Scripture Daily

Context No. 87 of 4322 · Leviticus

Context · Reflection

Leviticus 8:1-13: in context

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting.” 4Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 5Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded to be done.” 6Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it. 8He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. 9He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses. 10Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them. 11He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them. 12He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus gave the instructions for making priests. Leviticus 8 is the day it happens, and the whole community is assembled at the door of the tent to watch. This passage is the ordination of Aaron and his sons, and almost all of it is getting dressed.

Moses washes them with water. Then he puts the tunic on Aaron, ties the sash, adds the robe, then the ephod with its woven band, then the breastpiece, and into the breastpiece the Urim and Thummim, the objects used to seek a decision from God. Then the turban, and on the front of the turban a gold plate, the holy crown. Then he anoints the tabernacle and everything in it with oil, and pours oil on Aaron's head. Then the sons are brought forward and clothed.

Aaron is passive throughout. He is washed, dressed, and anointed by someone else, and this is the same Aaron who made the golden calf. The garments are described in Exodus as being for glory and for beauty, and they are put on a man who had already failed badly, in front of everyone who knew it. The office is not a verdict on the man. What am I disqualifying myself from on the grounds of something I have already been forgiven for?

Sources