Exodus 29 details the seven-day consecration ceremony to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests, followed by the instructions for the daily perpetual offerings, all centered on God’s desire to dwell among His people.
God instructs Moses on how to set apart (hallow) Aaron and his sons to serve in the Tabernacle. The chapter moves through three main movements: The Priestly Consecration, The Daily Offerings and God’s Dwelling Promise.
Key Points by Verses
- The Priestly Consecration (29:1–37): A seven-day ordination of Aaron and his sons, with washing, clothing, anointing and three sacrifices: a bull and two rams.
- The Preparation of Offerings (29:1–3): God tells Moses to take one young bull and two rams without blemish, along with unleavened bread, cakes mixed with oil and wafers spread with oil, all made of fine wheat flour.
- Interpretation: The offerings had to be without blemish, because only what is whole and unspoiled is fit to be given to God.
- Washing, Clothing, and Anointing (29:4–9): Aaron and his sons are brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting and washed with water. Aaron is clothed with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, the sash, and the turban with the holy crown, and is anointed on the head with oil. His sons are clothed with tunics, sashes and caps. The priesthood is theirs by a perpetual statute.
- Interpretation: Washing comes before robing. First the priests are cleansed, then they are clothed in the garments of glory and dignity. They do not make themselves fit; God provides both. Traditionally, the garments point to being clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and the oil to the Holy Spirit.
- The Sin Offering (The Young Bull) (29:10–14): Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the bull’s head, identifying with the offering. The bull is slaughtered before the Lord, some of the blood is put on the horns of the altar with a finger, and the rest is poured out at the base of the altar. The fat and kidneys are burned on the altar, and the flesh, skin and dung are burned outside the camp.
- Interpretation: The priests must have their own sin dealt with before they can serve. Laying on hands is traditionally read as a picture of guilt being transferred to the offering. The burning outside the camp is echoed in Hebrews 13:11–12, where Jesus suffered outside the gate.
- The First Burnt Offering (The First Ram) (29:15–18): The priests lay their hands on the first ram. It is killed, its blood is thrown against the sides of the altar, and the whole ram, cut in pieces, is burned as a pleasing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord.
- Interpretation: Unlike the sin offering, the whole animal is consumed on the altar. It is traditionally read as total surrender and devotion to God, a picture fulfilled in Christ, who gave Himself as a fragrant offering (Ephesians 5:2).
- The Ordination Offering and Blood-Marking (The Second Ram) (29:19–28): The second ram is killed. Moses puts some of its blood on the tip of the right ear, the right thumb and the right big toe of Aaron and each of his sons, and throws the rest against the altar. Anointing oil mixed with blood is sprinkled on Aaron, his sons and their garments. Portions of the ram, with a loaf, a cake and a wafer, are waved before the Lord, and the breast and thigh become the priests’ portion.
- Interpretation: The ear, thumb and toe are traditionally read as the dedication of the whole person: hearing, work and walk. The text itself does not state this meaning. The blood and oil together show that service rests on atonement and the Spirit.
- Seven Days of Consecration (29:29–37): Aaron’s holy garments pass to his descendants, who will be ordained in them. The flesh of the ordination ram is boiled at the entrance and eaten by Aaron and his sons with the bread, and no outsider may eat it. The ordination lasts seven days, and each day a bull is offered as a sin offering to atone for the altar and consecrate it by anointing.
- Interpretation: Consecration takes time and is not a single moment. The shared meal shows that the priests, once cleansed, were brought into fellowship with God. The altar itself needed atonement, showing how seriously God treats holiness.
- The Preparation of Offerings (29:1–3): God tells Moses to take one young bull and two rams without blemish, along with unleavened bread, cakes mixed with oil and wafers spread with oil, all made of fine wheat flour.
- The Daily Offerings (29:38–42): A continual offering was to be made at the entrance of the tent of meeting for generations.
- The Daily Burnt Offerings (29:38–42): Two lambs a year old were offered every day, one in the morning and one at twilight. Each was accompanied by a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of beaten oil and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering.
- Interpretation: Worship was a daily rhythm, not an occasional event. The pattern of morning and evening shows that fellowship with God is to be sustained continually.
- The Daily Burnt Offerings (29:38–42): Two lambs a year old were offered every day, one in the morning and one at twilight. Each was accompanied by a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of beaten oil and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering.
- God’s Dwelling Promise (29:43–46): God declares what the tabernacle is for.
- The Goal of Redemption (29:43–46): God will meet with the Israelites there, and the tent will be consecrated by His glory. He will consecrate the tent, the altar, and Aaron and his sons. He will dwell among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know He is the Lord who brought them out of Egypt “that I might dwell among them” (29:46).
