Vayyiqra 9 (Leviticus 9)
Leviticus 9 is the first set of offerings and sacrifices, Aharon performed as the High Priest. He will perform several offerings for various reasons. Aharon will possibly enter into the Ohel of the Congregation twice. Once for a sin offering and another time with Moshe. It does not state what Aharon did with Moshe. These offerings were performed in accordance with the process laid out in Vayyiqra 1 through 7. One needs to appreciate the seriousness of what is happening, the result will speak for itself.
Vayyiqra 9:1
1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, Moshe called Aharon and his sons, and the elders of Yisrael;
The eighth day refers back to what occurred in Vayyiqra 8, specifically Vayyiqra 8:33-36.
33 And you shall not go out of the door of the Ohel of the Congregation seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. 34 As he has done this day, Yehovah has commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore shall abide the door of the Ohel of the Congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of Yehovah, that die not: for so I am commanded. 36 So Aharon and his sons did all things which Yehovah commanded by the hand of Moshe.
Aharon and his sons observed the word of Yehovah and fulfilled their days of consecration. It is important that we follow Yehovah’s instructions precisely. If we would do that, we would be in the perfect will of Yehovah. Then things would go well for us and our children, Devarim 4:40.
40 You shall observe therefore His statutes, and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong days upon the earth, which Yehovah your Redeemer gives you, for ever.
It is not just the law, Torah, we need to be concerned about. That is just the minimum. Paul tells us in Romans 7:6.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not the oldness of the letter.
So many confuse this as a loophole to not follow the law. It is a command to follow the law in the spirit, so we can fulfill Romans 8:4.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We are to do the righteous requirement of the law, Torah. This is a lot more complicated than just do’s and don’ts. It is something that will take a lifetime to understand through the spirit. And it starts with simple obedience, so that one can start to understand.
Vayyiqra 9:2
2 And he said to Aharon, Take for yourself a young (ben) calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer before Yehovah.
Moshe told Aharon to get a calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering for himself. The sin offering was for the Sin of Ignorance. As always, these were to be unblemished. They should be the best of the best. We should always offer our best to Yehovah. The offerings Aharon did for himself were:
- Calf for a sin offering.
- Ram for a burnt offering
There would be several other offerings performed for the Children of Yisrael by Aharon this day.
Vayyiqra 9:3-4
3 And to the children of Yisrael you shall speak, saying, Take a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; 4 Also a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Yehovah; and a grain offering mingled with oil: for to day Yehovah will appear to you.
From the text, it appears that the calf and lamb for the burnt offerings were to be of the first year.
Along with the offerings for Aharon, Moshe tells Aharon that the following offerings would be performed for the Children of Yisrael:
- Goat for sin offering.
- Calf of the first year for burnt offering.
- Lamb of the first year for burnt offering.
- Bull for peace offering.
- Ram for peace offering.
- Grain offering mingled with oil.
Aharon would do a total of 7 animal offerings. Then Moshe tells Aharon that Yehovah would appear before them this day. However, the meaning of this is not explained. When it does happen, it will be the first time that they would witness Yehovah’s power up-close and personal. It is true that they saw what Yehovah did in Mitzrayim, but this would be something new for them.
Aharon was to tell the Children of Yisrael this information.
Vayyiqra 9:5-6
5 And they brought which Moshe commanded before the Ohel of the Congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before Yehovah.
The people brought the offerings and came close to observe. Probably in anticipation of what would occur. This was different than what happened in Shemos 19, when they were not allowed to draw close, Shemos 19:20-21.
20 And Yehovah came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and Yehovah called Moshe to the top of the mount; and Moshe went up. 21 And Yehovah said to Moshe , Go down, charge the people, lest they break through to Yehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.
This time would be different, they would get to see Yehovah.
It is an odd thing about people, they crave a God that can be seen. If they do not get to see Him, they will create images of Him based on their imaginations. This was something we were never supposed to do, Shemos 20:22-23.
22 And Yehovah said to Moshe , Thus say to the children of Yisrael, You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make with Me redeemers of silver, neither shall you make to you redeemers of gold.
This includes an image of God or Yeshua. We believe in the unseen God, yet we try to make Him seen in the flesh. There is no image that could do Him justice. Besides no one knows what He looks like. We walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Vayyiqra
6 And Moshe said, This the thing which Yehovah commanded that you should do: and the glory of Yehovah shall appear to you.
Again, Moshe repeats the earlier words; however, this is slightly different. In Vayyiqra 9:4, Yehovah would appear. In Vayyiqra 9:6, the glory of Yehovah would appear. What this means nobody knows today. However, those present that day; saw something that affected them. Unfortunately, the effect wore off all too fast.
