Add parallel Print Page Options

Aaron and His Sons Appointed

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron and his sons and their clothes, the special olive oil used ·in appointing people and things to the service of the Lord [for anointing], the bull of the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering and the two male sheep, and the basket of bread made without ·yeast [leaven]. Then gather the ·people [L community; congregation; assembly] together at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.” Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the ·people [L community; congregation; assembly] met together at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.

Then Moses spoke to the ·people [L community; congregation; assembly] and said, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” Bringing Aaron and his sons forward, Moses washed them with water. He put the inner robe [Ex. 28:39–41] on Aaron and tied the ·cloth belt [sash] around him. Then Moses put the outer robe [Ex. 28:31–41] on him and placed the ·holy vest [L ephod; Ex. 28:6–14] on him. He tied the ·skillfully woven belt [embroidered waist band] around him so that the ·holy vest [L ephod; Ex. 28:6–14] was tied to Aaron. Then Moses put the ·chest covering [breastpiece; Ex. 28:15–30] on him and put the Urim and the Thummim [C devices, probably lots, that were used to discern God’s will; the name means “light and truth”; Ex. 28:30] in the chest covering. He also put the turban on Aaron’s head. He put the ·strip of gold [rosette; medallion; plate; L flower], the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as the Lord commanded him to do [Ex. 28:36].

10 Then Moses ·put the special oil on [L took the anointing oil and anointed] the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and everything in it, ·making them holy for the Lord [consecrating/sanctifying them]. 11 He sprinkled some oil on the altar seven times, ·sprinkling [anointing] the altar [Ex. 27:1–8] and all its tools and the large bowl [Ex. 30:17–21] and its base. In this way he ·made them holy for the Lord [consecrated/sanctified them]. 12 He poured some of the ·special [anointing] oil on Aaron’s head [Ps. 133] to ·make Aaron holy for the Lord [consecrate/sanctify him]. 13 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons forward. He put the inner robes [Ex. 28:39–41] on them, tied ·cloth belts [sashes] around them, and put ·headbands [headdresses] on them, as the Lord had commanded him.

14 Then Moses brought the bull for the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, and Aaron and his sons ·put [lay] their hands on its head. 15 Moses ·killed [slaughtered] the bull, took the blood, and with his finger put some of it on all the ·corners [horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar, to ·make it pure [purify it]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the ·bottom [base] of the altar. In this way he ·made it holy [sanctified/consecrated it] and ·ready for service to God [L made atonement for it]. 16 Moses took all the fat from the inner organs of the bull, the ·best part [appendage] of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat that is on them, and he ·burned them [L turned them into smoke] on the altar. 17 But he took the bull’s skin, its meat, and its ·intestines [or dung] and burned them in a fire outside the camp, as the Lord had commanded him.

18 Next Moses brought the ·male sheep [ram] of the burnt offering [1:1–17], and Aaron and his sons ·put [lay] their hands on its head. 19 Then Moses ·killed [slaughtered] it and ·sprinkled [dashed] the blood on all sides of the altar. 20 He cut the male sheep into pieces and ·burned [L turned into smoke] the head, the pieces, and the fat. 21 He washed the inner organs and legs with water and ·burned [L turned into smoke] the whole ·sheep [ram] on the altar as a burnt offering [1:1–17] made by fire to the Lord; its smell was pleasing to the Lord. Moses did these things as the Lord had commanded him.

22 Then Moses brought the other ·male sheep [ram], ·the one used in appointing Aaron and his sons as priests [L of ordination], and Aaron and his sons ·put [lay] their hands on its head. 23 Then Moses ·killed [slaughtered] the sheep and put some of its blood on the ·bottom [lobe] of Aaron’s right ear, some on the thumb of Aaron’s right hand, and some on the big toe of his right foot [Ex. 29:20]. 24 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons close to the altar. He put some of the blood on the ·bottom [lobe] of their right ears, some on the thumbs of their right hands, and some on the big toes of their right feet. Then he ·sprinkled [dashed] blood on all sides of the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat on the inner organs, the ·best part [appendage] of the liver, both kidneys with their fat, and the right thigh. 26 From the basket of bread made without ·yeast [leaven] that is put before the Lord each day [Ex. 25:30], Moses took a loaf of bread, a loaf made with oil, and a wafer. He put these pieces of bread on the fat and right thigh of the ·male sheep [ram]. 27 All these things he put in the hands of Aaron and his sons and ·presented [raised] them as an [L elevation] offering before the Lord. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and ·burned them [L turned them into smoke] on the altar on top of the burnt offering [1:1–17]. So this was the offering ·for appointing Aaron and his sons as priests [for ordination]. It was an offering made by fire to the Lord, and its smell was pleasing to him. 29 Moses also took the breast and ·presented [raised] it as an [L elevation] offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ share of the ·male sheep used in appointing the priests [ram of ordination], as the Lord had commanded him.

