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Leviticus Chapter Eight

 

Leviticus 8

Aaron and His Sons Consecrated

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 8

The order for the consecration of Aaron and his sons is renewed Leviticus 8:1 which accordingly was set about and performed by Moses Leviticus 8:4 who having first washed and clothed them first Aaron and then his sons with the garments of the priesthood anointing at the same time the tabernacle of the altar and what appertained to them and Aaron also Leviticus 8:6 and then he slew the bullock for the sin offering and the ram for the burnt offering and the ram of consecration; and did with the blood fat shoulder and breast and the meat offering belonging thereunto as he had been directed Leviticus 8:14 and the chapter is concluded with some instructions about boiling the flesh and burning the remainder of it and keeping the charge of the Lord night and day for seven days Leviticus 8:31.

 

Leviticus 8:1.  And the Lord spoke to Moses saying:

   YLT  1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses saying

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.

 

Leviticus 8:2.  2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him and the garments the anointing oil a bull as the sin offering two rams and a basket of unleavened bread;

   YLT  2`Take Aaron and his sons with him and the garments and the anointing oil and the bullock of the sin-offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened things

Take Aaron and his sons with him .... That is order them to come or send a message to them that they appear at such a time at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation where the ceremony of consecration was to be performed and was performed Leviticus 8:3 which is observed and recorded by Moses to show that he had a divine warrant for what he did and that it was not from favour and affection to his brother and because of the relation he and his family stood in to him that he invested him and them with the priestly office but it was by a command from the Lord; nor did Aaron take this honour to himself but was called of God to it Hebrews 5:4

and the garments; the garments for the priesthood ordered and described and now made see Exodus 28:1.

and the anointing oil; which also was ordered to be made and now was made Exodus 30:23.

and a bullock for the sin offering and two rams and a basket of unleavened bread; which were all to be used at the consecration with the anointing oil Aaron was to be anointed and also the tabernacle and the altar; and the bullock was to be a sin offering and one of the rams a burnt offering for Aaron and his sons and the other ram was the ram of consecration of them; and out of the basket of unleavened bread one cake of each sort was to be taken and waved with other things and burnt which finished the consecration; but with it was no oath as in the consecration of the antitypical high priest Christ Jesus which difference is observed by the apostle Hebrews 7:21 see Exodus 29:1.

 

Leviticus 8:3.  3 and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”

   YLT  3and all the company assemble thou unto the opening of the tent of meeting.'

And gather thou all the congregation together .... That is the heads of the tribes and the elders of the people as Aben Ezra interprets it; for the whole body of the people and every individual of them could not be got together:

unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; taking this for the whole court itself as it sometimes is; though no doubt on this occasion as great a number was convened as well could be admitted into the court or about it to be spectators and witnesses of the solemn investiture of Aaron and his sons with the priestly office.

 

Leviticus 8:4.  4 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

   YLT  4And Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded him and the company is assembled unto the opening of the tent of meeting

And Moses did as the Lord commanded him .... He convened Aaron and his sons and the heads of the people at the door of the tabernacle and came himself and brought with him the garments the oil and sacrifices even everything necessary for the consecration:

and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and this was according to the Targum of Jonathan on the twenty third day of the month Adar or February; but it rather seems to be later some time in the beginning of Nisan or March and before the passover began see Numbers 9:1.

 

Leviticus 8:5.  5 And Moses said to the congregation “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.”

   YLT  5and Moses saith unto the company `This [is] the thing which Jehovah hath commanded to do.'

And Moses said unto the congregation .... Having convened them he opened to them the reason of their being called together which was not done of himself but by divine direction:

this is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done; namely what follows concerning the consecration of Aaron and his sons to be priests and the investiture of them with that office attended with various rites and ceremonies to be performed of which they were to be witnesses.

 

Leviticus 8:6.  6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

   YLT  6And Moses bringeth near Aaron and his sons and doth bathe them with water

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons .... To the laver which was in the court of the tabernacle

and washed them with water; to show that they should be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord and offer the sacrifices of the people; all that are in public office in the house of God ought to have both clean hands and a pure heart to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience and to be of a pure and holy conversation; and indeed all that are made kings and priests to God as all the saints are they are washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus Revelation 1:5.

