The Ram of Ordination
The ram of ordination consecrates Aaron and his sons with blood, oil, and offerings so they may serve as priests before the Lord.
Exodus 29:19-28 (BSB)
19 Take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
20 Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Splatter the remaining blood on all sides of the altar.
21 And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. Then he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments.
22 Take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh (since this is a ram for ordination),
23 along with one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD.
24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.
25 Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar atop the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is a food offering to the LORD.
26 Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion.
27 Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is lifted up from the ram of ordination.
28 This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is the heave offering the Israelites will make to the LORD from their peace offerings.
What is the big idea of Exodus 29:19-28?
The ram of ordination consecrates Aaron and his sons with blood, oil, and offerings so they may serve as priests before the LORD.
How does Exodus 29:19-28 point to Christ?
Exodus 29:19-28 shows that priestly service requires consecration through sacrificial blood and holy anointing. Aaron and his sons are marked so they may serve, but they remain priests who need sacrifice. Christ fulfills priestly consecration as the sinless high priest whose own blood secures access, cleanses his people, and consecrates them for service before God.
How does Exodus 29:19-28 relate to the life and ministry of Jesus?
This passage does not directly narrate the life of Jesus, but it prepares priestly and sacrificial categories later fulfilled in Christ. Aaron and his sons must be consecrated by repeated rites before serving; Christ, holy in himself, offers the final priestly mediation through his own blood and consecrates his people for service before God.
Authorial Intent
To command the second ram of ordination, including hand-laying, blood applied to Aaron and his sons, blood splashed on the altar, blood and oil sprinkled on priests and garments, the wave offering placed in priestly hands, and the priestly portions established as a lasting due from Israel’s fellowship offerings.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is the second ram called the ram of ordination?
- What does the blood on the right ear, thumb, and big toe communicate about priestly service?
- Why are blood and anointing oil sprinkled on the priests and their garments?
- What is the significance of placing the wave offering in the priests’ hands?
- How do the priestly portions show the LORD’s provision for those serving in holy ministry?
- How does Christ’s blood consecrate his people in a superior way?
- Where does our hearing, service, or walk need to be consciously yielded to the LORD?
Literary Context
This unit follows the bull sin offering and the first ram burnt offering in the consecration sequence. The earlier offerings dealt with purification and whole-offering dedication; this passage moves to the ram of ordination, where Aaron and his sons themselves are visibly marked and installed for priestly service. It also anticipates the ongoing priestly portions that will belong to Aaron and his sons from Israel's fellowship offerings.
Historical Context
The second ram follows the bull of the sin offering and the first ram as burnt offering. This ram is specifically the ram of ordination, focusing on the installation of Aaron and his sons into priestly office.
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.