in these ways? Are these methods still applicable to the community of believers today? The writer to the Hebrews answers these questions in the very opening passage of his book when he says: In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2). The author is pointing out that the fullness of revelation is now complete with the coming of Jesus Messiah. No further revelation is needed. He is the final revelation.⁶³⁰

Make the Ephod of Gold, Blue, Purple and Scarlet Yarn
28:6-14 and 39:3-7

Make the ephod of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn DIG: Whose names were to be engraved on the onyx stones? What would their names memorialize? What do these names suggest about the priest’s role in relation to the people of God?

REFLECT: What names would you engrave on a button or memorial to honor those whose faith has been a foundation of yours? Would your names appear on anyone else’s?

The high priest wore a loosely fitting jacket called an ephod that covered his upper body. It is a strange word to us. We don’t have any piece of clothing to compare to it. This was his third piece of clothing. It was worn over, and stood out in contrast to, the blue robe (Leviticus 8:7-8). Later in biblical history the ephod became the official emblem of the priesthood. Whoever had the ephod, had the priesthood (First Samuel 2:18, 14:3, 22:8, 23:6, 30:7-8).

The ephod was made out of material that looked similar to the inner veil of the Sanctuary. It’s importance lies in that it was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and of finely twisted white linen. The courtyard, the gate, the inner veil, the outer veil, and the covering of the Sanctuary were all made of this same material, which pointed to the purity of Messiah. It was made in two pieces, a front and a back that were joined together at the shoulders by two braided chains of pure gold. The two parts of the ephod were fastened around the body by means of a skillfully woven waistband, which was really of one piece with the ephod (28:6-8 and 39:3-5).

Two onyx stones were fastened in gold interlacing settings on the shoulders of the ephod. The onyx stones had been part of the people’s contribution to the building of the Tabernacle (25:3-7). The names of the twelve sons of Isra’el, in the order of their birth, were engraved on each stone – six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. The rabbis teach that there were twenty-five letters on each stone. The two onyx stones were then mounted in gold interlacing settings and fastened to the braided gold chains. In that position, the stones would remind the high priest of his responsibility to faithfully represent each of the tribes as he officiated in the services of the Tabernacle. Two specialists – those of the skilled craftsman and the embroiderer – were required for making the inner and outer veils (26:31 and 26), as well as the priests’ garments (28:6, 15 and 39, 39:29), and a third – that of the weaver – became necessary as the work on the garments proceeded (39:22 and 27).⁶²⁴ The high priest bore the children of Isra’el on his shoulders, signifying his position as representative of the entire nation. His appearance served as a memorial before ADONAI (28:13-14).

What a better place for us to be carried than on the shoulders of the Great High Priest? Yeshua once gave a parable about lost sheep. He said: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:3-7). The shepherd went out and found his lost sheep and put it on his shoulders. Jesus, carries me on His shoulders where He also carries you. From time to time I get off His shoulders, but He is right there to lift me back to safety. The ephod gives us a breathtaking picture of Yeshua Messiah.⁶²⁵

Make the Robe of the Ephod
28:31-35 and 39:22-26

Make a robe of the Ephod DIG: What did this second piece of clothing look like? How does this relate to Yeshua? What do clothes and bells have to do with being near to God?

REFLECT: Believers are to clothe themselves with the new self . . . that expresses itself in true righteousness and holiness that flow from truthfulness (Ephesians 4:24-25). How can you dress in this spiritual attire?

Dressing the high priest properly was critical for approaching God. A sleeveless robe that went down to the ankles was worn over the undergarments as his second piece of clothing. It was woven of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center and embodied the color of the heavens. No other colored material was to be mixed with it. Around the head opening there was a woven edge like a collar so that it would not tear (28:31-32, 39:22-23). It was held in place by the skillfully woven waistband that was of one piece with the ephod (28:8).

The robe was a symbol of Messiah’s position, office and character, as our perfect High Priest (see the commentary on Hebrews, to see link click Bl – Yeshua the Melchizedek Priest). It speaks to us of His robe of righteousness, which is given to all who accept His free gift of righteousness by faith in His shed blood. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this when he said: I delight greatly in ADONAI, my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bride-groom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10). And Rabbi Sha’ul added: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). This gift is available to anyone who will accept it, because it comes through faith in Christ. It is as though a robe were on display in a store window. It is available to all. But only the one who takes it and wears it is clothed by it. Jesus Christ paid the price of the robe that he offers to all. It is only for us to receive it as His gift of grace. Could anything be more wonderful? More simple? Even a little child could understand it.⁶²⁰

Around the hem of the seamless robe, Bezalel placed imitation pomegranates made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with gold bells interspaced between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates were to alternate all the way around the hem of the robe (28:33-34, 39:24-25). ADONAI commanded that Aaron, or any subsequent high priest, must wear the robe when they ministered in the Sanctuary. Hiram of Tyre used the pomegranate as a decoration in his construction of Solomon’s temple (First Kings 7:18-20). Pomegranates were abundant in ancient Palestine, and were among the fruits that the spies brought back to Moses when they went into the Land before their forty years of wilderness wanderings (Numbers 13:23). Therefore, the purpose of the pomegranates, aside from weighing down the robe so it would not fly up and expose the high priest in the wind, was perhaps to symbolize the fruitfulness of the Land of promise.⁶²¹

The sound of the bells would assure the people of God’s mercy in allowing the high priest to minister on their behalf, and also announced his coming before ADONAI. He was, after all, coming before the presence of the King. Only a high priest properly dressed could enter the Most Holy Place and minister before ADONAI (28:35, 39:26). Disregarding those instructions would result in his death. But the movement of the bells would tell people that he was still living, because if his offering were not acceptable, the sound of the bells would stop. The rabbis teach that a rope would be tied around the ankle of the high priest on the Day of Atonement, and if he died in the Most Holy Place they could pull him out since no one else could enter in. However, the sound of the bells as the priest left the Sanctuary called for great rejoicing for the atonement that had been completed.⁶²²

We ought to be struck by the specific nature of God’s commands to Isra’el regarding how members of the priesthood were to dress and to act. The regulations, at times, seem to go on forever. But the quantity of detail underscores the fact that the priesthood was to operate according to heavenly specifications. It would run in no other way. Aaron’s sons were killed because they offered strange fire before ADONAI (Leviticus 10:1-7 CJB). Their good intentions were insufficient. Uzziah apparently meant well when he reached out and took hold of the Ark of the Covenant so it would not fall (Second Samuel 6:1-8). He should have obeyed God’s Word (Numbers 1:51, 4:15, 19-20). As believers, the end never justifies the means. We are to act according to Scripture. The Bible alone is the rule of our obedience. Thus, we must have a familiarly with it. Knowledge of Scripture is essential to obedience.⁶²³

The Linen Undergarments of Aaron and His Sons
28: 42-43

The linen undergarments of Aaron and his sons DIG: What was the practical purpose of the undergarments? How did it point to God’s holiness? Why was this especially important for the priests?

REFLECT: In your life, how do you show that you are set apart for God? Does your clothing reflect your love of the LORD or your love of the world? When you obey the commands of the LORD, do you think of them being for your protection, or do they merely get in the way of your preferred lifestyle? Are all the areas of your life surrendered to ADONAI? Why or why not?

The first piece of clothing priests wore were white linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist down to the thigh (28:42). It preserved their modesty while they performed their priestly duties. This was especially true in later years when they ascended steps leading up to altars (Leviticus 9:22; Ezeki’el 43:17). The rabbis teach that as a means to guard against any inadvertent sin, the length of the linen undergarments eventually reached from the ankles to the neck and the wrist. This article of clothing is referred to only in connection with the priesthood of Isra’el. The exposing of nakedness when worshiping ADONAI had already been prohibited (20:26), and now it is reinforced. Aaron and his sons were commanded to wear them whenever they entered the Tabernacle or approached the altar of incense to minister in the Holy Place (28:43a). They were to be the spiritual leaders of the nation of Isra’el. If they were not modest, why would the people be modest? If they did not obey the LORD, why should the people?

If they disobeyed this command, they would have been guilty of immodesty in worship. The punishment for their guilt was death. So, in effect, those undergarments were a protection, so they would not incur the wrath of God and die (28:43b). This was to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants (28:43c).

The significance of the priestly garments and the selection of a priestly family, showed that because of God’s holiness, not everyone could appear in His presence. It was only for the ones He had chosen. This demonstrated the need for an intermediary, and Isra’el had a mediator through the high priest. And we also need an intermediary. But our mediator is the new High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, the God-man, the man-God, the Lord, Yeshua Messiah.

Again we are struck by the highly detailed nature of God’s commands to Isra’el regarding the Tabernacle and the priesthood. There was even a command about what type of undergarments the priests were supposed to wear! Those details reflect the character of ADONAI, but they also teach us regarding the way mankind is to act towards YHVH. When it comes to worship (and this is also true in all areas of life) we are to surrender to God – in all areas of life, including modest clothing.

J. Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, once said, “Let us give up our work, our thoughts, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into His hands, and once we will have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about, or to make trouble about.” God knows well the human heart, and the human heart given freedom in worship, would have devised all sorts of aberrant practices. God protects His people by laying out, in detail, the means by which He will be worshiped and obeyed.⁶¹⁹

The Clothing of the Levitical Priesthood
28:6-43 and 39:1-31

The clothing of the priesthood, when on duty in the Tabernacle, is described in great detail in the several next sections. Only Aaron and his successors as high priest wore the ephod, breastpiece, robe and turban. His sons wore tunics, sashes and headbands (28:40). However, both the high priest and lesser priests wore white linen undergarments (29:42-43).⁶¹⁸ When performing his high priestly duties he wore seven pieces of clothing. First, he wore white linen undergarments; secondly, he wore a blue robe; thirdly he wore the ephod; fourthly he wore his breastpiece; fifthly the Urim and the Thummim were held within the pouch on the breastpiece; sixthly he wore a white linen turban on his head, and lastly a golden plate was fastened to the turban.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest dressed very simply in his white linen undergarments, white linen tunic, white linen sash and white linen turban to emphasize his purity as he came before God to offer the sacrifices on behalf of himself and the nation. But it is very interesting that no shoes or sandals were mentioned. Therefore, it may be inferred that all the priests went barefoot in spite of the exposure in severe weather. This was confirmed by the command of God when Moses approached Him at the burning bush when ADONAI said: Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground (Exodus 3:5).

The Selection of Aaron and His Sons as Priests
28: 1-5

The selection of Aaron and his sons as priests DIG: What was the purpose for the special garments for Aaron and his sons? Could they have done their job effectively without them? Why do you think so? How would each item and its color serve to dignify their role?

REFLECT: What priestly garments does your Messianic rabbi or pastor wear? Does he dress differently from the congregation? Why or why not?

Out of all countries, the Holy One, blessed be He, chose the Land of Isra’el, and from the Land of Isra’el He selected the Temple, and from the Temple, He selected only the Most Holy Place. Similarly, ADONAI selected Isra’el, and from Isra’el, He selecte the tribe of Levi, and from the tribe of Levi, He selected Aaron (Shemot Rabbah 37:4).  YHVH said to Moshe: Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abidhu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve Me as priests (28:1). The priests who were to officiate in the ministry of the Tabernacle were Aaron and his four sons. Later Nadab and Abihu died when they brought strange fire to the altar of incense (Leviticus 10:1-2). As a result, the Aaronic priesthood continued through Eleazar and Ithamaar, his two younger sons. Eleazar succeeded his father as high priest (Numbers 3:4).

Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and splendor (28:2). The sacred garments for the high priest were set apart from common clothing to elevate the office and to give him dignity and splendor. This would serve as a constant reminder of God’s holiness.⁶¹⁷ The garments were to be worn only when they served in the Tabernacle (35:19). Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve Me as priest (28:3). They were to be made by Bezalel and Oholiab and the other craftsmen to whom God had granted skill.

These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for our brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve Me as priests. There are several ways that the beauty of the priests’ clothing were displayed. For one thing, this passage mentions the remarkable embroidery, stitch work, weaving, and detailed handwork.  But along with the skillful handwork, was the dying and combination of magnificent colors: gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white. Those five colors were repeated several times in describing the Levitical priesthood.

Have them use gold: Which is the purest of all metals and is often used in connection with royalty. Thus, it shows that the high priest was to picture the priesthood as royal.

and blue: Which some consider to represent heaven, is also the same color as the tizitzit which the Eternal One tells Jews to wear on the four corners of their garments. There is no indication that the high priest had tizitzit sown into his clothes. But, he did have a long robe of blue. Therefore, the high priest was a walking reminder to follow the covenant, to live according to the ketubah (to see link click Dh – ADONAI and the Torah) – to follow the Torah.

purple: It’s a combination of blue and scarlet. To be honest, its symbolism is difficult to determine. Perhaps it prevents a glaring contrast between the blue and the scarlet.

and scarlet yarn: It is a color which is used to remind us of our human nature. The Hebrew word for red is the same word used for man, Adam. It is true that the Hebrew word in this parashah is not Adam, but the color is similar. It is close to red. By wearing scarlet, the high priest was representing mankind before the Holy One.

and fine linen: which represents purity (28:4-5)

They were to use the various colors of blue, purple and scarlet yarn used in construction of the Tabernacle, but with one significant addition. Strands of pure gold, cut from thin sheets of the precious metal (39:3), were to be worked into the fine linen from which the two main garments, the ephod and the breastpiece, were made. Thus, those five colors connected the high priest to the Tabernacle.

The Introduction to the Levitical Priesthood
39: 1-2

From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn Aaron’s sons made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as ADONAI commanded Moses. These first two verses are introductory to the entire section of garments for the priesthood and should be understood as a type of superscription or title. The Aaronic priesthood was named after the first in its line, Moses’ brother Aaron. From the outset, it was intended to be hereditary, including only Aaron’s sons (39:1) and their descendants (39:43). The priesthood was a holy office, and dignity and honor were to be given both to Aaron and to his sons (39:40). This was to be expected, because God Himself instituted the Aaronic priesthood.

The main function of the priest (Hebrew: cohen) in the Levitical priesthood was to enter into areas of holiness that were inaccessible to the average Israelite. It was the priest’s job to bring the sacrifice into the presence of ADONAI and to splash its blood upon the bronze altar (to see link click Fa – Build an Altar of Acacia Wood Overlaid with Bronze). It was the priest’s job to minister inside the Holy Place. He facilitated the worship on behalf of the Israelite, because he was specifically equipped to enter into the presence of YHVH.

Two conditions made the cohen able to boldly enter into areas of holiness that other men could not. First, he was sanctified to live at a standard of ritual holiness higher than that of the average Israelite. Lineage through Aaron, various rituals of ordination, the priestly garments and mitzvot of sanctity particular to the priesthood all combined to raise the cohen’s level of holiness above that of other Israelites. Second, the cohen maintained a state of constant ritual purity while serving in the Tabernacle.

It was his job to catch the blood and apply it to the bronze altar. It was his job to carry the animal up onto the altar, tend the fire, and raise it up in smoke to Ha’Shem. It was his job to carry out all the work of the divine service in places too holy for the average layman to tread. In this respect, the priesthood represented Isra’el before the LORD. They carried out the divine service on behalf of the entire nation of Isra’el. The priests were the people’s representatives to ADONAI.

In addition, the priests also represented ADONAI before the people. They were His agents on earth. They were His human ambassadors. In the eyes of the world, the Holy One was unseen, except for His priesthood. For this reason the priests were entrusted with the covenant. They were to be models of holiness, demonstrating lives of separation and righteousness. The Torah holds the priesthood to a higher standard of behavior and distinction than the common Israelite. They were supposed to live “holier than thou” lives because they directly represented the Holy God.

As we discuss the priesthood, our eyes naturally turn to the Master. He has become the High Priest over the house of God (see the commentary on Hebrews Au – The Superiority of the Messiah to the Levitical Priesthood). He represents us before the throne, and He is the visible representation of the Invisible One. As His body, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession (First Peter 2:9) and charged with the same role. With one foot on Earth and the other in Heaven, we straddle the holy and the profane. Our job is to elevate this world to the level of holiness while at the same time bringing the holiness of that world into this one. We are intermediaries, and our obedience to Torah as our blueprint for living, our service to the Master, is our sacred worship.⁶¹⁶

The Levitical Priesthood
Exodus 28:1 to 29:46 and 39:1-31, Leviticus 8:1 to 9:24

Worship is the appropriate human response to divine redemption. Therefore, after concentrating on the Tabernacle (the place where God met His chosen people), we now focus on the Levitical priesthood (the people especially chosen to minister in it). Only those men from the tribe of Levi could become priests and minister in the Tabernacle. We continue to teach this section topically in order to comment on all the Exodus material concerning the priesthood. It is hoped that this will enable you to have a clearer picture of the priestly office and its functions than would be possible otherwise.⁶¹⁴

The idea of a professional priesthood naturally implies an awareness of sin and the need for a mediator. The building of the Tabernacle was only the first step to restore complete fellowship with God. While Moses was the mediator of the Torah and the Covenant, Aaron and his sons were the mediators of the blood sacrifice (to see link click Fv – The Selection of Aaron and His Sons as Priests). The concept of the priest, of course, was not new with Moses. Before Moses, the office of priest was occupied by the father of a family (Job 1:5), or the head of a tribe. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob built altars, offered sacrifices, purified and consecrated themselves and their households (Genesis 12:7, 13:18, 26:25, 33:20 and 35:1-2). Among the peoples that surrounded Isra’el, however, a professional priesthood had already been established and was functioning. Melchizedek combined kingship and priesthood in one person (Genesis 14:18). Jethro was referred to as the priest of Midian (2:16, 3:1). The Egyptians had a well-defined and well-organized priesthood long before the time of Moses as indicated by the story of Joseph (Genesis 47:22 and 26). For Isra’el, however, the creation of an official priesthood was something new and unique.⁶¹⁵

There were five key responsibilities of the priesthood. First, was to administer the burnt offering twice daily (Exodus 29:39). Secondly, they were to burn incense at the altar in the Holy Place (Exodus 30:7-8). Thirdly, they were to inspect the animals that were brought to the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, and to make sure they were without defect (Leviticus 27:11-12). Fourthly, they were to keep the golden lampstand burning in the Holy Place (Leviticus 24:1-4). And lastly, they were to teach Isra’el the Word of God. In those days, not everyone had his or her own copy of the Scriptures as have available to us today. So the Levites, who did have the Scriptures, had the responsibility to teach its contents to the people of Isra’el (Deuteronomy 17:8-13, 19:15-20, 21:5).

The priests of the Levitical system had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. That is why their ministry on behalf of Isra’el, was always imperfect. They were sinful dying men. The superiority of the priesthood of Christ is that His ministry on behalf of Isra’el, was sinless, and because of the resurrection, He lives forever (Hebrews 9:25-26).