Leviticus 8:1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

VIII.

(1) And the Lord spake unto Moses.—As the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood which the Lord commanded Moses to effect (Exodus 28:1-43) was to be accompanied by different kinds of sacrifices (Exodus 29:1-37), it was first of all necessary to define the ritual of each sacrifice. This was therefore done in Leviticus 1-7, and the lawgiver now proceeds to record the communication which he received from the Lord respecting the appointment to the sacerdotal office, thus resuming the narrative which was broken off at the end of Exodus.

Benson Commentary

Leviticus 8:1-2. The Lord spake unto Moses — This is here premised to show that Moses did not confer the priesthood upon his brother Aaron because of his relation or affection to him, but by God’s appointment. Take Aaron, and his sons with him — All directions which were needful being given respecting sacrifices, and the rites belonging to them, Moses is now ordered to consecrate the priests according to the injunctions given before, Exodus 28., 29., and 30.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:1-13 The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, Re 1:5,6; and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb 10:22. The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

wilderness of Sinai - Compare Exodus 19:1.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 8

Le 8:1-36. Moses Consecrates Aaron and His Sons.Moses by God’s command calls together Aaron and his sons, and the whole congregation, Leviticus 8:1-5. Washes Aaron and his sons, Leviticus 8:6. Puts on the priestly garments, Leviticus 8:7-9. Anoints the tabernacle, with the altar and laver, to sanctify them, Leviticus 8:10,11. Anoints Aaron, Leviticus 8:12. Puts the holy garments on his sons, Leviticus 8:13. Offers sacrifices for them; a bullock for a sin-offering, Leviticus 8:14-17; and a ram for a burnt-offering, Leviticus 8:18-21; and a second ram for consecration; uses the blood about some parts of their bodies; gives the parts into their hands to wave before the Lord, and sprinkles of the anointing oil and blood from upon the altar on them and their garments, Leviticus 8:22-30. Declares to them God’s charge, which they perform, Leviticus 8:31-36.

This is here premised, to show that Moses did not confer the priesthood upon Aaron by virtue of his relation or affection to him, but by God’s appointment, which also appears from the following story.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... The following section or paragraph, relating to the consecration of Aaron and his sons, was delivered, according to Jarchi, seven days before the setting up of the tabernacle; but to me it seems to have been delivered after the setting it up, since it was out of the tabernacle that the Lord said all those things recorded in the preceding chapters; and after he had given out the laws concerning sacrifices, then he renewed the order for the consecration of Aaron and his sons, that they might offer them:

saying; as follows.

Geneva Study Bible

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The Consecration of Aaron and his sons (Leviticus 8:1-17)

1. See critical note on these chapters in App. I (b), pp. 159 ff.

Instructions to consecrate Aaron and his sons have already been given, Exodus 29:1-37. The account given in this chapter follows very closely the words of Exodus 29, with which it should be carefully compared.

The ceremonies connected with the consecration were: (a) washing (Leviticus 8:6), (b) vesting (Leviticus 8:7-9; Leviticus 8:13), (c) anointing (Leviticus 8:10-12), (d) offering sacrifices, which were of three kinds; (1) a Sin-Offering (Leviticus 8:14-17), (2) a Burnt-Offering (Leviticus 8:18-21), (3) the ram of consecration (Leviticus 8:22-32), which was treated as a Peace-Offering, but with additional ritual appropriate to the special occasion.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 1-5. - These verses contain the preliminaries of the ceremony of consecration. Aaron and his sons are to be brought to the door of the tabernacle, together with all that is necessary for the performance of the rite that is about to take place. The words in the second verse, a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread, should be translated, the bullock for the sin offering and the two rams and the basket. The garments, the anointing oil, the bullock, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread and cakes, had all been previously enjoined, when Moses was on the mount (Exodus 28, 29, 30). These previous injunctions are referred to in the words, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done (verse 5). Leviticus 8:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Consecration of the Priests and the Sanctuary (cf. Exodus 29:1-37). - The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests was carried out by Moses according to the instructions in Exodus 29:1-36; Exodus 40:12-15; and the anointing of the tabernacle, with the altar and its furniture, as prescribed in Exodus 29:37; Exodus 30:26-29, and Exodus 40:9-11, was connected with it (Leviticus 8:10, Leviticus 8:11).

Leviticus 8:1-4

Leviticus 8:1-5 contain an account of the preparations for this holy act, the performance of which was enjoined upon Moses by Jehovah after the publication of the laws of sacrifice (Leviticus 8:1). Moses brought the persons to be consecrated, the official costume that had been made for them (Exodus 28), the anointing oil (Exodus 30:23.), and the requisite sacrificial offerings (Exodus 29:1-3), to the door of the tabernacle (i.e., into the court, near the altar of burnt-offering), and then gathered "the whole congregation" - that is to say, the nation in the persons of its elders-there also (see my Archeologie ii. p. 221). The definite article before the objects enumerated in Leviticus 8:2 may be explained on the ground that they had all been previously and more minutely described. The "basket of the unleavened" contained, according to Exodus 29:2-3, (1) unleavened bread, which is called חלּה in Leviticus 8:26, i.e., round flat bread-cakes, and לחם כּכּר (loaf of bread) in Exodus 29:23, and was baked for the purpose of the consecration (see at Leviticus 8:31, Leviticus 8:32); (2) unleavened oil-cakes; and (3) unleavened flat cakes covered with oil (see at Leviticus 2:4 and Leviticus 7:12).