Consecration of the Priests

In the 28^th and 29^th Chapter of Exodus, God gave Moses the instruction for the consecration of Aaron and his sons to serve as the priests of the tabernacle; and detailed the robes, breastplates, and other clothing for the priests. In the 8^th Chapter of Leviticus, Moses carries out the actual dressing of Aaron and his sons and implementing the consecration service.

Moses goes about carrying out the very explicit instructions of the Lord to implement the priesthood for work in the tabernacle. First, the Lord tells Moses to gather at the door of the tabernacle Aaron and his sons as well as the priests’ garments , the anointing oil and the items to be used in the consecration sacrifice.

Moses was n ext to gather all the Israel people at the door of the tabernacle to witness the historic event. Lev. 8:1-4

Moses then set about to clean Aaron and his sons by bathing them with water. Then he had then dressed with their specially-made official garments including the girdle, the robe, and placed upon them the breastplate and the holy crown. 8:6-9

Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and the altar. He then poured the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head followed by his sons.

Then it was time for the sacrifices to accompany the consecration of the priests. First, there was a bullock for a sin offering upon which the priests laid their hands before it was killed and the various parts thereof offered. Lev. 8:14-17

Next, the ram was for the burnt offering. A second ram was the ram of consecration, and involved an unusual event for the priests. Moses took blood from the ram and put some of the blood on the right ear of Aaron, more on the right thumb of Aaron, and blood was also placed on the right big toe of Aaron. Moses did the same with Aaron’s sons. Lev. 8:23-24. This was in line with the Lord’s specific instruction at Exodus 29:20-21.

The blood on the ear has been suggested to represent that the priests must be ready to "hear" the Lord; the blood on the right hand is said to mean a priests must be ready to "do" or undertake the Lord’s will; and the blood on the toe is said to have meant the priest must be ready to "follow" the Lord or to "move" at the Lord’s command.

Finally, the priests were forbidden from leaving the tabernacle for seven days of the consecration at the Lord’s command Lev. 8:33. Therefore, Aaron and his sons stayed at the door of the tabernacle for day and night for seven days.