30 Moses took some of the ·special [anointing] oil and some of the blood which was on the altar, and he sprinkled them on Aaron and Aaron’s clothes and on Aaron’s sons and their clothes. In this way Moses made Aaron, his clothes, his sons, and their clothes ·holy for the Lord [consecrated; sanctified].

31 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “I gave you a command, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons will eat these things.’ So take the meat and basket of bread from the offering ·for appointing priests [of ordination]. Boil the meat at the door of the Meeting Tent, and eat it there with the bread. 32 If any of the meat or bread is left, burn it [L with fire]. 33 The time of ·appointing [ordination] will last seven days; you must not go outside the entrance of the Meeting Tent until that time is up. Stay there until the time of your ·appointing [ordination] is finished. 34 The Lord commanded the things that were done today to ·remove your sins so you will belong to him [make atonement for you]. 35 You must stay at the entrance of the Meeting Tent day and night for seven days. If you don’t obey the Lord’s commands, you will die. The Lord has given me ·these commands [this charge].”

36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord had commanded through Moses.

Aaron and His Sons Offer Sacrifices

On the eighth day after the time of appointing, Moses called for Aaron and his sons and for the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf and a ·male sheep [ram] ·that have nothing wrong with them [unblemished], and offer them to the Lord. The calf will be a ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, and the male sheep will be a whole burnt offering [1:1–17]. Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering and a calf and a lamb for a whole burnt offering [1:1–17]; each must be one year old, and it must ·have nothing wrong with it [be unblemished]. Also take a bull and a male sheep for ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1], along with a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] mixed with oil. Offer all these things to the Lord, because the Lord will appear to you today.’”

So all the ·people [community; congregation; assembly] came to the front of the Meeting Tent, bringing the things Moses had commanded them to bring, and they stood before the Lord. Moses said, “You have done what the Lord commanded, so you will see the Lord’s glory [C his manifest presence].”

Then Moses told Aaron, “Go to the altar and offer ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offerings and whole burnt offerings [1:1–17]. Do this to ·remove your sins and the people’s sins so you will belong to God [make atonement for you and the people]. Offer the sacrifices for the people and ·perform the acts to remove their sins for them so they will belong to the Lord [make atonement for them] as the Lord has commanded.”

So Aaron went to the altar and ·killed [slaughtered] the bull calf as a ·sin [purification; 4:3] offering for himself. Then Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the ·corners [horns; 27:2] of the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the ·bottom [base] of the altar. 10 Aaron took the fat, the kidneys, and the ·best part [appendage] of the liver from the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering and ·burned them [L turned them into smoke] on the altar, in the way the Lord had commanded Moses. 11 The meat and skin he burned outside the camp.

12 Then Aaron ·killed [slaughtered] the animal for the whole burnt offering [1:1–17]. His sons brought the blood to him, and he ·sprinkled [dashed] it on all sides of the altar. 13 As they gave him the pieces and head of the burnt offering [1:1–17], Aaron ·burned them [L turned them into smoke] on the altar. 14 He also washed the inner organs and the legs of the burnt offering [1:1–17] and ·burned them [L turned them into smoke] on top of the burnt offering [1:1–17] on the altar.

15 Then Aaron brought the offering that was for the people. He took the goat of the people’s ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering and ·killed [slaughtered] it and offered it for the sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, just as he had done the first ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering.

16 Then Aaron brought the whole ·burnt offering [1:1–17] and offered it ·in the way that the Lord had commanded [L according to regulations]. 17 He also brought the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] to the altar. He ·took a handful of the grain [L filled his hand with a portion] and ·burned it [L turned it into smoke] on the altar, in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.

