A Thorough Consecration

During the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood and in the ordination of their successors, the breast and thigh of one ram were set aside for the priests to eat after these portions had been symbolically given to the Lord as a wave offering (Ex. 29:26–28). Today’s passage describes the eating of this meat.

First, the priests were to boil the flesh of the ram of ordination “in a holy place” (Ex. 29:31). Though the text does not specify the place exactly, most likely this means that the meat was boiled in large pots somewhere in the tabernacle courtyard and then perhaps browned a little on the altar itself. After the meat was cooked, only the priests could eat it and the bread that was also brought for the ordination (Ex. 29:32–33; see Ex. 29:1–3). All this food was consumed in the entrance to the tabernacle (Ex. 29:32), which would allow the people to view the act and thus provide additional visible confirmation to the Israelites that the men had been ordained to the priesthood. If any bread or meat was left after the priests had eaten their fill, it could not be kept as leftovers but had to be burned up. It could not be eaten, the text says, because it was “holy” (Ex. 29:34). The Lord does not explain in this passage why the holiness of the food required that no leftovers be consumed, but such an explanation is not necessary. If something is set apart as holy, then it is consecrated to God’s use, and our Creator has the sovereign right to determine what to do with what belongs to Him (see Isa. 45:7–9; Rom. 9:19–24; Eph. 1:11).

Exodus 29:35–37 offers a summary of the ordination process and adds a note on the consecration of the altar. Seven days were spent conducting the ordination ceremonies, and in addition to the sacrifice of the rams mentioned in verses 1–34, one bull a day had to be offered as an additional sin offering (Ex. 29:36). The number seven in Scripture is frequently associated with completion; for instance, God took seven days to complete the initial creation of the universe (see Gen. 1:1–2:3). Thus, the seven-day ordination process points to a thorough and complete setting apart of the priests for service. It is unclear whether everything mentioned as part of the ordination ceremony was done each day, but likely the application of the blood to the priests and their clothing was not repeated each day (see Ex. 29:19–21).

The priestly ordination ceremonies occurred whenever new priests took office, but the altar’s consecration may have taken place only once (Ex. 29:36–37). Nevertheless, it too had to be set apart unto God.