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This chapter gives us an account of the solemn consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priest's office. I. It was done publicly, and the congregation was called together to be witnesses of it, Le 8:1-4. II. It was done exactly according to God's appointment, Le 8:5. 1. They were washed and dressed, Le 8:6-9,13. 2. The tabernacle and the utensils of it were anointed, and then the priests, Le 8:10-12. 3. A sin-offering was offered for them, Le 8:14-17. 4. A burnt-offering, Le 8:18-21. 5. The ram of consecration, Le 8:22-30. 6. The continuance of this solemnity for seven days, Le 8:31-36, etc.
1-36
Consecration of Aaron and His Sons (1490 BC)
繁體中文
亞倫和他兒子們的受膏典禮（主前1490年）
¹ 耶和華對摩西說：
² 「將亞倫和他兒子們一同帶來，並將聖衣、膏油，與作贖罪祭的一隻公牛、兩隻公綿羊、一筐無酵餅都帶來，
³ 又招聚會眾到會幕門口。」
⁴ 摩西就照耶和華所吩咐的行了；於是會眾聚集在會幕門口。
⁵ 摩西對會眾說：「這就是耶和華所吩咐當行的事。」
⁶ 摩西帶了亞倫和他兒子們來，用水洗了他們。
⁷ 給亞倫穿上內袍，束上腰帶，穿上外袍，又加上以弗得，用其上巧工織的帶子繫上以弗得，使之與以弗得相連。
⁸ 又給他戴上胸牌，把烏陵和土明放在胸牌內。
⁹ 把冠冕戴在他頭上，在冠冕的前面繫上金牌，就是聖冠，都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
¹⁰ 摩西用膏油抹帳幕和其中所有的，使之成聖；
¹¹ 又用膏油在壇上彈七次，又抹了壇和壇的一切器皿，並洗濯盆和盆座，使它們成聖；
¹² 又把膏油倒在亞倫的頭上膏他，使他成聖。
¹³ 摩西帶了亞倫的兒子們來，給他們穿上內袍，束上腰帶，包上裹頭巾，都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
神在摩西第一次在西奈山上與他同在時，就已吩咐他將亞倫和他兒子們分別為聖、設立為祭司，Ex 28:1-29:46，我們在那裡也看到他所得具體如何辦理的指示。如今我們看到：
I. 重申命令。那裡吩咐要做的，此處吩咐現在就做，Le 8:2,3。會幕剛剛豎立起來，若沒有祭司，就如同一個沒有蠟燭的燭臺；獻祭的律法剛剛頒布，卻不能沒有祭司來遵行；因為雖然亞倫和他兒子們已被提名擔任此職，在他們受膏分別為聖之前，卻不能供職；而這受膏之禮又不能在他們供職之處預備妥當、典章設立完畢之前進行，好使他們一旦受膏便能立即投入工作，並知道他們被設立不僅是為祭司職分的尊榮和利益，更是為其中的事務。亞倫和他兒子們與摩西是至親，因此他不願在得到進一步命令之前就膏立他們，免得顯得過分急切地為自己家族攬取尊榮。
II. 召集會眾，到門口聚集，即會幕的院子裡，Le 8:4。會眾中的長老和首要人物，作為百姓全體的代表，被召前來出席；因為院子容不下以色列數萬人中的多少人。這事如此公開進行，是因為：1. 這是神與以色列之間莊嚴的交易；祭司是替人辦理屬神之事而設立的，為維持固定的交往，辦理百姓與神之間的一切事務；因此雙方都當出席，在會幕門口認可這項設立。2. 觀禮的人目睹這典禮，必對祭司及其職分產生極大的敬意——這在像他們這樣容易嫉妒和不滿的百姓中是不可少的。奇怪的是，那些親眼見證此處所行之事的人中，後來竟有人說（正如他們中間有些人確實說了）：你們利未的子孫擅自專權了；但若是暗中進行的，他們又會怎麼說呢？請注意，傳道人公開受按立是十分合宜且有益的——在會眾面前——正如初期教會的做法。
III. 宣讀委任，Le 8:5。摩西作為神在這典禮中的代表，在會眾面前出示他的命令：*這就是耶和華所吩咐當行的事。*雖然神使他作耶書崙的王，使他的面貌在以色列眾人眼前放光，他卻在神的事奉中沒有設立或指定任何神所未曾吩咐的事。他交給他們的祭司職分，是他從主所領受的。請注意，一切辦理聖事的人都必須以神的命令為他們的準則和依據；因為唯有在遵守這準則時，他們才能指望蒙神認可和悅納。照樣，我們在一切敬拜的行動中，都必須能說：這就是耶和華所吩咐當行的事。
