Leviticus 9

First Sacrifices by the Ordained Priests

¹On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

²and he said to Aaron, “Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without defect, and offer them before the LORD.

³You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without defect, for a burnt offering;

⁴and a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today the LORD appears to you.’”

⁵They brought what Moses commanded before the Tent of Meeting. All the congregation came near and stood before the LORD.

⁶Moses said, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded that you should do; and the LORD’s glory shall appear to you.”

⁷Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded.”

⁸So Aaron came near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

⁹The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar;

¹⁰but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of the sin offering, he burned upon the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses.

¹¹The meat and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.

¹²He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar.

¹³They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head. He burned them upon the altar.

¹⁴He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar.

¹⁵He presented the people’s offering, and took the goat of the sin offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first.

¹⁶He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.

¹⁷He presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it upon the altar, in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.

¹⁸He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people. Aaron’s sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled around on the altar;

¹⁹and the fat of the bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the innards, and the kidneys, and the cover of the liver;

²⁰and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar.

²¹Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh for a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded.

²²Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

²³Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and the LORD’s glory appeared to all the people.

²⁴Fire came out from before the LORD, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Previous Leviticus 8

Next Leviticus 10

On the eighth day following their ordination, Aaron and his sons begin their priestly ministry by offering the first sacrifices on behalf of themselves and the people of Israel. Following Moses' detailed instructions, Aaron performs sin offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings according to the prescribed rituals. The chapter culminates in God's dramatic approval as His glory appears to the people and fire from the LORD consumes the offerings, causing the congregation to shout and fall on their faces in worship.

Context

This chapter marks the culmination of the seven-day ordination ceremony described in chapter 8, as the newly consecrated priests begin their active ministry.

Key Themes

Outline

1-6
Moses Commands the First Sacrificial Service Moses instructs Aaron and the people to prepare various offerings, promising that God's glory will appear.
7-14
Aaron Offers His Personal Sacrifices Aaron performs sin and burnt offerings for himself, following the prescribed ritual procedures exactly.
15-21
Aaron Offers the People's Sacrifices Aaron presents sin, burnt, meal, and peace offerings on behalf of the entire congregation.
22-24
Divine Approval and Glory After Aaron blesses the people, God's glory appears and divine fire consumes the offerings, prompting worship from the congregation.

First Sacrifices by the Ordained Priests

9:1–9:24

narrative narration triumphant

On the eighth day, Aaron and his sons perform their first sacrificial duties as ordained priests, offering sin offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings for themselves and the people. God's glory appears to the congregation and divine fire consumes the offerings, confirming their acceptance.

person_contrast

Moses transitions from lawgiver to liturgical director, orchestrating Aaron's inaugural sacrifices while the divine fire's consumption of offerings marks the first recorded instance of God's glory manifesting through priestly mediation.