And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... The following section or paragraph, relating to the consecration of Aaron and his sons, was delivered, according to Jarchi, seven days before the setting up of the tabernacle; but to me it seems to have been delivered after the setting it up, since it was out of the tabernacle that the Lord said all those things recorded in the preceding chapters; and after he had given out the laws concerning sacrifices, then he renewed the order for the consecration of Aaron and his sons, that they might offer them:

saying; as follows.

Consecration of the Priests and the Sanctuary (cf. Exodus 29:1-37). - The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests was carried out by Moses according to the instructions in Exodus 29:1-36; Exodus 40:12-15; and the anointing of the tabernacle, with the altar and its furniture, as prescribed in Exodus 29:37; Exodus 30:26-29, and Exodus 40:9-11, was connected with it (Leviticus 8:10, Leviticus 8:11).

Leviticus 8:1-4

Leviticus 8:1-5 contain an account of the preparations for this holy act, the performance of which was enjoined upon Moses by Jehovah after the publication of the laws of sacrifice (Leviticus 8:1). Moses brought the persons to be consecrated, the official costume that had been made for them (Exodus 28), the anointing oil (Exodus 30:23.), and the requisite sacrificial offerings (Exodus 29:1-3), to the door of the tabernacle (i.e., into the court, near the altar of burnt-offering), and then gathered "the whole congregation" - that is to say, the nation in the persons of its elders-there also (see my Archeologie ii. p. 221). The definite article before the objects enumerated in Leviticus 8:2 may be explained on the ground that they had all been previously and more minutely described. The "basket of the unleavened" contained, according to Exodus 29:2-3, (1) unleavened bread, which is called חלּה in Leviticus 8:26, i.e., round flat bread-cakes, and לחם כּכּר (loaf of bread) in Exodus 29:23, and was baked for the purpose of the consecration (see at Leviticus 8:31, Leviticus 8:32); (2) unleavened oil-cakes; and (3) unleavened flat cakes covered with oil (see at Leviticus 2:4 and Leviticus 7:12).

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

CHAPTER 8

Le 8:1-36. Moses Consecrates Aaron and His Sons.

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.