The twenty-ninth chapter of Exodus is a pivotal text, detailing the sacred and intricate process of consecrating Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This ceremony was not a mere formality; it was a profound spiritual undertaking designed to set apart the priests for God’s holy service. It involved elaborate sacrifices, specific garments, and a seven-day ritual that transformed ordinary men into mediators between God and the people of Israel. This guide provides a deep exegetical exploration of every element of this consecration rite.
The Purpose and Significance of the Priestly Consecration
Before the intricate steps are outlined, it is crucial to understand the “why” behind the ceremony. The core purpose of the consecration was sanctification—to make holy. Aaron and his sons were to be set apart from the rest of the Israelites for a unique, sacred office. Their role was to represent the people before God, offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, and maintain the sanctity of the Tabernacle. This process served multiple functions:
- Atonement: The sacrifices made atonement for the priests’ sins, cleansing them and making them fit for service.
- Dedication: Every part of the ritual symbolized the complete dedication of their lives and entire beings to God.
- Identification: The priests were identified as chosen by God, clothed in garments “for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2).
- A Foreshadowing: The entire ceremony, especially the sacrifices, pointed forward to the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, and His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 7:26-28).
The Required Elements for the Consecration Ceremony
God commanded Moses to gather very specific items for the week-long ritual. Each item held symbolic meaning and was essential for the different stages of the ceremony.
- One young bull and two rams: These unblemished animals represented the key sacrifices: the bull for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.
- A basket of unleavened bread: This included three types: unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil. Leaven often symbolized sin, so its absence signified purity.
- The sacred garments: The specially crafted garments for Aaron: the tunic, robe, ephod, breastpiece, turban, and sash.
- The anointing oil: A unique, holy oil formulated from myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, and olive oil (Exodus 30:23-25), used to anoint the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests.
The Seven-Day Consecration Ritual: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
The ceremony was a multi-stage process that took place over seven days, symbolizing completeness.
Step 1: The Washing and Clothing of the Priests
The first act was one of purification.
“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water.” (Exodus 29:4)
This physical washing was a powerful symbol of spiritual cleansing, removing the defilement of the world. Following the washing, Aaron was clothed in the holy garments—the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastpiece. The turban with the golden plate inscribed “Holy to the LORD” was placed on his head. His sons were then clothed in their tunics and sashes. This act of clothing them signified that they were not serving in their own authority but were clothed in the righteousness and holiness provided by God for their office.
Step 2: The Anointing with Oil
After being clothed, Aaron was anointed.
“You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.” (Exodus 29:7)
The anointing oil was poured liberally on Aaron’s head, setting him apart as the High Priest. This anointing symbolized the empowerment by the Holy Spirit for the immense task ahead. It was a visible sign that he was chosen and enabled by God Himself.
Step 3: The Sacrifices
The core of the consecration involved three key sacrifices, each with a distinct purpose.
A. The Sin Offering (The Bull)
Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the bull’s head, symbolizing the transfer of their sin onto the innocent animal. The bull was then slaughtered. Its blood was applied to the horns of the altar, and the rest was poured at the base. The fat was burned on the altar, but the rest of the bull—its flesh, hide, and dung—was burned outside the camp. This signified the complete removal of sin from the presence of God.
B. The Burnt Offering (The First Ram)
Again, the priests laid their hands on the ram’s head. It was slaughtered, and its blood was thrown against the sides of the altar. The entire ram was cut into pieces and burned on the altar as “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” This represented the priests’ complete and total dedication of themselves to God.
C. The Ordination or Wave Offering (The Second Ram)
This was the most unique sacrifice. The ram was slaughtered, and its blood was applied to the right earlobe, thumb, and big toe of Aaron and his sons. This consecrated their hearing (to hear God’s word), their work (to perform God’s service), and their walk (to follow God’s path). This ram was also called the “ram of ordination.” Its blood was also sprinkled on the altar and the garments of the priests.
Parts of the ram, along with one of each type of unleavened bread, were placed in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This portion was then burned on the altar as a “pleasing aroma.” The breast of the ram was kept for Moses as his portion.
Step 4: The Continued Ritual and the Sacred Meal
The ceremony did not end with the sacrifices. The consecration was a seven-day process.
“You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you.” (Exodus 29:35)
Each day, for seven days, a bull was offered as a sin offering to make atonement, and the altar itself was purified and consecrated. The priests also partook of a sacred meal, eating the boiled meat of the ordination ram and the bread that was in the basket at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. This communal meal symbolized their fellowship with God and their reception of the provision from the sacrifice made on their behalf.
The Theology of Atonement and Mediation
The blood rituals in Exodus 29 are central to the entire theological framework of the Old Testament. The phrase “it shall be an atonement for him” is repeated, establishing a core principle: without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). The blood of the sacrifices temporarily covered sin and made a holy God accessible to a sinful people. The priests acted as essential mediators in this process, performing the rites that the people could not perform for themselves. This entire system was a “shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1), perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest who offered His own blood for eternal redemption.
The Daily Offerings and a Lasting Ordinance
The chapter concludes with instructions for the offerings that were to continue in perpetuity after the consecration: two lambs each day, one in the morning and one at twilight. This “regular burnt offering” ensured a continuous aroma of worship and atonement rising before God, maintaining the relationship between Him and His people. God promises a profound result: “I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them.” (Exodus 29:45-46). The entire purpose of the Tabernacle and the priesthood was realized—God dwelling with His people.
Fulfillment in the New Testament
For the Christian, Exodus 29 is not an obsolete ancient text. It is a rich tapestry that finds its ultimate meaning in Jesus Christ.
- The Ultimate High Priest: Jesus is the true and better High Priest, who was consecrated not with the blood of animals but through His own suffering (Hebrews 2:10, 5:7-10).
- The Perfect Sacrifice: Jesus is the perfect sin offering, whose blood does not just cover sin but takes it away completely. He was “offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28).
- The True Anointing: Jesus was anointed not with oil but with the Holy Spirit without measure (Matthew 3:16, John 3:34).
- Our Consecration: Believers, as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), are consecrated through the blood of Christ and called to offer themselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1).
The detailed rituals of Exodus 29 point beyond themselves to a greater reality: the glorious truth that through Christ, we have direct access to a holy God, and He desires to dwell not just among us, but within us by His Spirit.