IV. 按神所定的禮儀執行。1. 亞倫和他兒子們被用水洗了（Le 8:6），表示他們從此當潔除一切罪的傾向和嗜好，並要永遠保持純潔。基督用自己的血洗淨那些祂使之成為我們神的君王和祭司的人（Re 1:5,6）；而親近神的人必須用潔淨的水洗淨，Heb 10:22。雖然他們先前再怎麼乾淨、身上看不到污穢，卻必須被洗淨，表示從罪中得潔淨——他們的靈魂因罪而污染，無論身體多麼潔淨。2. 他們穿上聖服——亞倫穿上他的聖服（Le 8:7-9），預表我們的大祭司基督的尊嚴；他的兒子們穿上他們的聖服（Le 8:13），預表作為屬靈祭司的基督徒的端莊。基督佩帶決斷的胸牌和聖冠；因為教會的大祭司也是她的先知和君王。所有信徒都穿上了公義的袍子，以真理、決心和殷勤的腰帶束腰；他們的頭也如這裡的話所說，裹上了美麗的冠冕或華冠——聖潔之美。3. 大祭司受了膏抹，看來聖物也在同時受了膏；有人認為那些聖物先前已經受膏，此處提及是因為亞倫與它們用的是同一種膏油；但此處的敘述方式更可能表明這事是在同時做的，而用來潔淨祭壇的那七天，與祭司受膏的七天是同時的。摩西用指頭將膏油抹在會幕及其一切器具上（Le 8:10），祭壇也是如此（Le 8:11）；這是為了使金子和禮物成聖（Mt 23:17-19），因此其本身也必須如此成聖；但他將膏油更豐盛地傾倒在亞倫頭上（Le 8:12），流到他的衣襟上，因為他的膏抹要預表基督受聖靈的膏抹——那聖靈是沒有限量地賜給祂的。然而所有信徒也都領受了膏抹，這膏抹在他們身上留下了不可磨滅的印記，1Jo 2:27。
¹⁴ 他牽了贖罪祭的公牛來；亞倫和他兒子們按手在贖罪祭公牛的頭上，
¹⁵ 就宰了。摩西用指頭取些血，抹在壇的四角上，使壇潔淨，把血倒在壇的腳那裡，使之成聖，好在那壇上贖罪。
¹⁶ 又取臟上所有的脂油和肝上的網子，並兩個腰子與腰子上的脂油，都燒在壇上。
¹⁷ 惟有公牛，連皮帶肉帶糞，都用火燒在營外，都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
¹⁸ 他奉上燔祭的公綿羊來；亞倫和他兒子們按手在公綿羊的頭上，
¹⁹ 就宰了。摩西把血灑在壇的周圍。
²⁰ 將羊切成塊子；摩西把頭和肉塊並脂油都燒了。
²¹ 用水洗了內臟和腿；摩西就把全羊燒在壇上，為馨香的燔祭，是獻給耶和華的火祭，都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
²² 他又奉上第二隻公綿羊，就是承接聖職之禮的羊；亞倫和他兒子們按手在羊的頭上，
²³ 就宰了。摩西取些血，抹在亞倫的右耳垂上，和右手的大拇指上，並右腳的大拇指上。
²⁴ 又帶了亞倫的兒子們來，把些血抹在他們的右耳垂上，和他們右手的大拇指上，並右腳的大拇指上；又把血灑在壇的周圍。
²⁵ 又取脂油和肥尾巴，並臟上所有的脂油和肝上的網子，兩個腰子與腰子上的脂油，並右腿；
²⁶ 再從耶和華面前一筐無酵餅中，取一個無酵餅、一個油餅、一個薄餅，都放在脂油和右腿上。
²⁷ 把這一切都放在亞倫的手上和他兒子們的手上，作搖祭在耶和華面前搖一搖。
²⁸ 摩西從他們的手上拿下來，燒在壇上的燔祭上：這些是為承接聖職獻給耶和華馨香的火祭。
²⁹ 摩西拿羊的胸，作為搖祭在耶和華面前搖一搖：這是承接聖職之禮歸摩西的分，都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
³⁰ 摩西取些膏油和壇上的血，彈在亞倫和他的衣服上，並他兒子們和他兒子們的衣服上，使他和他們的衣服一同成聖。
祭司職分之約，如同其他盟約一樣，必須藉獻祭來設立，Ps 50:5。照樣，基督也是藉著一次永遠獻上自己為祭而受膏設立。各樣的祭都要為祭司獻上，好使他們以更多的體恤和關懷來獻百姓的禮物和祭物，憐憫那些無知和迷失的人，不輕看那些為之獻祭的人，記念他們自己也曾有人為他們獻祭，因他們自己也被軟弱所困。1. 獻一隻公牛——最大的祭——為贖罪祭（Le 8:14），藉此贖罪，使他們不致將先前狀態中之罪的罪咎帶入他們如今要穿上新身分之中。以賽亞被差遣作先知時，為安慰他，有話對他說：你的罪孽已經除掉了，Isa 6:7。傳道人既要向別人宣告罪的赦免，就當首先殷勤確保自己的罪已得赦。那些受託勸人與神和好的職分的人，自己必須先與神和好，好叫他們為別人的靈魂辦事，如同為自己的靈魂一樣。2. 獻一隻公綿羊為燔祭，Le 8:18-21。藉此他們將如今加在他們身上的這大尊榮歸榮耀給神，並為此向祂獻上感謝——正如保羅感謝基督耶穌派他服事，1Ti 1:12。他們也表示將自己和自己一切的事奉完全獻給神的榮耀。3. 另一隻公綿羊，稱為承接聖職之禮的羊，獻為平安祭，Le 8:22等。這羊的血，一部分抹在祭司的耳朵、拇指和腳趾上，一部分灑在壇上；這樣他彷彿將他們與祭壇結合，此後他們一生的日子都要在壇前事奉。關於這祭的一切儀式，如同先前的那些一樣，都是出於神明確的命令；我們若將本章與Ex 29:1-46比較，就會發現典禮的執行與那裡的吩咐完全一致，毫無偏差。因此，正如我們在帳幕及其器具的記述中所見到的，這裡也一而再、再而三地重複：*都是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。*照樣，基督用自己的血使自己成聖時，也是仰望父神的旨意。父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行，Joh 14:31, Joh 10:18, Joh 6:38。
³¹ 摩西對亞倫和他兒子們說：「把肉煮在會幕門口，在那裡和承接聖職筐子裡的餅一同吃，正如我所吩咐的說：『亞倫和他兒子們要吃這些。』
³² 剩下的肉和餅，你們要用火焚燒。
³³ 你們七天不可出會幕的門，等到你們承接聖職的日子滿了，因為他要用七天使你們成聖。
³⁴ 像今天所行的，都是耶和華吩咐行的，為你們贖罪。
³⁵ 七天你們要晝夜住在會幕門口，遵守耶和華的吩咐，免得你們死亡，因為我所吩咐的就是這樣。」
