Exodus

Exodus 29:1-9

The Lord commands Aaron and His sons to be washed, clothed, anointed, and ordained for priestly service through His appointed consecration ceremony.

Exodus 29:1-9 (WEB)

1 “This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest’s office: take one young bull and two rams without defect,

2 unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour.

3 You shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bull and the two rams.

4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.

5 You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod.

6 You shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.

7 Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.

8 You shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them.

9 You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them. They shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. You shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.

Central Idea

The LORD commands Aaron and his sons to be washed, clothed, anointed, and ordained for priestly service through his appointed consecration ceremony.

Authorial Intent

To introduce the priestly consecration ceremony by commanding the animals, bread offerings, washing, vesting, anointing, and ordination actions by which Aaron and his sons are set apart to serve the LORD as priests.

Literary Context

Exodus 28 describes the priestly garments that represent holiness, dignity, memorial representation, and guarded access to the sanctuary. Exodus 29 now turns from garment design to priestly consecration. Verses 1-9 introduce the ordination process before the detailed sacrificial actions of verses 10-37. This opening unit gathers the materials, brings Aaron and his sons to the Tent of Meeting, washes them, clothes Aaron in the full high-priestly vestments, anoints him, clothes his sons, and formally gives them the priesthood.

Historical Context

After the priestly garments are commanded in Exodus 28, the LORD now gives the ceremony by which Aaron and his sons are consecrated. This ordination precedes their priestly service in the tabernacle.

Chapter: Exodus 29

The Consecration of the Priests and the LORD’s Promise to Dwell Among Israel

The LORD consecrates priests, altar, and daily sacrifice so He may meet with Israel, dwell among them, and be known as the God who redeemed them from Egypt.