OK, so what made the priests so special? God chose them. And they were the conduit by which the Israelites atoned for their daily goofs. And by goofs, I mean soul-damning rejection of the LORD. This was a grave responsibility. And because of the importance of this responsibility, God made very clear the instructions. Convoluted, yeah.
The first step was to prepare the offering. This was comprised of the following:
- a young bull and two rams without defect.
- from fine wheat flour, 86 the yeast: bread, cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil
The Ordination
This was a process as well. Aaron and his sons had to br brough to the Tent of Meeting and washed up. Aaron had to be dressed up in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, and the turban and diadem.
Then Aaron had to be anointed with oil poured on his head. Not sure why, God just said it.
Then Aaron's sons had to be brought in, dressed in tunics and headbands, and then the whole crew received sashes.
The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
The Sin Offering
This was the purpose of the bull. The priests would lay their hands on it's head and then slaughter it before the LORD at the tabernacle entrance. The bull's blood was to be dabbed onto the horns of the altar, and then the rest poured out at the base. On the altar, the bull's fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver and the kidneys were burned. The rest of the flesh was burned outside the camp.
The Burnt Offering
This is described as a pleasing aroma, made to the LORD by fire. One of the previously described rams was purposed in this way. Same way as the bull - the priests would lay hands on its head and then slaughter it. The blood here was to be sprinkled on the sides of the altar. This lamb was cut into pieces and the pieces washed, and then the entire lamb was burned on the altar. Not sure why that was a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It probably didn't smell like a nice barbecue. It was probably the symbolic burning of sin that was pleasing. And I wonder if they washed the blood off the altar at all. Because I imagine it would get pretty rotten.
The Fellowship Offering
The Consecration
This was the second ram. This is the most deeply described offering. Again, the laying on of hands, and then the slaughter. Then blood was to be dabbed onto the lobes of the priests' right earlobes (hearing), right thumbs (doing), and right big toes (following?). The blood was also to be sprinkled against the sides of the altar. I'm guessing to signify that all sides were covered by the blood. Also, some of the blood, along with anointing oil, was to be sprinkled on the priests' and their garments.
The Ordination
From the second ram, the fat, the fat tail, the internal organ fat, the liver and the two fatty kidneys, and the right thigh (In Gen. 24, we learned that oaths were sworn with the thigh) were to be separated out. These parts, along with a loaf of bread, an oil cake, and a wafer were to be given to Aaron and his sons as a wave offering. Basically, they were to wave them at the LORD. Other translations have "lift up." Then they are to be burned on the altar before the LORD. Then Moses can wave the ram's breast at the LORD, and have it as his share.
The waved thigh and the presented breast are to be the regular share...meal ticket, I spose...for Aaron and his sons, and it is Israel's fellowship offering before the LORD.
Aaron's garments are to be passed down to his descendants, and whoever takes over has to wear the priestly garments for seven days.
The rest of the ram is to be cooked in a "sacred place." Then at the entrance to the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons can eat the offerings "by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration." That's a mouthful, but essentially means they were offered for that purpose. Any leftovers can't be munched by anyone else, because they were consecrated and ordained...and therefore sacred. It has to be burned up.
This ordination process is to take seven days. A bull is to be sacrified each day, and the altar is supposed to be purified each day.
Two lambs are also to be sacrificed each day as a part of this atonement. One in the morning, and one at twilight with a bit of flour, olive oil and wine. The Bible says this offering is to be made regularly. I don't know if that's yearly, but I'll probably find out. This tent of meeting is where God will meet Moses and speak to him and the Israelites, and will consecrate the place with His glory. His awesomeness. Probably the only Person who could make a place consecrated by His sheer awesomeness.
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