³⁶ 於是亞倫和他兒子們行了耶和華藉摩西手所吩咐的一切事。
摩西做完他份內的典禮後，便讓亞倫和他兒子們做他們份內的事。
I. 他們要將平安祭的肉煮了，在會幕院子裡吃，剩下的要用火燒了，Le 8:31,32。這表示他們以感恩的心同意承接聖職：神賜給以西結使命時，吩咐他吃那書卷，Eze 3:1,2。
II. 他們七天不可走出會幕的院子，Le 8:33。祭司職分既是美好的爭戰，他們就當如此學習忍受艱難，並從今世的事務中解脫出來，2Ti 2:3,4。他們既受膏歸於事奉，就當全心全意獻上，並時刻專注於此。照樣，基督的使徒被任命等候父所應許的，Ac 1:4。在他們受膏的日子裡，他們每天要重複獻上第一天所獻的同樣祭物，Le 8:34。這表明了律法之祭的不完全——因為它們不能除罪，所以反覆獻上（Heb 10:1,2），但在此卻重複七次（完全的數字），因為它們預表那一次的祭——那次獻上使成聖的人永遠完全。這禮持續了七天，因為這好比一種創造；而這時間的指定也是為尊敬安息日——安息日很可能是七天的最後一日，他們要在前六天為之預備。照樣，我們一生的時間如同那六天，必須作為我們在永恆安息中對神完全奉獻的預備：他們晝夜在會幕前（Le 8:35），我們也當如此恆切地默想神的律法，Ps 1:2。他們在那裡遵守耶和華的吩咐：我們每個人都有當守的職責——有永恆的神當榮耀，有不死的靈魂當預備，有當盡的本分，有我們的世代當服事；我們必須每天關心持守這職責，因為這是我們主耶和華的吩咐，祂不久就要我們為此交賬，我們若疏忽，便是冒了極大的危險。要遵守吩咐免得你們死亡；背棄所託的使命就是死——永遠的死；我們當因這個念頭存敬畏的心。最後，我們看到（Le 8:36）亞倫和他兒子們行了耶和華所吩咐的一切事。這樣，他們的受膏典禮便完成了；他們也由此在百姓面前樹立了完全順服新頒獻祭律法的榜樣，然後他們就能更好地教導百姓。這樣，平安之約（Nu 25:12）、生命和平安之約（Mal 2:5）便與亞倫和他兒子們立定了；然而在他們受膏的一切儀式之後，有一項確認的要素被保留下來，作為基督祭司職分的尊榮和確立——那就是：他們成為祭司並沒有起誓，唯有基督是起了誓的（Hab 7:21），因為那些祭司和他們的祭司職分都不能長存，唯有基督的祭司職分是永遠長存、永不改變的。
福音的執事被比作那些在祭壇前事奉的人，因為他們辦理聖事（1Co 9:13），他們是神向百姓說話的口，也是百姓向神說話的口，是基督所設立、在教會中延續到世界末了的牧者和教師：他們似乎就是那指向福音時代的應許中所說的（Isa 66:21）：我也必從他們中間取人為祭司，為利未人。這尊榮沒有人可以自取，唯有那經過試驗、證明他已蒙神的靈以恩賜和恩惠穿戴膏抹、足以勝任的人，並且那以一心一意將自己完全奉獻給事奉的人，然後藉著道和禱告（因為萬物都是這樣成聖的），以及那些專心祈禱傳道之人按手，被分別出來擔任此職，被推薦給基督作僕人、給教會作管家和引導者。那些如此莊嚴奉獻歸神的人，不可離開祂的事奉，而當終身忠心在其中堅守；那些如此行、繼續在道理和教訓上勞苦的人，當被看為配受加倍的敬奉——雙倍於舊約祭司的敬奉。
英文原文
Consecration of Aaron and His Sons (1490 BC)
¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
² Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
³ And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
⁴ And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
⁵ And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.
⁶ And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
⁷ And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
⁸ And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
⁹ And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
¹⁰ And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
¹¹ And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.
¹² And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
¹³ And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.
God had given Moses orders to consecrate Aaron and his sons to the priests' office, when he was with him the first time upon Mount Sinai, Ex 28:1-29:46, where we have also the particular instructions he had how to do it. Now here we have,