 

Leviticus 8:7.  7 And he put the tunic on him girded him with the sash clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the intricately woven band of the ephod and with it tied the ephod on him.

   YLT  7and doth put on him the coat and doth gird him with the girdle and doth clothe him with the upper robe and doth put on him the ephod and doth gird him with the girdle of the ephod and doth bind [it] to him with it

And he put upon him the coat .... The embroidered coat of fine linen which was next to his flesh; Exodus 28:39 and all the garments were put on just in the order they are here declared; no mention is made indeed of the linen breeches since it is highly probable these were put on by Aaron himself in some apartment in the tabernacle or before came thither; it not being so decent to put on or have these put on in the sight of the whole congregation:

and girded him with the girdle; the girdle of needlework with which the linen coat was girt to him and was distinct from the curious girdle of the ephod after mentioned Exodus 28:39.

and clothed him with the robe: the robe of the ephod which had at the hem of it golden bells and pomegranates Exodus 28:31.

and put the ephod upon him; made of gold blue purple scarlet and fine twined linen which had two shoulder pieces and on them two onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes Exodus 28:6.

and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod and bound it unto him therewith; which was made of the same with the ephod and by which it was girt close unto him; of the mystical meaning of these garments. See Gill on Exodus 28:39 Exodus 28:31 Exodus 28:32 Exodus 28:33 Exodus 28:34 Exodus 28:35 Exodus 28:6 Exodus 28:7 Exodus 28:8 Exodus 28:9 Exodus 28:10 Exodus 28:11 Exodus 28:12.

 

Leviticus 8:8.  8 Then he put the breastplate on him and he put the Urim and the Thummim[a] in the breastplate.

   YLT  8and doth put on him the breastplate and doth put unto the breastplate the Lights and the Perfections

And he put the breastplate upon him .... Which was made of the same materials with the ephod and was put upon it and fastened to it:

also he put in the breastplate the Urim and Thummim: that is Moses did it as all the rest; for there is no reason to be given why this should be appropriated to God as a divine work distinct from the rest; and these seem to be the twelve precious stones set in the breastplate whose names are given Exodus 27:17 and if they are not intended no account is here given of them; but since in Exodus 29:8 an account is given of the stones and of the setting of them in the breastplate and no mention is made of the Urim and Thummim and here notice is taken of them but nothing said of the stones; it seems pretty plain they must be the same; See Gill on Exodus 28:30.

 

Leviticus 8:9.  9 And he put the turban on his head. Also on the turban on its front he put the golden plate the holy crown as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  9and doth put the mitre on his head and doth put on the mitre over-against its front the golden flower of the holy crown as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And he put the mitre upon his head .... Which was made of fine linen and was a wrap of that of a considerable length about his head Exodus 28:39.

also upon the mitre even upon his forefront did he put the golden plate; which was put upon the forehead of the high priest reaching from ear to ear and was fastened to the mitre with a blue lace and had on it this inscription "holiness to the Lord": Exodus 28:36 and is here therefore called

the holy crown: denoting both the sanctity and the dignity of the high priest and typical of Christ who is holiness itself and to his people and is now crowned with glory and honour being a priest upon the throne: hence the JewsF21Pirke Abot c. 4. sect. 13. speak of the crown of the law and of the crown of the kingdom and of the crown of the priesthood: and this as all the rest was done

as the Lord commanded Moses; all these were made according to the divine order and were put on in the manner and form he directed him; of the mystery of the mitre and the crown; see Gill on Exodus 28:39 Exodus 28:36 Exodus 28:37.

 

Leviticus 8:10.  10 Also Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it and consecrated them.

   YLT  10And Moses taketh the anointing oil and anointeth the tabernacle and all that [is] in it and sanctifieth them;

And Moses took the anointing oil .... Which Bezaleel had made according to the directions which Moses had given him and he had received from the Lord: this Moses brought with him to the door of the tabernacle as he was ordered Leviticus 8:2 and now he took it and made use of it as follows:

and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein; the altar of incense the candlestick and table of shewbread:

and sanctified them; separated and devoted them to sacred use and service.

 

Leviticus 8:11.  11 He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times anointed the altar and all its utensils and the laver and its base to consecrate them.

