Leviticus 7-9 Consecration of Priests

Thoughts

Leviticus 7

For the priests:

Guilt (Reparation) Offerings continued:

• Kill in same place where you kill for burnt offering
• Blood splattered and fat offered
• Priests eat in the holy place
• Priests get to keep skins of burnt offerings
• Grain offerings that are baked or cooked are given to the priest who offers them. Uncooked grain offerings are shared among all the priests.

Peace (Fellowship) Offerings:
שֶׁלֶם (shelem)

Peace offering of Thanksgiving
תּוֹדָה (Todah)

• Unleavened and leavened portion
• animal without blemish- eaten day of

Peace offering of Vow or Freewill:
נדֶר (neder) and נְדָבָה (nedavah)

• Meat can be eaten on 2nd day and burned on 3rd

You MUST be clean to eat flesh – and this is only offering that worshiper and guests may enjoy as well!

NO eating fats of ox, sheep or goats

NO eating meat of animal that dies (not killed by humans)

NO eating blood

Priest’s portions

• Those who bring fellowship offerings must personally present the fat and breast of the animal to the Lord.
• The breast is given to Aaron’s family (may use as wave offering), and the right thigh goes to the specific priest who offers the sacrifice.

Leviticus 8

God tells Moses to get Aaron and sons, garments, anointing oil, bull, 2 rams, unleavened bread

Moses washes them and dresses them in priestly clothes

Tabernacle and priests anointed

Sin offering -bull – to purify sins

Burnt offering- ram – to worship God

Ordination and wave offering – 2nd ram – blood is put on priests

Priests eat offering at tabernacle

7 days of consecration – not to leave tabernacle entrance.

Leviticus 9

8th day

Aaron is to offer:

• A sin offering (calf) and burnt offering (ram) for himself.
• A sin offering (male goat), burnt offering (calf and lamb), grain offering, and peace offering (ox and ram) for the people.

Aaron first has to atone for himself before he acts for the people.

Aaron with help of sons completes the offerings (including a wave offering)

Aaron blesses the people

God’s glory appears before the people and fire consumes the burnt offering
Similar thing happens other places in Bible! (from https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/leviticus-9/)

• · Aaron (Leviticus 9:24).
• · Gideon (Judges 6:21).
• · Manoah (Judges 13:19-23).
• · David (1 Chronicles 21:26).
• · Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1).
• · Elijah (1 Kings 18:38).

People shout and fall on their faces

Questions

Why do the past 3 chapters seem to be a bit jumbled?

Why does chapter 7:6 say Every male among the priests may eat it. – aren’t they all male

How did they have entire congregation at tabernacle entrance?

Could Aaron and sons catch on fire from sacrifices since they were covered in it?

Application

God’s way of consecrating the priests seems long and complicated, but it reminds me of the way God works in us today. It can be a long and messy process even if we want it to be quick and easy. It takes a while to shape us into the priests we are called to be. We don’t have to offer sacrifices now to approach God now that we have Jesus.

Moses Gives Aaron the Priesthood (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 15; see also lds.org/media-library),