I. The orders repeated. What was there commanded to be done is here commanded to be done now, Le 8:2,3. The tabernacle was newly set up, which, without the priests, would be as a candlestick without a candle; the law concerning sacrifices was newly given, but could not be observed without priests; for, though Aaron and his sons had been nominated to the office, they could not officiate, till they were consecrated, which yet must not be done till the place of their ministration was prepared, and the ordinances were instituted, that they might apply themselves to work as soon as ever they were consecrated, and might know that they were ordained, not only to the honour and profit, but to the business of the priesthood. Aaron and his sons were near relations to Moses, and therefore he would not consecrate them till he had further orders, lest he should seem too forward to bring honour into his family.
II. The congregation called together, at the door, that is, in the court of the tabernacle, Le 8:4. The elders and principal men of the congregation, who represented the body of the people, were summoned to attend; for the court would hold but a few of the many thousands of Israel. It was done thus publicly, 1. Because it was a solemn transaction between God and Israel; the priests were to be ordained for men in things pertaining to God, for the maintaining of a settled correspondence, and the negotiating of all affairs between the people and God; and therefore it was fit that both sides should appear, to own the appointment, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 2. The spectators of the solemnity could not but be possessed, by the sight of it, with a great veneration for the priests and their office, which was necessary among a people so wretchedly prone as these were to envy and discontent. It was strange that any of those who were witnesses of what was here done should afterwards say, as some of them did, You take too much upon you, you sons of Levi; but what would they have said if it had been done clandestinely? Note, It is very fit, and of good use, that ministers should be ordained publicly, plebe praesente—in the presence of the common people, according to the usage of the primitive church.
