Левит 8:8

Induction of Aaron and His Sonsinto the Priestly Office - Leviticus 8-10 To the law of sacrifice there is appended first of all an account of the fulfilment of the divine command to sanctify Aaron and his sons as priests, which Moses had received upon the mount along with the laws concerning the erection of the sanctuary of the tabernacle (Ex 28 and 29). This command could not properly be carried out till after the appointment and regulation of the institution of sacrifice, because most of the laws of sacrifice had some bearing upon this act. The sanctification of the persons, whom God had called to be His priests, consisted in a solemn consecration of these persons to their office by investiture, anointing, and sacrifice (ch. 8), - their solemn entrance upon their office by sacrifices for themselves and the people (ch. 9), - the sanctification of their priesthood by the judgment of God upon the eldest sons of Aaron, when about to offer strange, fire-and certain instructions, occasioned by this occurrence, concerning the conduct of the priests in the performance of their service (ch. 10).

This chapter gives us an account of the solemn consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priest's office. I. It was done publicly, and the congregation was called together to be witnesses of it (Lev 8:1-4). II. It was done exactly according to God's appointment (Lev 8:5). 1. They were washed and dressed (Lev 8:6-9, Lev 8:13). 2. The tabernacle and the utensils of it were anointed, and then the priests (Lev 8:10-12). 3. A sin-offering was offered for them (Lev 8:14-17). 4. A burnt-offering (Lev 8:18-21). 5. The ram of consecration (Lev 8:22-30). 6. The continuance of this solemnity for seven days (Lev 8:31, etc.).

8:8 The chestpiece (see Exod 28:15-30) was made of embroidered linen folded double. It bore twelve stones, each engraved with the name of a tribe of Israel. It was suspended over the heart by a gold chain from the gold shoulder-pieces of the ephod. • The Urim and the Thummim were placed in the pocket of the chestpiece (Exod 28:30; 1 Sam 23:9-12; 30:7-8); the precise function of these items is uncertain. They are generally thought of as two stones, perhaps each different in color, that were cast as lots. They apparently could give a positive, neutral, or negative answer to questions that could not otherwise be resolved (Exod 28:30; Num 27:21; 1 Sam 28:6). Their mention in Old Testament prophetic literature written centuries later (Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65) demonstrates how important these items were to the office of priest.