UTN uW Translation Notes:

Leviticus 8 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

This chapter is a narrative, the first of a series of narrative that make up Leviticus 8–10. This story details how Moses inaugurated Aaron and his four sons to be priests in Israel. Yahweh instructs Moses to gather together Aaron and his sons and the whole congregation of Israel, along with the necessary elements of the inauguration ceremony (8:1–3). Once Moses does this (8:4–5), he prepares Aaron and his sons for the ceremony by ritually washing them with water (8:6) and clothing Aaron with the special clothing of the high priest (8:6–9). Moses then takes the special anointing oil and anoints the sacred tent, all its tools used for the worship and service of Yahweh (8:10–11), and Aaron as priest (8:12), before clothing Aaron’s four sons with the special clothing of the priesthood (8:13])(../08/13.md)). Next, Moses transitions to offering the various sacrifices required of the ceremony, including a bull for the sin offering ([8:14–17), a ram for the burnt offering (8:18–21), and another ram for an ordination offering (8:22–29), the blood of which Aaron daubs on the extremities of Aaron and his sons in order to purify them from any and all uncleanness that comes from death, sin, or wrongdoing (8:23–24). From the ordination offering, Moses takes the special portions of fat, the right thigh, and the breast meat, places them into the hands of Aaron and his sons, and waves them in Yahweh’s presence to dedicate them to Yahweh (8:25–27). The breast meat then belongs to Moses as food, as per Yahweh’s law (8:28–29). Finally, Moses anoints Aaron and his sons and their clothing with oil once again, this time mixed with the purifying blood of the sacrifice (8:30), before instructing them how to eat the portions of the sacrifice that belong to them as food and how to participate in the seven-day process of being inaugurated as priests to Yahweh (8:31–35). The structure of the chapter is as follows: 1) Yahweh instructs Moses (8:1–3) 2) The Inauguration Ceremony (8:4–36) a. Moses gathers the people (8:4–5) b. Moses washes the priests and clothes Aaron (8:6–9) c. Moses anoints the sacred tent, its tools, and Aaron with oil (8:10–12) d. Moses clothes Aaron’s sons (8:13) e. Moses offers the sin offering (8:14–17) f. Moses offers the burnt offering (8:18–21) g. Moses offers the ordination offering (8:22–29) h. Moses anoints Aaron and his sons with oil and blood (8:30) i. Moses instructs the priests (8:31–36)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Many of the special concepts in this chapter are covered in the Book Introduction, including the burnt offering, the sin and ordination offerings, and the special role of blood in the sacrificial system of Leviticus. However, here blood and oil are applied in a unique way, warranting some explanation:The expression “the oil of anointing” is used twice in this chapter to refer to the special olive oil that was used for the purpose of dedicating places, people, and objects for Yahweh’s use alone. (See 8:10 and 8:30.) In 8:10, the oil is expressly said to “make holy” whatever is sprinkled with oil. (Again, see 8:10–12) and 8:30.) The oil is also poured on Aaron’s heads to set him apart for the unique task of being Israel high priest, whereas it is “sprinkled,” mixed with the blood of the ordination offering, on Aaron, his sons, and their clothing (8:30). This action likewise “makes holy” Aaron, his sons, and their clothing. If your language has a special word or expression for consecrating or anointing something or someone with oil, especially if there is a unique word for pouring this special oil on someone’s head, consider using these words in this chapter.Blood plays a similar but unique role in this chapter. Whereas the blood of the sacrifice often serves to purify the altar from the impurity of sin or uncleanness that the sacrifice “absorbs,” so to speak (see it perform this function in this chapter in 8:15 and 8:19), here Moses applies the blood to the extremities of Aaron and his sons, specifically their right earlobes, thumbs of their right hand, and big toes of their right feet. (See 8:23–24.) Because of the special property of blood (as the “life” of the animal) to remove impurity, this ritual action removes any impurity caused by proximity to death, sin, or wrongdoing from the whole body of Aaron and his sons. By metonymy, their extremities represent their entire bodies. If this action would not be clear in your language, consider explaining its meaning in a footnote or in the body of your translation. Additionally, if your language has a specific word or expression for applying blood to a person, especially in a ritual or religious context, consider using that word or expression here.