Consecration Ceremony – Command and Implementation/2

Consecration Ceremony – Command and Implementation

Exegetical Approaches

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Different Narrative Goals

The differences between the chapters relate to the differing narrative goals of each unit.

Change of Plan

The differences between the command and its implementation stems from an intervening event, the Sin of the Golden Calf, which caused a change of plan.  The goal of the ceremony was no longer simply to consecrate the priests but also to atone for the sin and highlight that Aharon was forgiven.

Aharon and sons – Though in the command, Aharon and his sons tend to be grouped together, in the execution, Aharon is differentiated form them.  In the aftermath of the sin, when the people emight have questioned Aharon's status it was important to highlight that not only did  he not lose his priestly status, but that his status is even higher than that of  his children.

Presence of congregation – As part of the goal of the ceremony became to demonstrate that Aharon was forgiven and still consecrated, it was necessary that the people witness the ceremony.  Beforehand, when the point was simply tot each the priests thier functins, this might not have beennecessary.

Order – In the comand, the sacrifices are mentioned first since, at that point, learning the sacrificial procedure and consecratingthe MIshkan through its offerings were the main goals of the ceremony.   Afterwards, though, highlighting the priestly status of Aharon became a primary focus of the ceremony and so the priests, their clothing and the consecrating oil, all necessary for their anointing, are mentioned first.

Anointing of Mishkan

Urim veTumim

פַּר הַחַטָּאת

Sprinkling of blood

Not leaving the tent of Meeting

Laws for future generations

The eighth day