The Wave Offering for the Priests

Blood from the second ram used in the ordination of the priests was applied to the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe of those being appointed to the priestly office to dedicate them to the service of the Lord (Ex. 29:19–20). Some of the blood and some oil was then sprinkled on the priests and their garments to set them apart. Since this blood came from what had been thrown on the altar from the first and second ram, the blood used in this part of the anointing was likely from both rams (Ex. 29:15–16, 21). After all this was done, there was no meat left from the first ram, since it had been offered as a burnt offering (Ex. 29:17–18). But there remained some meat from the second ram that had to be dealt with. Today’s passage tells us what was done with the meat from the second ram.

First, the fat portions from the ram, one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer were placed in the hands of the priests, who waved them before the Lord (Ex. 29:22–24). Most likely, the priests moved these items side to side in the presence of the altar to symbolically associate them with the offering and give it to God as if it came from them. Unlike the other people of Israel, priests and Levites did not have grain and animals of their own that they had raised, for their job was to keep continual watch over the tabernacle and temple and to perform the duties associated with worship. Thus, the priests and Levites received a tithe from the Israelites of fruits, grain, and animals, and from that tithe, the priests and Levites had to dedicate a portion to the Lord (see Num. 18). The priests and Levites waved these offerings as a way of showing that they were being offered with wholehearted devotion from these men even though they themselves had not done the work to raise the crops and animals. After waving the fat portions from the second ram and some of the grain, the priests being ordained then burned these things up in an offering to God (Ex. 29:25). As the book of Leviticus makes clear, the fat portions of the animals were always burned on the altar. This was because the fat portions were the choicest portions of the offerings and the Lord deserves the very best we have to offer.

Next, the breast and the thigh from the second ram were waved before the altar before being received by the priests as their portion to eat (Ex. 29:26–28). The motion here may have been not side to side but front to back, conveying the idea that the priests were giving the meat to God and receiving it back from Him.