Leviticus 8:6

8:1-13 The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, Re 1:5,6; and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb 10:22. The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons,.... To the laver which was in the court of the tabernacle and washed them with water; to show that they should be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord, and offer the sacrifices of the people; all that are in public office in the house of God ought to have both clean hands and a pure heart, to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, and to be of a pure and holy conversation; and indeed all that are made kings and priests to God, as all the saints are, they are washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus, Revelation 1:5.

Verse 6. - Washing, robing, anointing, sacrificing, are the four means by the joint operation of which the consecration is effected. The washing, or bathing, took place in the sight of the people. The whole of the person, except so much as was covered by the linen drawers ( Exodus 28:42 ), was washed . The symbolical significance is clear. Cleansing from sin precedes clothing in righteousness and spiritual unction. Leviticus 8:6

Washed them with water - Moses caused them to bathe entirely (compare Leviticus 16:4 ), not merely to wash their hands and feet, as they were to do in their daily ministrations. See the marginal reference. This bathing, which the high priest had also to go through on the day of atonement, was symbolic of the spiritual cleansing required of all 2 Corinthians 7:1 , but especially of those who had to draw near to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Hebrews 7:26 ; Matthew 3:15 .

6. Moses … washed them with water—At consecration they were subjected to entire ablution, though on ordinary occasions they were required, before entering on their duties, only to wash their hands and feet. This symbolical ablution was designed to teach them the necessity of inward purity, and the imperative obligation on those who bore the vessels and conducted the services of the sanctuary to be holy.

(6) And washed them with water. —As the first initiatory rite of the consecration, Moses caused Aaron and his sons to bathe (see Leviticus 16:4 ), thus symbolising their purification from sin. Where the phrase “to wash with water” is used without specifying any particular part or parts of the body, as in Genesis 19:2 ; Genesis 24:32 , Exodus 30:19 ; Exodus 30:21 , Deuteronomy 21:6 , it denotes the washing or bathing of the entire body. This was not done in the presence of the people, but in a baptistry, behind a curtain. During the second Temple the sacerdotal immersion could not be effected in a vessel, but had to take place in a hollow made in the ground, containing at least twenty-four cubic feet of water. The installation of the priest, which is here conducted by Moses, as the giver and representative of the Divine law, was during the second Temple performed by the Sanhedrin, who “sat in Moses’ seat.”

After this the act of consecration commenced. It consisted of two parts: first, the consecration of the persons themselves to the office of the priesthood, by washing, clothing, and anointing ( Leviticus 8:6-13 ); and secondly, the sacrificial rites, by which the persons appointed to the priestly office were inducted into the functions and prerogatives of priests (vv. 16-36). Leviticus 8:6-13 The washing, clothing, and anointing. - Leviticus 8:6. "Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water;" i.e., directed them to wash themselves, no doubt all over, and not merely their hands and feet. This cleansing from bodily uncleanness was a symbol of the putting away of the filth of sin; the washing of the body, therefore, was a symbol of spiritual cleansing, without which no one could draw near to God, and least of all those who were to perform the duties of reconciliation.

[Reformed Biblical] e Exo_29:20. Leviticus 8:24 Leviticus 8:25 Leviticus 8:26 Leviticus 8:27 Leviticus 8:28 Leviticus 8:29 ## Moses at this time administering the priest’s office was to receive the priest’s wages; it being most just and reasonable that the work and wages should go together. Leviticus 8:30 Leviticus 8:31 ## Boil the flesh, that which was left of the ram, and particularly the breast, which was said to be Moses’s part, Lev_8:29, and by him was given to Aaron, that he and his sons might eat of it, in token that they, and only they, should have the right to do so for the future. Leviticus 8:32 Leviticus 8:33 ## For seven days the same ceremonies were to be repeated, as the next verse implies, and other rit es to be perfor med. ## He consecrate you; either God or Moses; for the words may be spoken by Moses, either in God’s name, or in his own; Moses speaking of himself in the third person, which is very common in Scripture. Leviticus 8:34 Leviticus 8:35 ## The charge of the Lord; what God hath commanded you concerning your consecra

[Reformed Biblical] Leviticus 8:10 Leviticus 8:11 ## Seven times, to signify the singular use and holiness of it, which it was not only to have in itself, but also to communicate to all the sacrifices laid upon it. The laver, where the priests washed themselves, and the sacrifices, and vessels or instruments of the holy ministration. See Lev_6:28. Leviticus 8:12 ## He poured of the anointing oil in a plentiful manner, as appears from Psa_133:2, whereas other persons and things were only anointed or sprinkled with it. Leviticus 8:13 Leviticus 8:14 There were indeed seven bullocks to be offered at his consecration, one every day, Exo_29:35,36; but here he mentions only one, either by a common enallage of number, or because he here describes only the work of the first day, and leaves the rest to be gathered from it; of which see Lev_8:33. Leviticus 8:15 Leviticus 8:16 Leviticus 8:17 In the offerings for the people the hide was not burnt, but given to the priest. Leviticus 8:18 Leviticus 8:19 ## He killed it; either Moses , as in the fo llowing clause, the pronoun being put for the noun; or some other person by Moses’s appointment; which may be the reason why he is not named here, as he is to the sprinkling of the blood, which was an ac tion more prop er to the prie st, and more e ssential to the sacrifice, as the learned have observed. Leviticus 8:20 Leviticus 8:21 Leviticus 8:22 Leviticus 8:23 The lowest and softest part of the ear is called the tip or lap of the ear. Se