   YLT  11and he sprinkleth of it on the altar seven times and anointeth the altar and all its vessels and the laver and its base to sanctify them;

And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times .... The altar of burnt offering; the order for anointing it is given in Exodus 30:28 but in that no directions are given for the manner of doing it by sprinkling nor the number of times it was to be sprinkled: hence Jarchi confesses his ignorance and says "I know not how it was ordered about these sprinklings;'but no doubt Moses was instructed of God in what manner to anoint it and how often; and the number seven may denote the perfect unction of it and made it a fitter type of Christ who received the unction of the Spirit without measure:

and anointed the altar and all its vessels; pans shovels basins flesh hooks and fire pans:

both the laver and his foot; which was for the priests to wash at; and very probably this was done before Moses brought Aaron and his sons thither and washed them Leviticus 8:6 since it seems most proper that it should be consecrated before used as it follows:

to sanctify them; set them apart for sacred use.

 

Leviticus 8:12.  12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.

   YLT  12and he poureth of the anointing oil on the head of Aaron and anointeth him to sanctify him.

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head .... Which ran down to his beard and to the collar of his coat the robe of the ephod but not to the skirts of his garments as we wrongly render it Psalm 133:2. Jarchi says it was first poured on his head and after that he put it between his eyebrows and drew it with his finger here and there or from one eyebrow to another: MaimonidesF23In Misn. Ceritot c. 1. sect. 1. gives a like account with some addition; he says the oil was poured on his head and he was anointed between the eyebrows in the form of the Greek letter χ "chi": a greater profusion of oil was used in the anointing of Aaron than of the tabernacle altar and laver and their vessels he being so eminent a type of Christ our high priest anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows:

and anointed him to sanctify him; to signify that he was set apart and devoted to the sacred office of the priesthood. The Targum of Jonathan observes that this anointing was after he had clothed him; though some have thought it was done before the mitre and holy crown were put on: but if they were put on to complete the investiture they might be taken off while the ceremony of anointing was performed.

 

Leviticus 8:13.  13 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sons and put tunics on them girded them with sashes and put hats on them as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  13And Moses bringeth near the sons of Aaron and doth clothe them [with] coats and girdeth them [with] girdles and bindeth for them turbans as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And Moses brought Aaron's sons .... His four sons Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; he ordered and directed them to come there or sent proper persons to fetch them or from one part of the court where they were he might accompany them thither:

and put coats upon them and girded them with girdles: which were made of fine linen Exodus 39:27 and the coats being made long to reach down to the ankles needed girdles especially when in service that they might perform it more expeditiously:

and put bonnets on them; which were made of fine linen also and differed from the mitre of the high priest only in the manner of rolling up the linen:

as the Lord commanded Moses; as all the above things were made so they were all put on according to the directions Moses received of the Lord who was faithful in his house with respect to everything he enjoined him Hebrews 3:2.

 

Leviticus 8:14.  14 And he brought the bull for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering

   YLT  14And he bringeth nigh the bullock of the sin-offering and Aaron layeth -- his sons also -- their hands on the head of the bullock of the sin-offering

And he brought the bullock for the sin offering .... To the tabernacle into the court of it to the altar of burnt offering there; that is he caused it to be brought thither as he was ordered Exodus 29:10.

and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering; their right hands according to the Targum of Jonathan which is not improbable thereby as it were transferring their sins to it and confessing them over it; acknowledging their guilt and that they deserved to die as that creature would which was to be a vicarious sacrifice for sin and whose blood was to purify and sanctify the altar at which they sinful men were to serve.

 

Leviticus 8:15.  15 and Moses killed it. Then he took the blood and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it.

   YLT  15and [one] slaughtereth and Moses taketh the blood and putteth on the horns of the altar round about with his finger and cleanseth the altar and the blood he hath poured out at the foundation of the altar and sanctifieth it to make atonement upon it.

And he slew it .... Not Aaron nor any of his sons who as yet were not fully consecrated and installed into their office but Moses as follows:

and Moses took the blood; which was received into a basin when the bullock was slain:

and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger; upon the four horns of the altar which were at the four corners of it and dipping his finger into the blood he besmeared the horns with it and drew it about with his finger here and there; and so is said to be done round about the altar as these horns were:

and purified the altar; or cleansed it; not from moral guilt and pollution which it was incapable of but from all ceremonial pollution it might be supposed to have:

and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar; the rest of the blood he did not use about the horns:

and sanctified it; separated it from common to sacred use:

to make reconciliation upon it; that it might be fit to have sacrifices offered on it to make atonement and reconciliation for sins; for which reason it was necessary it should itself be pure and holy in such sense it was capable of being so.

 

Leviticus 8:16.  16 Then he took all the fat that was on the entrails the fatty lobe attached to the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and Moses burned them on the altar.

   YLT  16And he taketh all the fat that [is] on the inwards and the redundance above the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and Moses maketh Perfume on the altar

And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards .... Called the "omentum":

and the caul above the liver; the lobe upon the liver as the Septuagint; or "the caul" and "the liver" so says Jarchi; the liver separately for he took a little of the liver with it the caul:

and the two kidneys and their fat and Moses burned it upon the altar: the fat of these several parts which has been often observed was done; and in imitation of which the same has been done by the Persians and their Magi as related by StraboF24Geograph. l. 15. p. 504. and othersF25"Omentum in flamma pingue" &c. Catullus. ; and by the Romans to which PersiusF26"Tot tibi cum in flammis" &c. Satyr. 2. refers; and these several parts are generally covered with fat in fat creatures and especially sheep as AristotleF1Hist. Animal. l. 3. c. 17. observes.

 

Leviticus 8:17.  17 But the bull its hide its flesh and its offal he burned with fire outside the camp as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  17and the bullock and its skin and its flesh and its dung he hath burnt with fire at the outside of the camp as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

But the bullock and his hide his flesh and his dung he burnt with fire without the camp .... Aben Ezra observes that some say that he did this himself; and others that it was done by orders that is he ordered others to do it which seems probable enough:

as the Lord commanded Moses; Exodus 29:14.

 

Leviticus 8:18.  18 Then he brought the ram as the burnt offering. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram

   YLT  18And he bringeth near the ram of the burnt-offering and Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the head of the ram

And he brought the ram for the burnt offering .... One of the two he was ordered to take Leviticus 8:2.

and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram; as they had done before on the head of the bullock see Leviticus 8:14 their right hands as the Targum of Jonathan and that at the same time; not first Aaron and then his sons as a famous grammarian Aben Ezra makes mention of thought; but as he himself says they laid them on together.

 

Leviticus 8:19.  19 and Moses killed it. Then he sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.

   YLT  19and [one] slaughtereth and Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about;

And he killed it .... That is Moses killed the ram as the Septuagint version expresses it:

and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about; as he did the blood of the bullock Leviticus 8:15.

 

Leviticus 8:20.  20 And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burned the head the pieces and the fat.

  YLT  20and the ram he hath cut into its pieces and Moses maketh perfume with the head and the pieces and the fat

And he cut the ram into pieces .... Cut off its head and quartered it:

and Moses burnt the head and the pieces and the fat; even all of it as the following verse shows.

 

Leviticus 8:21.  21 Then he washed the entrails and the legs in water. And Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet aroma an offering made by fire to the Lord as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  21and the inwards and the legs he hath washed with water and Moses maketh perfume with the whole ram on the altar; it [is] a burnt-offering for sweet fragrance; it [is] a fire-offering to Jehovah as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And he washed the inwards and the legs in water .... The one being taken out the other cut off:

and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour and an offering made by fire unto the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses; see Exodus 29:18.

 

Leviticus 8:22.  22 And he brought the second ram the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram

   YLT  22And he bringeth near the second ram a ram of the consecrations and Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the head of the ram

Verses 22-25

And he brought the other ram the ram of consecration .... Or "filling"F2המלאים "plenitudinum" Montanus; "impletionum vel potius completionum" Drusius; Heb. "impletionum" Piscator. or "fulnesses"; because as Jarchi says these filled and perfected the priests in their priesthood; this was the finishing and consummation of their consecration: what is said in this and the three following verses Leviticus 8:23 is the same as is ordered Exodus 29:19 and needs no further explanation; See Gill on Exodus 29:19 Exodus 29:20 Exodus 29:21 Exodus 29:22.

 

Leviticus 8:23.  23 and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.

   YLT  23and [one] slaughtereth and Moses taketh of its blood and putteth on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the thumb of his right hand and on the great toe of his right foot;

 

Leviticus 8:24.  24 Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.

   YLT  24and he bringeth near the sons of Aaron and Moses putteth of the blood on the tip of their right ear and on the thumb of their right hand and on the great toe of their right foot. And Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about

 

Leviticus 8:25.  25 Then he took the fat and the fat tail all the fat that was on the entrails the fatty lobe attached to the liver the two kidneys and their fat and the right thigh;

   YLT  25and taketh the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that [is] on the inwards and the redundance above the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and the right leg;

 

Leviticus 8:26.  26 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened cake a cake of bread anointed with oil and one wafer and put them on the fat and on the right thigh;

   YLT  26and out of the basket of unleavened things which [is] before Jehovah he hath taken one unleavened cake and one cake of oiled bread and one thin cake and putteth [them] on the fat and on the right leg;

And out of the basket of unleavened bread .... Moses was ordered to take Leviticus 8:2

that was before the Lord; being brought to the tabernacle where now the Lord had taken up his residence:

he took one unleavened cake; which had no oil in it or upon it:

and a cake of oiled bread; which was mixed and tempered with oil:

and one wafer; which was anointed with oil:

and put them upon the fat and upon the right shoulder; of the ram of consecration which he took from it and laid the cakes uppermost upon them.

 

Leviticus 8:27.  27 and he put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord.

   YLT  27and putteth the whole on the hands of Aaron and on the hands of his sons and waveth them -- a wave-offering before Jehovah.

And he put all upon Aaron's hands and upon his son's hands .... The fat and the right shoulder with the cakes upon them:

and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord; See Gill on Exodus 29:24.

 

Leviticus 8:28.  28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were consecration offerings for a sweet aroma. That was an offering made by fire to the Lord.

   YLT  28And Moses taketh them from off their hands and maketh perfume on the altar on the burnt-offering they [are] consecrations for sweet fragrance; it [is] a fire-offering to Jehovah;

And Moses took them from off their hands .... After they had been waved before the Lord:

and burnt them upon the altar upon the burnt offering; of the other ram; or after that burnt offering as Jarchi who observes that we do not find that the shoulder of peace offerings was offered in any place but this it belonged to the priest; but this being at the consecration of the priests it was offered to the Lord by Moses to whom it seems to have belonged as the breast also but that was not burnt but eaten: and the same writer affirms that Moses ministered all the seven days of the consecration in a white shirt or surplice; and that he might wear a linen coat as priests did is not improbable since he now officiated as one:

they were consecrated for a sweet savour; acceptable to the Lord and so the priests Aaron and his sons likewise on whose account they were made:

it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat the shoulder and the cakes.

 

Leviticus 8:29.  29 And Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ part of the ram of consecration as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  29and Moses taketh the breast and waveth it -- a wave-offering before Jehovah; of the ram of the consecrations it hath been to Moses for a portion as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And Moses took the breast .... Of the ram of consecration:

and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord; this Moses seems to have waved with his own hands and not upon the hands of Aaron and his sons putting his under them as in the wave offering of the fat shoulder and cakes and for which the following words seem to give a reason:

for of the ram of consecration it was Moses's part; the breast of it was his:

as the Lord commanded Moses; see Exodus 29:26.

 

Leviticus 8:30.  30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron on his garments on his sons and on the garments of his sons with him; and he consecrated Aaron his garments his sons and the garments of his sons with him.

   YLT  30And Moses taketh of the anointing oil and of the blood which [is] on the altar and sprinkleth on Aaron on his garments and on his sons and on the garments of his sons with him and he sanctifieth Aaron his garments and his sons and the garments of his sons with him.

And Moses took of the anointing oil and of the blood which was upon the altar .... Which was sprinkled upon the altar round about Leviticus 8:24 and these two seem to be mixed together since it follows:

and sprinkled it upon Aaron &c. See Gill on Exodus 29:21.

 

Leviticus 8:31.  31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons “Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of consecration offerings as I commanded saying ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’

   YLT  31And Moses saith unto Aaron and unto his sons `Boil ye the flesh at the opening of the tent of meeting and there ye do eat it and the bread which [is] in the basket of the consecrations as I have commanded saying Aaron and his sons do eat it.

And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons .... After he had offered the bullock the two rams and cakes of unleavened bread for the consecration of them:

boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; the remainder of the flesh of the ram of consecration which was all but the fat the shoulder and the breast:

and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecration; what was left of that there being one cake of a sort taken out of it and burnt:

as I commanded saying Aaron and his sons shall eat it; see Exodus 29:32.

 

Leviticus 8:32.  32 What remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire.

   YLT  32`And the remnant of the flesh and of the bread with fire ye burn;

And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread .... Until the next morning which could not be eaten by Aaron and his sons:

shall ye burn with fire; that it might not be corrupted nor put to common nor superstitious uses.

 

Leviticus 8:33.  33 And you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days until the days of your consecration are ended. For seven days he shall consecrate you.

   YLT  33and from the opening of the tent of meeting ye go not out seven days till the day of the fulness the days of your consecration -- for seven days he doth consecrate your hand;

And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days .... Which was the time of their consecration so long it lasted; and they had provision enough every day from the ram of consecration whose flesh they were to boil and eat. The Jewish writersF3Aben Ezra Hiscuni in loc. are puzzled where they should ease nature since the place was holy; but the orders are not to be considered as so strict but that they might go in and out though they were not to stay long or to attend to any other business; and it was always necessary there should be some upon the spot keeping the Lord's charge in their turns; and it was always requisite that they should also sleep alternately; for it cannot be thought that they should be all this time without rest any more than without food:

until the days of your consecration be at an end; which were to continue so long:

for seven days shall he consecrate you; that is Moses who here speaks of himself in the third person as appears from Exodus 29:35. Aben Ezra observes that the word "end" is wanting and that the sense is at the end of seven days he shall consecrate you finish their consecration; all the seven days he was doing it and at the end of the seventh concluded it.

 

Leviticus 8:34.  34 As he has done this day so the Lord has commanded to do to make atonement for you.

   YLT  34as he hath done on this day Jehovah hath commanded to do to make atonement for you;

As he hath done this day so the Lord hath commanded to do .... The same were to be repeated every day until the seven days were ended; so Jarchi and Aben Ezra; the former of these observes that their Rabbins explain the phrase "to do" in the preceding clause of the business of the red heifer and that which follows:

to make an atonement for you of the business of the day of atonement; and say that it may be learned from hence that the high priest was obliged to be separate (from his own house and family) seven days before that and so the priest that burned the red heifer; and the same is observed by other Jewish writersF4Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Yoma c. 1. sect. 1. & in Parah c. 3. sect. 1. : but this refers to neither of these cases but to the present consecration of Aaron and his sons and the making atonement by sacrifice for them and the sanctification of them to minister in the priest's office.

 

Leviticus 8:35.  35 Therefore you shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord so that you may not die; for so I have been commanded.”

   YLT  35and at the opening of the tent of meeting ye abide by day and by night seven days and ye have kept the charge of Jehovah and die not for so I have been commanded.'

Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation .... Or rather "within" it as Noldius renders it since they were not to go out of the door of it Leviticus 8:33 whereas our version seems to leave it undetermined whether they abode without the door or within; where they were to continue:

day and night seven days; even the seven days of their consecration:

and keep the charge of the Lord that ye die not; not the charge of the tabernacle and the service of it committed to them upon their investiture with their office hereafter to be observed by them; but what was charged upon them to attend unto during the seven days of their consecration; and the penalty being death in case of failure was to make them more careful and cautious of transgressing; and which was the more necessary as they were to be pure and holy at their entrance upon their work: and though this may seem somewhat severe yet the aggravation of their sin would be the greater as it was to a sacred and honourable work they were called and to which they were now consecrating; and as what was required of them was what might easily be complied with: however Moses to show that this was not of himself but by divine authority adds:

for so I am commanded; that is to declare unto them that if they did not punctually observe the above orders they must expect to die.

 

Leviticus 8:36.  36 So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.

   YLT  36And Aaron doth -- his sons also -- all the things which Jehovah hath commanded by the hand of Moses.

So Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. They submitted to have them done to them and for them what was done on the first day of their consecration all the rest of the days; and they kept within the tabernacle all that time as was enjoined them.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Leviticus 8:8 Literally the Lights and the Perfections (compare Exodus 28:30)