III. The commission read, Le 8:5. Moses, who was God's representative in this solemnity, produced his orders before the congregation: This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. Though God had crowned him king in Jeshurun, when he made his face to shine in the sight of all Israel, yet he did not institute or appoint any thing in God's worship but what God himself had commanded. The priesthood he delivered to them was that which he had received from the Lord. Note, All that minister about holy things must have an eye to God's command as their rule and warrant; for it is only in the observance of this that they can expect to be owned and accepted of God. Thus we must be able to say, in all acts of religious worship, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.
IV. The ceremony performed according to the divine ritual. 1. Aaron and his sons were washed with water (Le 8:6), to signify that they ought now to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions and inclinations, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes to our God kings and priests (Re 1:5,6); and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb 10:22. Though they were ever so clean before and no filth was to be seen upon them, yet they must be washed, to signify their purification from sin, with which their souls were polluted, how clean soever their bodies were. 2. They were clothed with the holy garments, Aaron with his (Le 8:7-9), which typified the dignity of Christ our great high priest, and his sons with theirs (Le 8:13), which typified the decency of Christians, who are spiritual priests. Christ wears the breast-plate of judgment and the holy crown; for the church's high priest is her prophet and king. All believers are clothed with the robe of righteousness, and girt with the girdle of truth, resolution, and close application; and their heads are bound, as the word here is, with the bonnet or diadem of beauty, the beauty of holiness. 3. The high priest was anointed, and, it should seem, the holy things were anointed at the same time; some think that they were anointed before, but that the anointing of them is mentioned here because Aaron was anointed with the same oil with which they were anointed; but the manner of relating it here makes it more than probable that it was done at the same time, and that the seven days employed in consecrating the altar were coincident with the seven days of the priests' consecration. The tabernacle, and all its utensils, had some of the anointing oil put upon them with Moses's finger (Le 8:10), so had the altar (Le 8:11); these were to sanctify the gold and the gift (Mt 23:17-19), and therefore must themselves be thus sanctified; but he poured it out more plentifully upon the head of Aaron (Le 8:12), so that it ran down to the skirts of his garments, because his unction was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. Yet all believers also have received the anointing, which puts an indelible character upon them, 1Jo 2:27.
¹⁴ And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.
¹⁵ And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.
¹⁶ And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar.
¹⁷ But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.
¹⁸ And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
¹⁹ And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
²⁰ And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.
²¹ And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
²² And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
²³ And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
²⁴ And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
²⁵ And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:
²⁶ And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
²⁷ And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.
²⁸ And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
²⁹ And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
³⁰ And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
The covenant of priesthood must be made by sacrifice, as well as other covenants, Ps 50:5. And thus Christ was consecrated by the sacrifice of himself, once for all. Sacrifices of each kind must be offered for the priests, that they might with the more tenderness and concern offer the gifts and sacrifices of the people, with compassion on the ignorant, and on those that were out of the way, not insulting over those for whom sacrifices were offered, remembering that they themselves had had sacrifices offered for them, being compassed with infirmity. 1. A bullock, the largest sacrifice, was offered for a sin-offering (Le 8:14), that hereby atonement might be made, and they might not bring any of the guilt of the sins of their former state into the new character they were now to put on. When Isaiah was sent to be a prophet, he was told to his comfort, Thy iniquity is taken away, Isa 6:7. Ministers, that are to declare the remission of sins to others, should give diligence to get it made sure to themselves in the first place that their own sins are pardoned. Those to whom is committed the ministry of reconciliation must first be reconciled to God themselves, that they may deal for the souls of others as for their own. 2. A ram was offered for a burnt-offering, Le 8:18-21. By this they gave to God the glory of this great honour which was now put upon them, and returned him praise for it, as Paul thanked Christ Jesus for putting him into the ministry, 1Ti 1:12. They also signified the devoting of themselves and all their services to the honour of God. 3. Another ram, called the ram of consecration, was offered for a peace-offering, Le 8:22, etc. The blood of it was part put on the priests, on their ears, thumbs, and toes, and part sprinkled upon the altar; and thus he did (as it were) marry them to the altar, upon which they must all their days give attendance. All the ceremonies about this offering, as those before, were appointed by the express command of God; and, if we compare this chapter with Ex 29:1-46, we shall find that the performance of the solemnity exactly agrees with the precept there, and in nothing varies. Here, therefore, as in the account we had of the tabernacle and its vessels, it is again and again repeated, As the Lord commanded Moses. And thus Christ, when he sanctified himself with his own blood, had an eye to his Father's will in it. As the Father gave me commandment so I do, Joh 14:31, Joh 10:18, Joh 6:38.
