A. Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as Priests (8:1-36)

The great significance of the occasion is underscored by the gathering of the entire Israelite community to witness the ordination of Aaron and his sons (v.3). Throughout this section, Moses' obedience to God is stressed (see 8:4, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 34, 36; 9:6, 7, 10; 10:15). Obedience to God’s commands is required if divine forgiveness is to be received and God’s glorious presence is to be experienced. In Wesleyan thought, obedience to God is a necessary prerequisite if one is to walk in the fullness of God’s grace.

With the whole nation assembled at the Tent of Meeting, Moses presents (hiqrîb̠) Aaron and his two sons to God. Hiqrîb̠ is the word commonly used in OT texts for presentation of an offering. Its use in 8:6 signifies that the priests are presented to God and are thereby wholly sanctified for his service at the altar. Paul exhorts believers to present themselves to God as living sacrifices (Ro 12:1). John Wesley understands both testaments as teaching the necessity of full consecration.

Having presented Aaron and his sons to God, Moses washes and clothes them. Washing rendered the priests ritually clean for the ordination ceremony. Aaron is clothed according to the instructions God had given Moses in Ex 28:3-5. The special garments are clearly intended to exalt God’s holiness and majesty.

Next, Moses anoints the tabernacle. By this anointing, the tent and all its furnishings are consecrated. Any person or object that is sanctified is set apart to God and made holy. It is this basic conception of holiness that John Wesley applies to believers who would become entirely sanctified.

Finally, Moses offers the sacrifice that God had commanded for the ordination ceremony (vv.14-30). In the course of the ritual Moses takes some of the slaughtered ram’s blood and places it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot (v.23). These actions symbolize the consecration of the priests' hearing from God, the work (of their hands) for God, and their walk with God. Through these offerings, Aaron and his sons are sanctified for priestly service in the tabernacle.