Regulations for The Priests
• Leviticus 6:8 – 7:38
• The LORD provides specific INSTRUCTIONS to
the priests regarding the FIVE types of
sacrifices to be made in TEMPLE worship.
• Continual DIALOGUE between Moses and
YAHWEH
• The INSTRUCTIONS deal with food
preparation, clothes to wear, how to dispose
of the ashes, how the fire should be kept
Holy Vestments
• Leviticus 6:9 - 10
• Holy Vestments marked the priest’s sacred
office and status when he OFFICIATED in the
SANCTUARY.
• Vestments consisted of an underskirt, linen
tunic, embroidered linen sash, and linen
skullcap.
• Each item received a sprinkling of blood and
holy oil.
The Priest…Decreed Forever
• Leviticus 6:22
• God designated the high priest as PRESENTER
of this offering.
• As such, each HP from that day forward was
responsible for this DAILY RITUAL
• Descendants of ancient ISRAEL no longer
make these offerings today because of the
destruction of the TEMPLE in AD 70.
• Which is why we have a NEW HIGH PRIEST
Therefore since we have a
great High Priest (Jesus
the Son of God) who has
gone through the
heavens, let us hold
firmly to the faith we
profess. For we do not
have a high priest who is
unable to understand us.
Why? Because he has
been tempted in every
way but has no sin.
(Hebrews 4:14-16)
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY
BREAD…
• See Leviticus 7:6 – 10
• God ORDAINED that the officiating priest was
given the meat of the guilt and sin offerings
and the hide of the burnt offering.
• The GRAIN offering, after the memorial
portions was burned, is DIVIDED equally
among the priests.
• Notice how GOD faithfully supplied the DAILY
needs of this OT priesthood.
3 TYPES of PEACE OFFERINGS
• To GIVE THANKS to
the LORD (7:11 – 15)
• To FULFILL a VOW
(7:16)
• To VOLUNTEER an
offering in a sense of
GRATITUDE and
CONSECRATION to
God (7:16)
Leviticus 8 – 15
Consecration of the Priests
Aaron’s Offering
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
Clean and Unclean Animals
Purification Laws
Leprosy Laws
Consecration of the Priests
Leviticus 8 (1 – 36)
A new section that presents
God’s GUIDELINES for the
ordination of the
priesthood.
God COMMANDS Moses to
CONDUCT the initial rite
of ordination for the
HIGH PRIEST
4 ELEMENTS OF THE ORDINATION
RITUAL
1. Vestments WORN by the priests when the
officiated at the altar
2. Holy ANNOINTING OIL that SANCTIFIED a
person or object
3. THREE ANIMALS for the sin, burnt, and
ORDINATION offering.
4. UNLEAVEND BREAD
Ordination was a public worship service
involving the entire Israelite community
RAM OF ORDINATION (8:22 – 29)
• Third SACRIFICE offered during rite of ordination.
• This was a unique offering in THREE WAYS:
• Moses splashed blood on the sides of the altar,
then applied blood to the right ear, right thumb,
and right big toe of the priestly candidate
• Moses performed a unique WAVE Offering
• Moses received the breast rather than the thigh,
because he was NOT a PRIEST, though he was a
LEVITE
And you shall not go outside the
entrance of the tent of meeting for
seven days, until the days of your
ordination are completed, for it will
take sevens days to ordain you…and
you will remain at the entrance of the
tent of meeting day and night…so
that you do not die, for so I have been
commanded Leviticus 8:33 – 36
A New Era Begins (Leviticus 9)
• The EIGHTH day of
ordination marked
the beginning of a
NEW ERA
• Aaron and His SONS
began their service
to GOD in their
CAPACITY as high
priest and priests.
The Aaron lifted up his hands toward
the people and blessed them and he
came toward the people and blessed
them…and the glory of the LORD
appeared to all the people. And the
fire came out from before the LORD
and consumed the offerings…and
when all the people saw it, they
shouted and fell on their faces
Now Nadab and Abihu,
the sons of Aaron, each
took his censer and put
fire in it and laid incense
on it, and offered
unauthorized fire before
the Lord, which he had
not commanded them.
And fire came out from
the Lord and consumed
them, and they died
before the Lord.
(Leviticus 10:1 – 2)
Important Priestly Duties
(10:10 – 11)
• They were to between the CLEAN
and UNCLEAN and the HOLY ad
COMMON
• They are were also responsible for
TEACHING the people of ISRAEL all
the statues that the LORD had
spoken to them by Moses
Bear the Iniquity … (10:17)
• The Levites bore the iniquity of the
people
• The Aaronic priests bore the iniquity of
the whole priesthood
• The High Priest bore the iniquity for
acts of sacrilege during worship
• The Day of Atonement bore the
iniquities of both priests and people
Manuel of Purity (chapters 11 – 15)
• Chapter 11 – Dietary Rules (clean and
unclean)
• Chapter 12 – Purification After
Childbirth
• Chapter 13 and 14 – Laws About Leprosy
• Chapter 15 – Laws about Bodily
Discharge
2x in chapter 11 we are reminded to
“be holy, for I am holy.”
v. 44 – For I am the LORD your God
v. 45 – For I brought you out of Egypt.
For I am the LORD your God…
This covenant phrase appears 45 times
from here to the end of Leviticus.
It serves as a reminder to the Israelites
that YAHWEH had distinguished Israel
from other nations (20:24), that He
might sanctify the chosen people
(20:8; 21:8) and be their God.
Purpose of the Dietary Rules
• Each dietary regulations was LOVINGLY
put in place so that God might protect his
PEOPLE from death such as what was
experienced by Nadab and Abihu, who
died because of their impurity.
• Disobedience to God’s Word results in
DEATH, but when we follow his word, he
grants LIFE and FELLOWSHIP by his
GRACE.
Purification After Childbirth
•
•
•
•
•
For a SON – Unclean for 7 days
For a DAUGHTER – Unclean for 14 days
For a Son on the 8th day circumcised
For a SON – 33 days of purification (40)
For a DAUGTHER – 66 days of purification
(80)
• Provide a burnt offering and sin offering
for purification
Purification After Childbirth
• Childbirth made a woman ceremonially
unclean
• These rules would exempt the NEW
mother from the RIGORS of the Law and
her TYPICAL role in family/community
life.
• The also promised cleansing and
restoration for mother and child.