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Category: Shemini

The Priestly Service

Vayikra (Leviticus) 9:1-11:47

Leviticus 9 is the most detailed narrative description of a worship service in the entire Bible. In this chapter, Aharon and his sons are now ready to function and officiate as priests. Finally, the Tabernacle is ready to be put to the test. Until now, no one had been able to enter the Tabernacle. At the end of the book of Exodus, the LORD descended from Sinai and came to dwell in the Tabernacle. So absolute was His holiness and so intense was His glory that even Moshe was unable to enter. No one was able to draw near to God. Now through the medium of the sacrificial services and a sanctified priesthood, Israel is ready to try.

The Priests Begin their Service

Moshe had prescribed the series of korbanot (offerings) that Aharon and his sons were to carry out. For their own atonement they were to offer a sin offering (chatat) and a burnt offering (olah). On behalf of the nation, they were to bring a purification offering (chatat), two burnt offerings (olah), two peace offerings (shlamim), and a bread offering (minchah).

The whole congregation was now gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle to see if the great experiment would work. Moshe said to Aharon, "Come near!" All eyes were on the new priests. An interesting observation is that the sin (chatat) offerings of Leviticus 8 and 9 are inconsistent with the procedure prescribed for them in Leviticus 4. Had they made an error in sacrificing? According to Leviticus 4, blood from sin offerings made for the nation or for the High Priest should be brought inside the Tent of Meeting, sprinkled toward the veil of the Holy of Holies, and applied to the horns of the incense altar. In Leviticus 8 and 9, these rituals are omitted! The blood is simply applied to the outer altar instead. The Torah offers no explicit reason for the deviation in ritual procedure, but what seems most...

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© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission. Adapted from Bikurei Tziyon #63 .

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