Click Arrow To Start Audio

LEVITICUS – LESSON FIVE

(Chapters 8-9)

In this lesson, we examine the consecration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. Special attention  is given to not only the sacrifices offered, but the dress or attire of Aaron and his sons. Become familiar with the robe, ephod, breastplate, Urim and the Thummin and the mitre or turban with the engraved golden plate.

The consecration procedures with sacrifices had been given to Moses while he was in the mountain before the presence of God. In Exodus 28-30, we read what God commanded Moses. It also helps us understand what might be in the basket of unleavened bread (Leviticus 8:2). Included with the unleavened bread were the cakes of unleavened bread mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened anointed with oil (Exodus 20:2-3). The commandments from the mount are not obeyed by Moses as he gathers Aaron, his sons and the people meet  him and God at the door of the tent of meeting.

The Levites were consecrated as they represent people before God. The firstborn belonged to God for He delivered the firstborn from Egypt. The tribe of Levi was the substitution for the firstborn (Numbers 3:41-45). Now out of the tribe of Levi is chosen the one family of Aaron. Aaron and his four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer and Ithamar are consecrated as we study the procedure in these two chapters.

I. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND SONS AS PRIESTS (Chapters 8-9)

 A. God’s commandments to Moses to assemble before the tent of meeting (8:1-5).

  1. Aaron and his sons

  2. Garments for priests

  3. Anointing oil

  4. Bullock of sin-offering

  5. Two rams: one for burnt offering; one for consecration

  6. Basket of unleavened bread

  7. The congregation

 B. Aaron and sons are washed, and Aaron clothed (8:6-9).

  1. Inner coat put on first

  2. Girded with girdle

  3. Clothed with robe (cf. Exodus 28:31-35)

  4. Ephod: two shoulder pieces (cf. Exodus 28:6-14)

  5. Breastplate placed (cf. Exodus 28:15-30)

a.   Urim and Thummin (lights and perfections) placed in breastplate (cf. Exodus 28:30, Numbers 27:21).

  6. Mitre with golden plate set upon the head (cf. Exodus 28:36-39).

a. Mitre – turban of fine linen”

b. Golden plate – engraved with “HOLY TO JEHOVAH” – front of mitre

 C. Moses applies anointing oil and clothes Aaron’s sons (8:10-13)

  1. Tabernacle and all furniture therein anointed with oil.

  2. The brazen altar, its vessels, laver, and its base anointed with oil.

  3. Aaron’s head anointed with oil (Psalm 133:2).

  4. Aarons’ sons clothed.

 D. Bullock for sin-offering killed and offered (8:14-17)

  1. Aaron and sons lay hands on the bullock – identified with sacrifice.

  2. Blood put on horns of the altar of incense and poured out at the base of the altar of the burnt-offering (cf. 4:7).

  3. Inward fat and two kidneys burnt on altar.

  4. Rest of the bullock burned outside the camp.

 E. Ram of burnt-offering killed and offered (8:18-21)

  1. Aaron and sons lay hands on the ram – identified with sacrifice.

  2. Blood thrown around the sides of the altar.

  3. Whole ram offered – sweet savor unto Jehovah.

 F. Ram of consecration killed and offered (8:22-29)

  1. Blood applied to tip of Aaron’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe – then the same for Aaron’s sons.

  2. Wave-offering of fat, unleavened cakes and right thigh waved side to side by the hands of Aaron and his sons.

a. Moses then burns the offering on the altar.

b. Moses takes breast and waves it before Jehovah – his portion of the ram of consecration.

 G. Aaron, his sons, and their garments are sprinkled with blood and oil by Moses (8:30).

  1. Purpose: to consecrate them.

 H. Ram of consecration eaten at door of the tent of meeting along with unleavened bread by Aaron and his sons – the remains are burned with fire.

 I. Aaron and his sons to continue the consecration ceremonies for seven days before the tent of meeting (8:34-36)

 J. Proceedings of the eighth day (9:1-24)

  1. Sin-offering and burnt-offering for the priest offered (9:1-14).

  2. Sin-offering , burnt-offering, meal offering, and peace offering offered for the people (9:15-21).

a. Meal-offering offered and the burnt offering of morning (cf. Exodus 29:38-39)

b. Breasts and right thigh of peace offerings waved side to side for wave-offering.

