- Book: [[Exodus]] - Previous chapter: [[Exodus 28]] - Next chapter: [[Exodus 30]] > [!summary] Summary > - A seven-day ordination ceremony consecrates [[Aaron]] and his sons: washing, robing, anointing, and three animal sacrifices > - Blood from the ordination ram is applied to the ear, thumb, and big toe — consecrating hearing, doing, and walking > - A daily burnt offering of two lambs (morning and evening) is established; the goal: God will dwell among [[Israel]] and be their God > [!info] Why is this here? > - Priests cannot serve a holy God without being made holy themselves — the elaborate ordination makes them fit for service > - The blood on ear, thumb, and toe is total consecration: the whole person — all that they hear, do, and walk in — is set apart for God > - The chapter ends with the great purpose statement: "I will dwell among the [[Israelites]] and be their God" — the [[Tabernacle]] exists to make this possible # Overview ## v. 1-9: Preparations and robing - A bull and two rams without defect; unleavened bread in a basket - Wash [[Aaron]] and sons with water; dress [[Aaron]] in full priestly garments; anoint with oil - Dress sons in tunics, caps, sashes; the priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance ## v. 10-14: Sin offering — the bull - [[Aaron]] and sons lay hands on the bull's head (identifying with the sacrifice) - [[Moses]] slaughters it; blood on the altar horns, rest poured at the base - Fat and internal organs burned on the altar; flesh, hide, and intestines burned outside the camp ## v. 15-18: Burnt offering — the first ram - Entire ram burned on the altar — a pleasing aroma, fully given to God ## v. 19-28: Ordination offering — the second ram - Blood applied to the right ear lobe, right thumb, right big toe of [[Aaron]] and his sons - Remaining blood sprinkled against the altar sides - Wave offering of fat, bread, and the breast; the breast becomes [[Moses]]' portion - The wave and lifted thigh: a perpetual share for [[Aaron]] and his sons from [[Israel]]'s fellowship offerings > [!note] Blood on the ear, thumb, and toe > Consecrating three extremities covers the whole person: the ear (hearing God's word), the hand (doing God's work), and the foot (walking in God's ways). Nothing is left unconsecrated in the priest's service. ## v. 29-37: Ordination passes down; seven-day altar atonement - [[Aaron]]'s sacred garments pass to his successors; worn during seven-day ordination - Each day a bull is sacrificed to purify the altar; on the seventh day the altar becomes "most holy" ## v. 38-46: Daily burnt offerings - Two lambs daily — one at dawn, one at twilight — with grain offering and wine - "There I will meet you and speak to you... I will meet with the [[Israelites]]" - "I will dwell among the [[Israelites]] and be their God... I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of [[Egypt]] so that I might dwell among them"