18 Aaron also ·killed [slaughtered] the bull and the ·male sheep [ram] as the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1] for the people. His sons brought him the blood, and he ·sprinkled [dashed] it on all sides of the altar. 19 Aaron’s sons also brought to Aaron the fat of the bull and the ·male sheep [ram]—the fat tail, the fat covering the inner organs, the kidneys, and the ·best part [appendage] of the liver. 20 Aaron’s sons put them on the breasts of the bull and the sheep. Then Aaron ·burned [L turned into smoke] these fat parts on the altar. 21 He ·presented [raised] the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as ·the priests’ share of the [an elevation] offering, as Moses had commanded.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. When he had finished offering the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, the burnt offering [1:1–17], and the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1], he stepped down from the altar.

23 Moses and Aaron went into the Meeting Tent. Then they came out and blessed the people, and the Lord’s glory [C his manifest presence] came to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the Lord and burned up the burnt offering [1:1–17] and fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and bowed facedown on the ground.

The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons(A)

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron and his sons,(B) their garments,(C) the anointing oil,(D) the bull for the sin offering,[a](E) the two rams(F) and the basket containing bread made without yeast,(G) and gather the entire assembly(H) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.(I) Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.(J) He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him.(K) He placed the breastpiece(L) on him and put the Urim and Thummim(M) in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban(N) on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem,(O) on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.(P)

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil(Q) and anointed(R) the tabernacle(S) and everything in it, and so consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.(T) 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed(U) him to consecrate him.(V) 13 Then he brought Aaron’s sons(W) forward, put tunics(X) on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.(Y)

14 He then presented the bull(Z) for the sin offering,(AA) and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.(AB) 15 Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood,(AC) and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar(AD) to purify the altar.(AE) He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it.(AF) 16 Moses also took all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull with its hide and its flesh and its intestines(AG) he burned up outside the camp,(AH) as the Lord commanded Moses.

18 He then presented the ram(AI) for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 19 Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. 20 He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat.(AJ) 21 He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

22 He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination,(AK) and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.(AL) 23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.(AM) 24 Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar.(AN) 25 After that, he took the fat(AO), the fat tail, all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys and their fat and the right thigh. 26 And from the basket of bread made without yeast, which was before the Lord, he took one thick loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf,(AP) and he put these on the fat portions and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they waved them before the Lord(AQ) as a wave offering. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 29 Moses also took the breast, which was his share of the ordination ram,(AR) and waved it before the Lord as a wave offering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

30 Then Moses(AS) took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments(AT) and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated(AU) Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments.

31 Moses then said to Aaron and his sons, “Cook the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting(AV) and eat it there with the bread from the basket of ordination offerings, as I was commanded: ‘Aaron and his sons are to eat it.’ 32 Then burn up the rest of the meat and the bread. 33 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days.(AW) 34 What has been done today was commanded by the Lord(AX) to make atonement for you. 35 You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and do what the Lord requires,(AY) so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded.”

36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord commanded through Moses.

The Priests Begin Their Ministry

On the eighth day(AZ) Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders(BA) of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering[b] and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord. Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat(BB) for a sin offering,(BC) a calf(BD) and a lamb(BE)—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, and an ox[c](BF) and a ram for a fellowship offering(BG) to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.(BH)’”

They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord(BI) may appear to you.”

Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people;(BJ) sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.(BK)

So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering(BL) for himself. His sons brought the blood to him,(BM) and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.(BN) 10 On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering, as the Lord commanded Moses; 11 the flesh and the hide(BO) he burned up outside the camp.(BP)

12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering.(BQ) His sons handed him the blood,(BR) and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 13 They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar.(BS) 14 He washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.(BT)

15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people.(BU) He took the goat for the people’s sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he did with the first one.

16 He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way.(BV) 17 He also brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.(BW)

18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people.(BX) His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 19 But the fat portions of the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20 these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. 21 Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering,(BY) as Moses commanded.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.(BZ) And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting.(CA) When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord(CB) appeared to all the people. 24 Fire(CC) came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.(CD)

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 8:2 Or purification offering; also in verse 14
  2. Leviticus 9:2 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  3. Leviticus 9:4 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female; also in verses 18 and 19.