Leviticus 8:28
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, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Then Moses took these from their hands
In the context of Leviticus 8, Moses is acting as the mediator between God and the Israelites, specifically the priests. The items taken from their hands refer to the portions of the sacrifice that were part of the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons. This act signifies the transfer of the offering from the priests to God, highlighting Moses' role as a leader and intermediary. This mirrors the role of Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering.
Burning on the altar signifies complete dedication to God, as the burnt offering was entirely consumed by fire. This act symbolizes the total surrender and consecration of the priests to their divine service. The altar, central to Israelite worship, represents the place where God meets His people. This foreshadows Christ's sacrifice, where He offered Himself wholly to God for the atonement of sin (Hebrews 10:10).

This was an ordination offering,
The ordination offering, or "filling of the hands," was a unique sacrifice marking the consecration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This ceremony set them apart for holy service, emphasizing the importance of purity and dedication in serving God. The ordination process underscores the necessity of divine appointment and preparation for spiritual leadership, paralleling the calling and anointing of Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 5:4-5).

a pleasing aroma,
The phrase "a pleasing aroma" indicates God's acceptance of the offering. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the aroma of sacrifices was believed to ascend to the deity, signifying divine satisfaction. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Christ's sacrifice is described as a fragrant offering to God (Ephesians 5:2), symbolizing His perfect obedience and the acceptance of His atoning work.

a food offering to the LORD.
The term "food offering" reflects the idea of providing sustenance or satisfaction to God, though not in a literal sense. It signifies the relational aspect of worship, where offerings are a means of fellowship and communion with God. This concept is fulfilled in Christ, who is the bread of life (John 6:35), offering spiritual nourishment and eternal life to believers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to mediate the covenant at Sinai. In this context, Moses is performing the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons.

2. Aaron and His Sons
The first priests of Israel, chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle. This passage describes part of their ordination process.

3. The Altar
A sacred place where offerings are made to God. In this passage, it is the site of the ordination offering.

4. Ordination Offering
A specific type of sacrifice made during the consecration of priests, symbolizing their dedication to God's service.

5. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, to whom the offerings are made. This highlights the divine approval and acceptance of the ordination.
Teaching Points
The Role of Mediation
Moses acts as a mediator between God and the people, prefiguring Christ's ultimate role as our mediator. This reminds us of the importance of Christ's intercession in our lives.

The Significance of Sacrifice
The ordination offering as a "pleasing aroma" signifies God's acceptance. Our lives, when offered in obedience, can also be a pleasing aroma to God.

Consecration to Service
Just as Aaron and his sons were set apart for service, believers today are called to be set apart for God's purposes, living lives that reflect His holiness.

The Importance of Obedience
The detailed fulfillment of God's commands in the ordination process underscores the importance of obedience in our walk with God.

Symbolism of Fire
Fire in the offering represents purification and dedication. In our spiritual lives, we are called to be purified and wholly dedicated to God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of Moses in this passage help us understand the role of Christ as our mediator?

2. In what ways can our lives be a "pleasing aroma" to God, similar to the ordination offering?

3. How does the ordination of Aaron and his sons relate to the concept of the priesthood of all believers in the New Testament?

4. What can we learn from the detailed obedience required in the ordination process about our own obedience to God's commands?

5. How does the symbolism of fire in the offerings relate to the refining and purifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29
Provides detailed instructions for the ordination of priests, which Leviticus 8 fulfills. This connection shows the continuity of God's commands and their fulfillment.

Hebrews 7
Discusses the priesthood of Jesus Christ, drawing parallels between the Levitical priesthood and the eternal priesthood of Christ, emphasizing the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system.

Romans 12:1
Encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, drawing a parallel between the physical sacrifices of the Old Testament and the spiritual sacrifices of the New Testament.
Priestly ConsecrationR.M. Edgar Leviticus 8:1-36
Aaron and His ConsecrationJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
Clothed and Anointed for ServiceLeviticus 8:2-30
Divine Institution of MinistryBp. Babington.Leviticus 8:2-30
LessonsA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
Priests Versus PriestismW. H, Jellie.Leviticus 8:2-30
Qualifications and Ministries Of. God's PriestsW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Altar and the LaverLeviticus 8:2-30
The Calling of the PriestsW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Consecration of Aaron's SonsA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Essential Significance of the PriesthoodA. Cave, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Main Ideas Symbolised in the Vestments of the High PriestJ. M. Gibson, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Separation of Aaron and His SonsJ. M. Gibson, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
The Spiritual Signification of Aaron's AnointingA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 8:2-30
Equipment for Special WorkW. Clarkson Leviticus 8:6, 8, 23, 24, 30
The Sacrifices of ConsecrationR.A. Redford Leviticus 8:13-36
The Triple OfferingS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 8:14-30
The Ram of ConsecrationJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 8:22-36
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Altar, Aroma, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Consecration, Consecration-offering, Consecrations, Fire, Fire-offering, Fragrance, Hands, Maketh, Odor, Odour, Offered, Offering, Ordination, Perfume, Pleasant, Pleasing, Priest's, Savor, Savour, Smell, Smoke, Soothing, Sweet, Taketh
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 8:22-30

     4681   ram
     6616   atonement, in OT

Leviticus 8:25-28

     4404   food

Leviticus 8:27-29

     7480   wave offering

Library
The True Aaron Lev 8:7-9

John Newton—Olney Hymns

An Advance in the Exhortation.
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a great Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water: let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for He is faithful that promised: and let us consider
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Our Lord's Prayer for his People's Sanctification
In this wonderful prayer, our Lord, as our great High Priest, appears to enter upon that perpetual office of intercession which he is now exercising at the right hand of the Father. Our Lord ever seemed, in the eagerness of his love, to be anticipating his work. Before he was set apart for his life-work, by the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him, he must needs be about his Father's business; before he finally suffered at the hands of cruel men, he had a baptism to be baptized with, and he was straitened
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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