Leviticus 8:22-30

What does the ordination ram show about the priests’ whole service?

Berean Standard Bible

22 After that, Moses presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splattered the blood on all sides of the altar. 25 And Moses took the fat—the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with their fat—as well as the right thigh. 26 And from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer, and he placed them on the fat portions and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the LORD as a wave offering. 28 Then Moses took these from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. 29 He also took the breast—Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination—and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him. 30 Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.

What is the context?

The second ram is specifically the ram of ordination. Its blood is applied to the right ear, thumb, and big toe of Aaron and his sons, and portions with bread are presented and burned.

The blood and oil also reach the priests and their garments. The repeated acts set the people and what they wear apart together. Moses receives the portion assigned to him in this ceremony; the account is not simply repeating every rule of an ordinary peace offering.

How is this passage commonly understood?

The USCCB notes read the ear, thumb, and toe as representing the whole person’s passage into holy service. Wesley also treats the ceremony as consecration and recognizes Moses’ priestly role in receiving a portion. These readings do not require a separate prediction for each body part or a claim that one side of the human body has greater moral worth.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

1 Peter 2:4–10 calls Christ’s people a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Jesus. That Bible-wide theme extends the language of a people set apart for God into the life of those who come to Christ. It does not make this ordination rite a command for Christians to apply animal blood to their bodies.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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