  3. Aaron blesses the people after coming down from offering sacrifices (9:22).

  4. Moses and Aaron enter into the tent of meeting and blesses the people (9:23a)

  5. Glory of Jehovah appears – the fire of heaven consumes the burnt-offering and the fat upon the altar (9:23b-24).  

  

QUESTIONS:

1. What was different in the dress of Aaron and that of his sons?

2. What did the “ephod” and “breastplate” emphasize about the priest’s work?

3. What was the use of the Urim and Thumim?

4. What is significant about what is engraved on the golden plate?

5. What happened to the bullock of the sin-offering?       Why?

6. What happened to the blood of the ram of consecration?

7. What two wave-offerings were connected with the offering of consecration?

8. What two things were Aaron and his sons sprinkled with?  Why?

9. Did Aaron receive a special anointing apart from the anointing of his sons?

10. What was all to take place for the seven days of consecration?

11. What was so special about the eighth day for God’s people?

12. Moses offered sacrifices for himself and the people on the eighth day. (T)  (F)

13. In 9:23, we see the first time that Aaron enters into the tent of meeting during his time of consecration. (T)  (F)

14. What miraculous event occurred  on the eighth day of consecration? What is the significance of this event?

LEVITICUS – LESSON SIX

(Chapter 10)

The event surrounding the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, was the consecration days of the priests. The anointing oil was still on them (10:7). The meal offering still remained to be eaten (10:11-12). Moses inquires about the goat offering, which is a sin offering for the people, which was offered on their behalf on the eighth day of consecration (9:3).

As Moses and Aaron are standing before the people who are awed by God sending his consuming fire upon the altar, Nadab and Abihu offer up strange fire and are immediately destroyed by fire from heaven. What a sobering moment!

I. SIN OF NADAB AND ABIHU (Chapter 10)

 A. Nature of their sin (10:1-3)

1. Offered strange fire – God did not command.

a. Fire was to be obtained from the altar (cf. Lev. 16:12-13 Lev. 6:12-13; Exodus 29:38-39)

2. Punishment: Devoured by fire that comes before Jehovah – bodies not consumed, nor coats destroyed with fire (10:5).

3. Lesson: “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified” (10:3).

4. Aaron holds his peace – God has the right to judge (cf. Psalm 39:9).

 B. Moses’ immediate instructions to the Priests (10:4-7)

1. Mishael and Elzaphan (Nadab and Abihu’s  second cousins – (Exodus 6:18-22) ordered to take the bodies of their brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

2. Aaron and sons commanded not to show outward signs of mourning while Israelites mourn the burning.

 a. Hair not to be let loose (cf. Lev. 21:10-11).

 b. Penalty: priest dies, God is wroth with congregation.

3. Priest must fulfill his service even though the death of a loved one has occurred.

a. Must not depart from the door of the tent of meeting in his special service of consecration – anointing oil still on the priest.

b. Penalty: death.

 C. Jehovah instructs Aaron that ministering priests were not to drink wine or strong drink (10:8-11).

1. Purpose: Priests must be able to make a distinction between the holy and common and teach the statutes to Israel.

2. Penalty: death.

 D. Moses’ instructions to Aaron and remaining sons (Eleazar and Ithamar) to eat the sacrifices (10:12-15)

1. Aaron and sons to eat the meal offering in the holy place – the tabernacle.

2. Aaron, sons, and daughters to eat of wave-breast and heave-thigh offerings in a clean place – their part of peace offerings.

  

 E. Moses is angry over uneaten goat of sin-offering (10:16-20)

 1. Blood not brought inside tabernacles – should be eaten.

 2. Reason: by eating, priests “carried away” the sins of the people.

3. Aaron’s response: Would it have been well-pleasing to God to eat in mourning- be unclean? (cf. Deuteronomy 26:14).

4. Aaron’s response accepted by Moses.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why could you call Nadab and Abihu’s sin “presumptuous”?

2. What penalty did Nadab and Abihu suffer for their sin?

3. What principle did the penalty emphasize?

4. Where the bodies of Nadab and Abihu were found, what might this say about their offering?

5. The immediate brothers of Nabad and Abihu were commanded to carry the bodies outside the camp. (T) (F)

6. What were the priests not to do that their brethren of Israel could do?

7. Why do you think that instructions concerning wine and strong drink are mentioned on this occasion?

8. Could Aaron’s daughters partake of any of the offerings?

9. Could Aaron’s sons eat of the peace-offerings in a different place than the meal-offerings?

10. How do you know by the animal of the sin-offering that the events of chapter 10 are tied with the eighth day of the consecration of the priests?

11. With whom was Moses angry and why?

12. Did Aaron have a scriptural response to Moses?

13. Why do you think Moses was well-pleased with Aaron and his response?

14. Does Nadab and Abihu’s sin have any proper application for us today as Christians?