Leviticus 9

Leviticus sets out the regulations for sacrifice in chapters 1–7. Then, in Leviticus 8, Aaron and his sons undergo a seven-day ordination to the priesthood. Chapter 9 describes the following day, the eighth day, when Aaron first begins his priestly ministry.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 Moses summons Aaron, his sons, and the elders of Israel. He instructs Aaron to prepare a calf for a sin offering (a sacrifice for cleansing from sin) and a ram for a burnt offering (a sacrifice in which the entire animal is burned). He instructs the people to prepare a kid of the goats for a sin offering, animals for burnt offerings and peace offerings (sacrifices of which a portion is shared and eaten), and a meat offering (a grain offering) mingled with oil. The whole congregation stands before the tabernacle of the congregation.
• Verses 7–14 Aaron first offers the sin offering and the burnt offering for himself. He puts the blood on the horns of the altar and pours it out at the base of the altar, and the flesh and the hide are burned with fire outside the camp.
• Verses 15–21 The sin offering, burnt offering, meat offering, and peace offerings for the people are presented in turn. The breasts and the right shoulder are waved as a wave offering (an offering waved before the LORD).
• Verses 22–24 Aaron lifts up his hand toward the people, blesses them, and comes down. Moses and Aaron go into the tabernacle of the congregation, come out, and bless the people again, and the glory of the LORD appears. Fire comes out and consumes the offerings, and the people shout and fall on their faces.

Key Verses

• Leviticus 9:6 "The glory of the LORD shall appear unto you": every sacrifice in this chapter points toward this promise.
• Leviticus 9:22 "Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them": this is the first scene in which a priest raises his hand to bless the people.
• Leviticus 9:24 "There came a fire out from before the LORD": this is understood as a sign that God accepted the first sacrifices.

People and Places

• Moses: Delivers the LORD's commands and directs the sacrificial procedure.
• Aaron: The high priest who officiates at the first sacrifices.
• Aaron's sons: Unnamed in this chapter, they assist Aaron by bringing him the blood and the offerings.
• The elders of Israel: Summoned by Moses as representatives of the people.
• The tabernacle of the congregation: The tent where God meets with His people, that is, the Tabernacle.
• The altar: The altar of burnt offering, on which the offerings are burned.

Points for Reflection

• The sacrifices are offered in the order of sin offering, burnt offering, and peace offering. Many interpreters explain this sequence as a progression from dealing with sin, to consecration, to fellowship with God, although the text itself does not offer this interpretation.
• That Aaron first offers a sacrifice for his own sin connects with Hebrews 7 (7:27). Hebrews contrasts the high priests, who needed daily to offer sacrifice for their own sins, with Christ, who offered up Himself once for all.
• The raising of the hand in blessing is often compared with the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:22–27. It is also read alongside Luke 24:50–51, where Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed His disciples at His ascension.
• The text does not say what Moses and Aaron did inside the tabernacle of the congregation in verse 23.
• In the following chapter, Leviticus 10, Aaron's two sons die after offering strange fire. For this reason, chapters 9 and 10 are often read in contrast with each other.

In the Korean Church

Verse 22 of this chapter, together with Numbers 6, is sometimes cited to explain the biblical background for the pastor's raising of hands during the benediction.