Levítico 8

Levítico 8

Constable - The consecration ceremonies involved many of the sacrifices just described. The institution of the Aaronic priesthood constituted the fulfillment of God's commands recorded in Exodus 28:1ff thru Ex 29:1ff and Ex 40:1ff. Almost every verse in Lev 8 is a quotation or allusion to commands first given in Exodus 29. Lev 9:1ff contains freer summaries of the laws in Leviticus 1-7. Thus we learn that Moses adhered strictly to God's instructions. Until now Israel followed the custom common in the ancient Near East that the father of a family functioned as a priest for his family (Cf. Job 1:5). The Levites as a tribe now assumed this role for the families of Israel under the leadership of Aaron and his sons. The nation as a whole had forfeited the privilege of being a kingdom of priests at Mt. Sinai when they worshipped the Golden Calf. Now this privilege became the portion of the faithful tribe of Levi. The main function of the priests in Israel was to guard and protect the holiness of God....The three chapters in this section parallel each other in form and content as well as containing contrasts. The effect of this triptych is to present an especially impressive panorama of this great event. A triptych is a group of three pictures each of which has its own individual scene and beauty but when placed side by side reveal that each one is also part of a larger picture that all three complete. (Leviticus 8 Commenary) NET Note - Lev 8 is the fulfillment account of the ordination legislation recorded in Exod 29, and is directly connected to the command to ordain the tabernacle and priesthood in Exod 40:1–16 as well as the partial record of its fulfillment in Ex 40:17–38. (Leviticus 8) Allen Ross - If coming into the presence of the LORD calls for sanctification, then going into his presence on behalf of others requires a special sanctity and a distinct calling. It is as the LORD said, “I will be sanctified in them who come near me, / and before all the people I will be glorified” (Lev. 10:3). And so the Book of Leviticus focuses a good deal on the requirements of spiritual leaders who draw near to God on behalf of others: the mediating high priest and the ministering priests....The central theme of this chapter is consecration to service. Contributing to the development of this major theme are several theological motifs relevant to the qualifications for ministry: purification (washing with water), preparation (vesting with clothing), consecration (anointing with oil), sanctification (applying the blood), dedication (filling the hands), and inauguration (eating the meal). Each of these opens up a significant amount of biblical material for further study. And beyond this the passage has significance for the New Testament emphasis on the eternal high priesthood of Jesus the Messiah. (Holiness to the Lord- A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus - William Barrick says "belongs in the library of every serious expositor.") Ross adds that "Kings...sometimes offered sacrifices: David, when he transferred the ark of the covenant, offered burnt and peace offerings and blessed the people (2Sa 6:17); and Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, did likewise (1Ki 8:5, 62-66). But these were exceptions, as these kings were actively involved in establishing temple worship in the nation. "On the other hand, Saul (1Sa 13:8-14), Adonijah (1Ki 1:9), Uzziah (2Chr 26:16-21), and Ahaz (2Ki 16:13-14; 2Chr 28:1-5) also performed the priestly ritual of offering sacrifices—but without the LORD's approval as some of the prophetic responses indicate." Gorman observes how this ritual, performed before the whole community (Lev 8:1–4), forms the fifth of five major foundation ceremonies stretching from Genesis 1 to Leviticus 8. Each is divided into seven sections: • seven acts of speech (on seven days) for the creation of the world (Ge 1:1–2:4a) • seven speeches for the creation of sacred space in the tabernacle (Ex 25–31) • seven acts of Moses in the construction of sacred space (Ex 40:17–33) • seven speeches for the sacrifices in the sacred space (Lev 1–7) • seven acts for the ordination of the priests for the sacred space (Lev 8) Thus this chapter describes the conclusion and culmination of God’s creation of a means to maintain a relationship with his people. Edersheim - "It need scarcely be said, that everything connected with the priesthood was intended to be symbolical and typical—the office itself, its functions, even its dress and outward support. . . . The fundamental ideas which underlay all and connected it into a harmonious whole, were reconciliation and mediation: the one expressed by typically atoning sacrifices, the other by a typically intervening priesthood. . . ."But there was yet another idea to be expressed by the priesthood. The object of reconciliation was holiness." (Temple--Its Ministry and Services) G Campbell