“And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 29:1 Mean?
God gives detailed instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests. The process involves specific animals — a young bull and two unblemished rams — and an elaborate ritual of washing, dressing, anointing, and sacrificing. This is the ordination ceremony for Israel's priesthood.
The requirement of animals "without blemish" is foundational to the entire sacrificial system. The offering must be perfect because it represents something perfect. Every unblemished animal pointed forward to the ultimate unblemished sacrifice — Jesus, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19).
"To hallow them" means to set them apart, to make them holy for a specific purpose. The priests didn't make themselves holy. God hallowed them through a prescribed process. Holiness wasn't a personal achievement — it was a conferred status, given through ritual that God designed and commanded.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the elaborate ordination process for priests change how you think about approaching God?
- 2.What does it mean to you that holiness is conferred by God, not achieved by effort?
- 3.How does Christ's sacrifice replace the need for the rituals described here — and what does it preserve?
- 4.Do you take your access to God for granted? How might understanding the old system deepen your gratitude?
Devotional
Before Aaron could serve God, he had to be made holy. Not by his own effort — by a process God designed.
The washing, the dressing, the anointing, the blood — every step of ordination said the same thing: you can't approach God as you are. Something has to change. Something has to be done to you before you're fit for His presence.
This feels foreign in a culture that celebrates "come as you are." And yes, God invites you as you are — but He doesn't leave you as you are. The consecration process for priests was God's way of saying: my presence requires preparation. Not because I'm unapproachable, but because holiness is my nature, and you need to be fitted for it.
In Christ, you've been consecrated. Not through bull's blood and ram's blood, but through something those sacrifices only pointed to. You are washed, clothed, anointed, and sanctified by His sacrifice. The ordination happened at the cross. You don't need to repeat the ceremony — but you do need to understand what it cost.
Every time you approach God in prayer, you're walking through what Aaron walked through — washing, covering, blood. You just don't see the animals anymore. You see the Lamb.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them,.... To Aaron and his sons: to "hallow" them; to sanctify them, set…
The consecration of the priests. See the notes to Lev. 8–9. Exo 29:4 Door of the tabernacle - Entrance of the tent. See…
Take one young bullock - This consecration did not take place till after the erection of the tabernacle. See Lev 8:9-14.
Here is, I. The law concerning the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priest's office, which was to be done with…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture