Lev 8:1-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 8:1-36: 8:1-36 In Exod 28–29 , the Lord gave Moses specific instructions for clothing and for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. In Exod 39:1-31 ; 40:12-16 ; and Lev 8 , the commands were carried out. Moses didn’t just pass along the instructions verbally; he enacted the rituals to provide an example for the priests down to the last detail, just as the Lord had commanded him (8:9 , 13 , 17 , 21 , 29 ). Because the penalty for disobedience was death, God made sure the priests knew exactly what to do.

Summary for Lev 8:1-36: 8:1-36 ^a In Exod 28–29 ^b, the Lord gave Moses specific instructions for clothing and for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. In Exod 39:1-31 ^c; 40:12-16 ^d; and Lev 8 ^e, the commands were carried out. Moses didn’t just pass along the instructions verbally; he enacted the rituals to provide an example for the priests down to the last detail, just as the Lord had commanded him (8:9 ^f, 13 ^g, 17 ^h, 21 ⁱ, 29 ^j). Because the penalty for disobedience was death, God made sure the priests knew exactly what to do.
8:2 ^k These items are also mentioned in Exod 29:1-3 ^l, 7 ^m.

• sacred garments: See Exod 28 ⁿ.

• The anointing oil consisted of special ingredients to give it a unique scent. These included myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia (dried flowers from the cinnamon tree) mixed into olive oil (see Exod 30:22-33 ^o).

• bull for the sin offering: See Lev 4:3-12 ^p.

• The first of the two rams was to be a whole burnt offering (8:18 ^q), while the second was a special ordination sacrifice (8:22 ^r).

• basket of bread made without yeast: See 6:19-23 ^s.
8:4 ^t The text repeatedly emphasizes that Moses followed the Lord’s instructions, obeying the commands given in Exod 29 ^u (see also Lev 8:9 ^v, 13 ^w, 17 ^x, 21 ^y, 29 ^z, 36 ^aa).
8:6 ^ab Being washed ... with water was the first step for cleansing from impurity. The priests had to be ceremonially clean before they could serve the Lord in holiness (Exod 29:4 ^ac; see Ps 24:4 ^ad).
8:7 ^ae The tunic (see Exod 28:39 ^af) was woven of patterned linen cloth.

• The same type of material used for the Tabernacle curtains was used for the embroidered ephod (see Exod 28:4 ^ag, 6-14 ^ah). This garment’s precise shape and size are unclear, but it seems to have been a long, sleeveless vest, fitted close to the body and tied about the waist. It was joined at the shoulders by gold settings; each setting bore an onyx stone engraved with the names of six of the tribes of Israel (Exod 28:9 ^ai). Later, an ephod also referred to a venerated image (Judg 8:27 ^aj; 18:17 ^ak).

• The decorative sash was embroidered and was made of the same materials as the ephod (see Exod 28:8 ^al).
8:8 ^am The chestpiece (see Exod 28:15-30 ^an) was made of embroidered linen folded double. It bore twelve stones, each engraved with the name of a tribe of Israel. It was suspended over the heart by a gold chain from the gold shoulder-pieces of the ephod.

• The Urim and the Thummim were placed in the pocket of the chestpiece (Exod 28:30 ^ao; 1 Sam 23:9-12 ^ap; 30:7-8 ^aq); the precise function of these items is uncertain. They are generally thought of as two stones, perhaps each different in color, that were cast as lots. They apparently could give a positive, neutral, or negative answer to questions that could not otherwise be resolved (Exod 28:30 ^ar; Num 27:21 ^as; 1 Sam 28:6 ^at). Their mention in Old Testament prophetic literature written centuries later (Ezra 2:63 ^au; Neh 7:65 ^av) demonstrates how important these items were to the office of priest.
8:9 ^aw The turban worn by the high priest was made of linen and was distinct from the headdresses of the common priests (Exod 28:40 ^ax). The gold medallion was suspended from the turban and bore an inscription that read, “Holy to the Lord” (Exod 28:36 ^ay). With the names of the tribes on his shoulders and over his heart and the dedication to the Lord on his forehead, the high priest was clearly marked as the people’s representative to God and God’s representative to the people. In this mediating role, the high priest modeled the standard for all priests.
8:10 ^az making them holy: God is the Holy One (Pss 22:3 ^ba; 78:41 ^bb). In the strictest sense, only God can make a person or thing holy (Lev 20:8 ^bc; 21:15 ^bd, 23 ^be; 22:9 ^bf, 16 ^bg, 32 ^bh; Exod 31:13 ^bi; see Heb 2:11 ^bj); the actions of Moses simply recognized and declared what God had done (also in Lev 8:11 ^bk, 12 ^bl, 15 ^bm).