Vayyiqra 9:7
7 And Moshe said to Aharon, Go to the Altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make an atonement for yourself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as Yehovah commanded.
Moshe told Aharon to perform the offerings. It started with Aharon’s sin offering and then his burnt offering. At this point, it does not specify what Aharon’s sin was. However, in the case of the High Priest; there always seems that there is a possibility of a sin of ignorance. For the Priest to do any offerings, he has to have atoned for any possible sin. A blemished priest cannot offer an unblemished sacrifice, Vayyiqra 10:10.
10 And that may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
Simply the priest must be holy and free of sin. There can be no sin that is not atoned for if one is to offer to Yehovah as the High Priest.
Vayyiqra 9:8-9
8 Aaron therefore went to the Altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which for himself. 9 And the sons of Aharon brought the blood to him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the Altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the Altar:
Aharon sacrificed the calf. Aharon’s sons collected the blood and brought it to Aharon. He then put the blood on the horns of the Altar. In the previous instructions for the offering the bull or calf, the blood was only put on the horns of the Altar of Incense, Vayyiqra 4:5-7.
5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the Ohel of the Congregation: 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before Yehovah, before the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the Altar of Sweet Incense before Yehovah, which is in the Ohel of the Congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the Ohel of the Congregation.
Although, it does not state that Aharon entered the Ohel of the Congregation. To perform this offering properly, Aharon would have had to enter to sprinkle the blood. As with all offerings for the sin of ignorance, the remaining blood is poured out at the bottom of the Altar of Burnt Offerings.
Vayyiqra 9:10-11
10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the Altar; as Yehovah commanded Moshe . 11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
Aharon completes the offering by burning the calf’s parts in the appropriate locations.
Vayyiqra 9:12-14
12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aharon’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the Altar. 13 And they presented the burnt offering to him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt upon the Altar. 14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt upon the burnt offering on the Altar.
Next, Aharon did the burnt offering of the ram. He sprinkled the blood as in Vayyiqra 1:11.
11 And he shall kill it on the side of the Altar northward before Yehovah: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
Then the ram was cut in pieces, washed and burnt as in Vayyiqra 1:12-13.
12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yehovah.
This would be a sweet savor to Yehovah.
Vayyiqra 9:15-16
15 And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. 16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
First, the sin offering of the goat was performed as specified in Vayyiqra 4.
Vayyiqra 9:17
17 And he brought the grain offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt upon the Altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
When it mentions, the burnt sacrifice for the morning, this possibly is referring to one of the two lambs sacrificed every day. This included a handful of the grain offering. It appears that the grain offering was simply flour, oil and frankincense, Vayyiqra 2:1-2.
1 And when any will offer a grain offering to Yehovah, his offering shall be fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: 2 And he shall bring it to Aharon’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yehovah:
Vayyiqra 9:18-20
18 He slew also the bullock and the ram a sacrifice of peace offerings, which for the people: and Aharon’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the Altar round about, 19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covered and the kidneys, and the caul the liver: 20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the Altar:
The peace offerings were done as in Vayyiqra 3.
Vayyiqra 9:21
21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aharon waved a wave offering before Yehovah; as Moshe commanded.
Aharon performed a wave offering of the breast and the right shoulder.
Vayyiqra 9:22
22 And Aharon lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
It appears that Aharon blessed the people from the Altar of Burnt Offerings. He was above the people at this time. Aharon blessed the people in a manner similar to what Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:8.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Aharon raised His hands as so many would do after him. Just as Ezra did in Ezra 9:5.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to Yehovah my Redeemer,
It was common during biblical times to raise one’s hands in prayer. It is odd that in modern times, this is not a common practice among Jews and Christians.
Vayyiqra 9:23-24
23 And Moshe and Aharon went into the Ohel of the Congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Yehovah appeared to all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before Yehovah, and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering and the fat: when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
It is unclear what Moshe and Aharon did while in the Mishkan. But when they came out, they blessed the people. More than likely with outstretched arms. Then the glory of Yehovah appeared. What that means, nobody knows except those present. No specifics are recorded in Torah. Then a fire came out from Yehovah and consumed the burnt offering. When the people saw this, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Shouted comes from the Hebrew word רָנַן ranan (H7442). It is in the Bible 52 times. רָנַן ranan (H7442) is translated sing 20 times, rejoice 11 times, sing aloud 4 times, shout 4 times, shout for joy 3 times, sing for joy 2 times, crieth 2 times, cry out 2 times, shout aloud 1 time and 3 miscellaneous words. It means to sing out with joy. The true reaction of the Children of Israel is lost in the words. Nevertheless, we will all get to experience something similar in the millennium.
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