Preparing for the Lord's Appearance
Study note
After seven days of ordination, the eighth day arrived, which was a day of new beginnings. Moses instructed Aaron to prepare a calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering for himself, plus several animals for the people's offerings. Moses promised that the glory of the Lord would appear to them that day. This was the moment Israel had been waiting for: the visible proof that God accepted their worship system.
1 When the eighth day arrived, Moses called together Aaron, his sons, and the Israelite leaders. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 He told Aaron, "Select a young calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Both animals must be flawless. Offer them in the Lord's presence." And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
3 "Then tell the people of Israel: Bring a male goat for a sin offering. Also bring a one-year-old calf and a one-year-old lamb. Both must have no flaws. These are for a burnt offering." And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4 "Also bring a bull and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice to the Lord, along with a grain offering blended with oil. Do all this because today the Lord is going to appear to you." Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
5 The people brought everything Moses requested to the front of the Tabernacle. The whole community came forward and stood in the Lord's presence. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
6 Moses announced, "The Lord has commanded you to do these things, and then the Lord's glory will be revealed to you." And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
7 Moses told Aaron, "Step up to the altar and present your sin offering and burnt offering. This will restore your own relationship with God and the people's too. Then present the people's sacrifices to restore their relationship with God, just as the Lord has instructed." And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
Aaron's Offerings for Himself
Study note
Aaron first had to offer a sin offering and burnt offering for his own sins before he could represent the people. Even the high priest was a sinner who needed forgiveness. The fact that Aaron had to sacrifice for himself first was a reminder that no human priest was perfect. Each step was done 'as the Lord commanded Moses,' showing that Aaron followed God's instructions exactly.
8 So Aaron approached the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9 His sons brought him the blood. He dipped his finger in it, smeared it on the altar's horns, and poured the remaining blood at the altar's base. And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
10 He burned the fat, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver from the sin offering on the altar. He did this just as the Lord told Moses. But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
11 He burned the meat and the hide outside the camp. And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
12 Next he slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against every side of the altar. And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
13 They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned each one on the altar. And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14 He rinsed the internal organs and legs and burned them on the altar on top of the rest of the burnt offering. And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
Aaron's Offerings for the People
Study note
After making things right for himself, Aaron offered a sin offering, burnt offering, grain offering, and peace offering for the people. This was the full range of sacrifices, covering the people's need for forgiveness, dedication, gratitude, and fellowship with God. Aaron then raised his hands and blessed the people, performing his first act as high priest.
15 Then Aaron presented the people's offerings. He took the goat for the people's sin offering, slaughtered it, and offered it just as he had done with his own sin offering. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16 He brought forward the people's burnt offering and prepared it the right way. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
17 He brought forward the grain offering, scooped out a handful, and burned it on the altar. This was separate from the regular morning burnt offering. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
18 Then he slaughtered the bull and the ram as the people's peace offerings. His sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against every side of the altar. He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19 They also brought the fat parts from both the bull and the ram. This included the fat tail, the fat around the organs, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver. And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20 They set these fat portions on top of the breast meat, and Aaron burned all the fat on the altar. And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21 Aaron lifted the breast pieces and the right thigh. He waved them before the Lord as a wave gift. He did just as Moses had told him. And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
The Glory of the Lord Appears
Study note
After the offerings, Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle together, then came out and blessed the people. At that moment, the glory of the Lord appeared to everyone. Fire came out from the Lord and burned up the offering on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down in worship. This dramatic display proved that God had accepted the sacrificial system and the priesthood of Aaron. It was one of the most important moments in Israel's history.
22 When everything was complete, Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. Then he stepped down from the altar. And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23 Moses and Aaron went together into the Tabernacle. When they came back out, they blessed the people -- and suddenly the Lord's glory appeared to everyone! And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
24 Fire blazed out from the Lord's presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people witnessed this, they erupted in shouts of joy and threw themselves face-down on the ground. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.