Leviticus 9

Priestly Ministry Begins and the Glory of the LORD Appears

On the eighth day, Aaron begins priestly ministry by offering sacrifices for himself and the people; Moses and Aaron bless the people, the glory of the LORD appears, and fire from the LORD consumes the altar offering, causing the people to shout for joy and fall facedown.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Moses summons the priests and elders, commands offerings for Aaron and Israel, and announces that the glory of the LORD will appear.

Leviticus 9:1-7

The priesthood begins its ministry by offering sacrifices for sin and dedication so that the people may approach God and witness His glory.

1 On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

2 and he said to Aaron, “Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without defect, and offer them before Yahweh.

3 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without defect, for a burnt offering;

4 and a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Yahweh; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today Yahweh appears to you.’ ”

5 They brought what Moses commanded before the Tent of Meeting. All the congregation came near and stood before Yahweh.

6 Moses said, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded that you should do; and Yahweh’s glory shall appear to you.”

Aaron approaches the altar and offers sin and burnt offerings for himself before ministering for the people.

7 Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Yahweh commanded.”

Leviticus 9:8-24

Faithful obedience in sacrificial worship results in the LORD revealing His glory among His people.

8 So Aaron came near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar;

10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of the sin offering, he burned upon the altar, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

11 The meat and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.

12 He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar.

13 They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head. He burned them upon the altar.

14 He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar.

Aaron presents the people's sin, burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings according to the LORD's command.

15 He presented the people’s offering, and took the goat of the sin offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first.

16 He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.

17 He presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it upon the altar, in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.

18 He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people. Aaron’s sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled around on the altar;

19 and the fat of the bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the innards, and the kidneys, and the cover of the liver;

20 and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar.

21 Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh for a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses commanded.

Moses and Aaron bless the people, the glory of the LORD appears, fire consumes the altar offering, and Israel responds with joyful prostration.

22 Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and Yahweh’s glory appeared to all the people.

24 Fire came out from before Yahweh, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Key Terms

יוֹם yom H3117
שְׁמִינִי shemini H8066
קָרָא qara H7121
אַהֲרֹן Aharon H175
בֵּן ben H1121
זָקֵן zaqen H2205
לָקַח laqach H3947
עֵגֶל egel H5695
בָּקָר baqar H1241
חַטָּאת chatta't H2403
אַיִל ayil H352
עֹלָה olah H5927

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