Exodus 29:1

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXIX.

THE FORM OF CONSECRATION FOR THE PRIESTS.

(1) This is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them.—The consecration of the priests had been commanded in the preceding chapter (Exodus 28:41). The method of it is now laid down. It consists of five things :—(1) Ablution (Exodus 29:4); (2) Investiture (Exodus 29:5-9); (3) Chrism, or anointing (Exodus 29:7); (4) Sacrifice (Exodus 29:10-23); and (5) Filling the hand (Exodus 29:24). All of these were symbolical acts, typical of things spiritual—ablution, of the putting away of impurity; investiture, of being clothed with holiness; unction, of the giving of Divine grace, &c.; the entire consecration forming an acted parable, very suggestive and full of instruction to such as understood its meaning.

Take one young bullock.—The first thing to be done was to prepare the victims which would be needed, and to have them ready against the time when they would be required for sacrifice.

Without blemish.—Heb., perfect (See Note 1 on Exodus 12:5.)

Benson Commentary

Exodus 29:1. To hallow them, to minister to me — We come now to the directions given to Moses about the ceremonies of consecrating Aaron and his sons to the priests’ office. These were to be performed in a solemn manner, thereby to strike both them and the people with a still deeper sense of the dignity and sacredness of that function. They were chiefly to consist of three sacrifices, which, though distinguished from each other, were all of the expiatory kind, as appears from this, that the priests laid their hands on the two former, (Exodus 29:10; Exodus 29:15,) and were sprinkled with the blood of the last. Take one young bullock — This is mentioned first as the chief part of the ceremony, though several things were to be done previously to it, as washing them with water, (Exodus 29:4,) robing them in their sacerdotal garments, (Exodus 29:5,) anointing them with oil, (Exodus 29:7,) then the ceremony was to be completed by peculiar sacrifices, (Exodus 29:10-11;) all which things are described as put in execution, Leviticus 8:2.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:1-37 Aaron and his sons were to be set apart for the priest's office, with ceremony and solemnity. Our Lord Jesus is the great High Priest of our profession, called of God to be so; anointed with the Spirit, whence he is called Messiah, the Christ; clothed with glory and beauty; sanctified by his own blood; made perfect, or consecrated through sufferings, Heb 2:10. All believers are spiritual priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That they bear not iniquity and die - See Exodus 28:35, note; Exodus 28:38 note.

The consecration of the priests. See the notes to Leviticus 8-9.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 29

Ex 29:1-35. Consecrating the Priests and the Altar.

1. hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office—The act of inaugurating the priests was accompanied by ceremonial solemnities well calculated not only to lead the people to entertain exalted views of the office, but to impress those functionaries themselves with a profound sense of its magnitude and importance. In short, they were taught to know that the service was for them as well as for the people; and every time they engaged in a new performance of their duties, they were reminded of their personal interest in the worship, by being obliged to offer for themselves, before they were qualified to offer as the representatives of the people.

this is the thing that thou shalt do—Steps are taken at the beginning of a society, which would not be repeated when the social machine was in full motion; and Moses, at the opening of the tabernacle, was employed to discharge functions which in later periods would have been regarded as sacrilege and punished with instant death. But he acted under the special directions of God.The manner of consecrating priests, Exodus 29:1-3. Of consecrating Aaron and his sons, Exodus 29:4-7. The priests’ vesture, Exodus 29:8,9. How the bullock of the sin-offering was to be offered, Exodus 29:10-14. One ram for a burnt-offering, and the manner of offering, Exodus 29:15-18. A ram for hallowing the priests, Exodus 29:19-31. Aaron and his sons eat of the ram wherewith they where consecrated, Exodus 29:32,33. The altar sanctified for seven days, Exodus 29:36,37. Two lambs offered daily, Exodus 29:38. The time, Exodus 29:39. The manner of offering, Exodus 29:40-43. God’s promise to hallow the tabernacle, Aaron, and his sons, Exodus 29:44, and to dwell with them, Exodus 29:45,46.

No text from Poole on this verse. Exodus 12:5 Malachi 1:13,14

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them,.... To Aaron and his sons: to "hallow" them; to sanctify them, set them apart, and consecrate them:

to minister unto me in the priest's office; for which the Lord had appointed them, to which he had chose, called, and separated them:

take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish; a young bullock was an heifer of three years old, according to Kimchi (t), and such an one was used in sacrifice in former times, see Genesis 15:9 though Maimonides (u) says it was one of two years, and so Abendana (w), whose words are,"a bullock is a son of two years, and a ram is after he has entered into the second year thirty one days;''and so Ben Gersom; the bullock was an emblem of the strength, laboriousness, and patience of Christ, and both of them being without blemish, were typical of his purity and perfection in his nature and life, and especially in his sacrifice.

(t) Comment. in Psal. lxix. 32. (u) Hilchot Zebachim, c. 1. sect. 14. (w) Not. in Miclol Yophi in loc.

Geneva Study Bible

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–3. Preparation of the offerings (cf. Leviticus 8:2).

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 1-37. - THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTS. From the description of the priestly attire, the Divine Law-giver passed to the form of priestly consecration, whereof investiture in the "holy garments" was a part. The ceremony of consecration was to consist of four things: -

1. Ablution;

2. Investiture;

3. Chrism or Anointing with oil; and

4. Sacrifice.

In the directions given, we have, first, the preparation of the offerings (vers. 1-3); secondly, directions for the ablutions (ver. 4); thirdly, directions for the investiture of Aaron (vers. 5, 6), of his sons (vers. 8, 9); fourthly, directions for the anointing (ver. 7); and fifthly, directions as to the mode in which the sacrifices should be offered and disposed of (vers. 10-34). A command is then given that the ceremonies should be repeated every day for a week (ver. 35); and another, that the altar should receive consecration at the same time as the priests (vers. 36, 37). Additional light is thrown on most of these matters by the account contained in Leviticus (ch. 8.), of the manner in which Moses carried oat the directions here given to him. Verse 1. - This is the thing that thou shalt do to them - i.e., "This is the ceremonial that thou shalt use on the occasion." There is a tacit reference to verse 41 of ch. 28, which had announced that the priests were to be consecrated. Take one young bullock. The offerings were to be provided beforehand, so as to be in readiness when the investiture and anointing were over. Hence they are mentioned first. Rams without blemish. Literally "perfect." On the offence to God of offering him blemished offerings, see Malachi 1:6-14. Exodus 29:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Consecration of Aaron and his Sons through the anointing of their persons and the offering of sacrifices, the directions for which form the subject of vv. 1-35. This can only be fully understood in connection with the sacrificial law contained in Leviticus 1-7. It will be more advisable therefore to defer the examination of this ceremony till we come to Leviticus 8, where the consecration itself is described. The same may also be said of the expiation and anointing of the altar, which are commanded in Exodus 29:36 and Exodus 29:37, and carried out in Leviticus 8:11.