Exodus 29 - Introduction

(cf. Leviticus 8). The ritual for the consecration of the priests. Vv.1 3 (preparation of materials for the sacrifices) are preliminary: the ritual itself consists of the following parts: (1) washing the body, v.4; (2) investiture and anointing of the high priest, vv.5 7, and the investiture of the ordinary priests, vv8 9; (3) a triple sacrifice, viz. (a) a sin-offering on behalf of the priests who are to be installed, vv.10 14, (b) a burnt-offering, such as would naturally form part of a solemn ceremony, vv.15 18; (c) the installation-offering itself (essentially a peace-offering), with the accompanying ceremonies, vv.19 26, Exodus 31-34 : the entire ceremonial is to be repeated every day, for seven days, v.35. Vv.27 30 are parenthetical; and vv.36 37 give directions for the purification of the altar. The execution of the instructions here given is narrated in Leviticus 8. The entire section, though it stands here, must have been writtenafter the regulations of Leviticus 1-7. had been long in force; for in the directions for the cakes, &c., for the burnt-, the sin-, and (largely) for the installation-offering, it presupposesboth the phraseology of Leviticus 1-7. and also the sacrificial usages there codified. For the same reason the fuller explanation of the technical terms employed belongs rather to a Commentary on Leviticus than to one on Exodus; to which accordingly the reader is referred for further information on such points.