Exodus 29: Consecration of Aaron and the Daily Offerings

Short answer: Exodus 29 records God's instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests, including washings, garments, anointings, and specific sacrifices. It also establishes the continual burnt offering and God's promise to dwell among the Israelites.

What Exodus 29 says

Verses 1 through 9 begin with God's command to Moses concerning the consecration of Aaron and his sons. Moses is to take a young bull, two rams without defect, and unleavened bread, cakes, and wafers made of fine wheat flour. These are brought in a basket with the animals. Aaron and his sons are washed with water at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron is clothed with the tunic, robe, ephod, breastplate, and woven band. The turban and holy crown are placed on his head, and he is anointed with oil. His sons receive tunics, belts, and headbands. This section establishes the priesthood as a perpetual statute, setting apart the priests for service through washing, clothing, and anointing.

Verses 10 through 18 describe the first two sacrifices. The bull is brought before the Tent, and Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head. It is killed before Yahweh at the door. Its blood is applied to the horns of the altar and poured at its base. The fat, liver cover, kidneys, and their fat are burned on the altar, while the rest of the bull is burned outside the camp as a sin offering. Then a ram is brought, and hands are laid on it. It is killed, its blood sprinkled around the altar, cut into pieces, washed, and entirely burned as a burnt offering, a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. These actions show the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement before the priests can serve.

Verses 19 through 28 focus on the second ram, the ram of consecration. Aaron and his sons lay hands on it, and it is killed. Some of its blood is put on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on his sons' right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hands and big toes of their right feet. The rest of the blood is sprinkled around the altar. Blood from the altar and anointing oil are sprinkled on Aaron, his garments, his sons, and their garments, making them holy. The fat, tail, inner fat, liver cover, kidneys, right thigh, and bread items are placed in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved as a wave offering before Yahweh. Then they are burned on the altar. The breast and thigh of the wave offering are set apart as a perpetual portion for Aaron and his sons from the Israelites.

Verses 29 through 46 conclude with instructions for future generations and the daily offerings. The holy garments of Aaron are to be worn by his sons when they are anointed and consecrated. The son who becomes priest is to wear them for seven days when he ministers in the holy place. The ram of consecration is boiled, and Aaron and his sons eat its meat and the bread at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Anything left until morning is burned. The consecration lasts seven days, with a bull offered daily for atonement to cleanse and sanctify the altar. Then God commands a continual burnt offering: two lambs a year old, one in the morning and one in the evening, with fine flour, oil, and wine. This is to be a continual burnt offering throughout generations at the door of the Tent, where God will meet with Israel and speak to them. God promises to sanctify the Tent, the altar, Aaron, and his sons, and to dwell among the Israelites and be their God, so they may know Him as Yahweh who brought them out of Egypt.

Verses that carry the chapter

• ““This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest’s office: take one young bull and two rams without defect,” (Exodus 29:1) — This verse introduces the entire consecration process, showing that holiness and service to God begin with specific, obedient actions. It sets the tone for the detailed instructions that follow.
• “Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot; and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.” (Exodus 29:20) — The application of blood to the ear, thumb, and toe of the priests symbolizes the total dedication of their hearing, work, and walk to God. It is a vivid picture of whole-life consecration.
• ““Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually.” (Exodus 29:38) — This verse establishes the continual burnt offering, a daily rhythm of worship that points to the need for ongoing atonement and fellowship with God. It underscores that priestly ministry is not occasional but constant.
• “I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.” (Exodus 29:45) — God's promise to dwell among the Israelites and be their God is the goal of the entire consecration. It reveals the purpose of the priesthood and the tabernacle: intimate covenant relationship.

Gospel connection

The consecration of Aaron and his sons in Exodus 29 points forward to the greater priesthood of Jesus Christ. The washing, anointing, and sacrifices all foreshadow the perfect cleansing and atonement found in Him. The blood applied to the priests' extremities signifies the total dedication that Christ perfectly embodied, and His once-for-all sacrifice replaces the continual offerings. The promise that God would dwell among His people finds its ultimate fulfillment in the incarnation, where the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. Through Christ, believers become a royal priesthood, called to offer spiritual sacrifices and to know God as their own.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to consider the seriousness of approaching God. The detailed instructions show that He is holy and cannot be approached casually. For the Christian, the work of Christ has opened the way, but the call to consecration remains. It invites us to examine whether our lives are set apart for His service, not just in religious activities but in the everyday use of our ears, hands, and feet. The continual burnt offering suggests a rhythm of daily devotion, a reminder that our relationship with God is sustained by His grace and our ongoing response. We are called to live as those who have been cleansed and anointed, reflecting His holiness in all we do.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not specify the exact location of the Tent of Meeting beyond the camp, nor does it describe the materials of the garments beyond what is listed. It does not name the craftsmen or the time of day for the consecration rituals. It is silent on how the Israelites received these instructions emotionally or how they responded. It does not explain the symbolism of the blood on the ear, thumb, and toe, nor does it detail the meaning of the wave offering. The text does not claim that these rituals themselves saved the priests, but rather that they were commanded for consecration and atonement. It also does not mention any failure or success in carrying out these commands.

Questions for study

1. What steps in the consecration of Aaron and his sons stand out to you, and why do you think God required such detailed preparation?
2. The blood was applied to the ear, thumb, and toe. What might this suggest about how we are to serve God with our whole selves today?
3. Why do you think the consecration lasted seven days, and what does that teach about the importance of patience and completeness in spiritual preparation?
4. The daily burnt offering was to be made every morning and evening. How might a regular rhythm of devotion shape our relationship with God?
5. God promises to dwell among the Israelites and be their God. How does this promise encourage you in your own walk with Him?

Keep reading

Related studies: Exodus 1 Bible Study, Exodus 10 Bible Study, Exodus 11 Bible Study, Exodus 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Aaron and his sons need to be consecrated?

They were being set apart to serve as priests, mediating between God and the people. The consecration rituals cleansed them, anointed them, and atoned for their sin so they could approach God's holy presence.

What is a wave offering?

A wave offering was a portion of a sacrifice that was presented before Yahweh by waving it, symbolizing that it was given to Him. In this chapter, parts of the ram and bread were waved and then burned or given to the priests as their portion.

What does it mean that the altar would be most holy?

It means the altar was set apart exclusively for God's service, and anything that touched it became holy. This emphasized the sacredness of worship and the need for proper reverence.