³¹ And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.
³² And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
³³ And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.
³⁴ As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.
³⁵ Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.
³⁶ So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Moses, having done his part of the ceremony, now leaves Aaron and his sons to do theirs.
I. They must boil the flesh of their peace-offering, and eat it in the court of the tabernacle, and what remained they must burn with fire, Le 8:31,32. This signified their thankful consent to the consecration: when God gave Ezekiel his commission, he told him to eat the roll, Eze 3:1,2.
II. They must not stir out of the court of the tabernacle for seven days, Le 8:33. The priesthood being a good warfare, they must thus learn to endure hardness, and to disentangle themselves from the affairs of this life, 2Ti 2:3,4. Being consecrated to their service, they must give themselves wholly to it, and attend continually to this very thing. Thus Christ's apostles were appointed to wait for the promise of the Father, Ac 1:4. During this time appointed for their consecration, they were daily to repeat the same sacrifices which were offered the first day, Le 8:34. This shows the imperfection of the legal sacrifices, which, because they could not take away sin, were often repeated (Heb 10:1,2), but were here repeated seven times (a number of perfection), because they typified that one offering, which perfected for ever those that were sanctified. The work lasted seven days; for it was a kind of creation: and this time was appointed in honour of the sabbath, which, probably, was the last day of the seven, for which they were to prepare during the six days. Thus the time of our life, like the six days, must be our preparation for the perfection of our consecration to God in the everlasting sabbath: they attended day and night (Le 8:35), and so constant should we be in our meditation on God's law, Ps 1:2. They attended to keep the charge of the Lord: we have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, needful duty to be done, our generation to serve; and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us to an account about it, and it is at our utmost peril if we neglect it. Keep it that you die not; it is death, eternal death, to betray the trust we are charged with; by the consideration of this we must be kept in awe. Lastly, We are told (Le 8:36) that Aaron and his sons did all that was commanded. Thus their consecration was completed; and thus they set an example before the people of an exact obedience to the laws of sacrifices now newly given, and then they could with the better grace teach them. Thus the covenant of peace (Nu 25:12), of life and peace (Mal 2:5), was made with Aaron and his sons; but after all the ceremonies that were used in their consecration there was one point of ratification which was reserved to be the honour and establishment of Christ's priesthood, which was this, that they were made priests without an oath, but Christ with an oath (Hab 7:21), for neither such priests nor their priesthood could continue, but Christ's is a perpetual and unchangeable priesthood.
Gospel ministers are compared to those who served at the altar, for they minister about holy things (1Co 9:13), they are God's mouth to the people and the people's to God, the pastors and teachers Christ has appointed to continue in the church to the end of the world: they seem to be meant in that promise which points at gospel times (Isa 66:21), I will take of them for priests and for Levites. No man may take this honour to himself, but he who upon trial is found to be clothed and anointed by the Spirit of God with gifts and graces to qualify him for it, and who with purpose of heart devotes himself entirely to the service, and is then by the word and prayer (for so every thing is sanctified), and the imposition of the hands of those that give themselves to the word and prayer, set apart to the office, and recommended to Christ as a servant and to the church as a steward and guide. And those that are thus solemnly dedicated to God ought not to depart from his service, but faithfully to abide in it all their days; and those that do so, and continue labouring in the word and doctrine, are to be accounted worthy of double honour, double to that of the Old-Testament priests.
本章記述亞倫和他兒子們受膏分別為聖、承接祭司聖職的莊嚴典禮。一、這典禮是公開進行的，全會眾被召集前來作見證，Le 8:1-4。二、一切都完全照著神的吩咐而行，Le 8:5。1. 他們被洗淨並穿戴聖服，Le 8:6-9,13。2. 膏抹會幕及其中的器具，然後膏抹祭司，Le 8:10-12。3. 為他們獻上贖罪祭，Le 8:14-17。4. 獻上燔祭，Le 8:18-21。5. 承接聖職之禮的公綿羊，Le 8:22-30。6. 這典禮持續七天，Le 8:31-36等。