- Interpretation: This verse explains the purpose of the whole system. Redemption is not only escape from slavery, but restored relationship with God.
- The Goal of Redemption (29:43–46): God will meet with the Israelites there, and the tent will be consecrated by His glory. He will consecrate the tent, the altar, and Aaron and his sons. He will dwell among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know He is the Lord who brought them out of Egypt “that I might dwell among them” (29:46).
Spiritual Implication
Looking at the chapter as a whole, Exodus 29 shows how sinful people are made fit to serve a holy God, and why He wants them near.
- God Makes Us Fit to Serve
- The picture: Cleansing, clothing, sacrifice and anointing were all provided by God. The priests contributed nothing of their own.
- Fulfilled in Christ: Believers are washed (Titus 3:5), clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27), and made a holy and royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9).
- Application: Service begins with what God has done for us, not with our own qualifications.
- Christ Fulfills What the Offerings Could Not
- The picture: Seven days of repeated sacrifices were needed even to consecrate the altar, and the daily offerings never ended.
- Fulfilled in Christ: Animal sacrifices could not take away sin (Hebrews 10:1–4). Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for all time (Hebrews 10:10–14), as sin offering, burnt offering and the way into fellowship with God.
- Application: Believers can come to God with confidence because the work of dealing with sin is finished.
- A Whole Life Offered Daily
- The picture: The priests were dedicated in body and person, and worship continued every morning and evening.
- Application: Believers present themselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Consecration shows in daily life, in what we hear, what we do and where we walk, and it is sustained by daily prayer and praise (Psalms 141:2; Hebrews 13:15).
- The Goal: God Dwells Among His People
- The picture: The chapter ends with God’s purpose: “that I might dwell among them” (29:46).
- Fulfilled in Christ: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), and God’s final dwelling with His people is promised in Revelation 21:3.
- Application: Believers are God’s temple (2 Corinthians 6:16). The goal of salvation is not only forgiveness but life in God’s presence.
出埃及記第 29 章詳細記述了分別為聖亞倫及其眾子為祭司的七日儀式，以及關於每日恆常獻祭的指示；這一切的核心，都在於神渴望住在祂的子民中間。
神指示摩西如何分別為聖（使之成聖）亞倫及其眾子，以便他們在會幕中事奉。本章內容主要包含三個部分：祭司的分別為聖、每日的獻祭，以及神對居住其中的應許。
本章經文要點
- 使祭司成聖的承接聖職禮（29:1–37）：亞倫及其眾子為期七天的授職禮，包括洗濯、穿戴聖服、用油膏抹以及獻祭：一頭公牛和兩隻公綿羊。
- 預備祭物（29:1–3）：神吩咐摩西拿一隻公牛犢和兩隻無殘疾的公綿羊，連同用細麥麵製作的無酵餅、調油的餅和抹油的薄餅。
- 解經：獻上的祭物必須毫無瑕疵，因為只有完整無損之物，才配獻給神。
- 洗濯、穿衣與膏抹（29:4–9）：亞倫和他的兒子們被帶到會幕門口，用水洗身。亞倫穿上內袍、以弗得外袍、以弗得、胸牌、腰帶，以及戴上裹著聖冠的頭巾，並受膏油抹頭。他的兒子們則穿上內袍、腰帶和頭巾。他們就憑永遠的定例，得了祭司的職任。
- 解經：沐浴在穿戴聖衣之前。祭司先得潔淨，才能隨後穿上榮耀與尊貴的聖衣。他們並非靠自己達到合宜的資格，這一切皆由神所賜。傳統上，聖衣象徵披戴基督的公義，而膏油則象徵聖靈。
- 贖罪祭（公牛犢）（29:10–14）：亞倫和他的兒子們按手在公牛的頭上，以此表明與這祭物等同視之。這公牛在耶和華面前被宰殺；人用指頭蘸血，抹在祭壇的角上，其餘的血則倒在壇腳。脂油和腎臟在祭壇上焚燒，而肉、皮和糞便則在營外焚燒。
- 解經：祭司必須先處理好自身的罪，方能事奉。按手這項儀式，傳統上被視為罪咎轉移至祭物的象徵；而在營外焚燒祭物的做法，則與希伯來書 13:11–12 相呼應－－耶穌正是在城門外受苦的。
- 第一次燔祭（第一隻公綿羊）（29:15–18）：祭司們按手在那隻公綿羊身上。羊被宰殺，血被潑灑在祭壇周圍；整隻羊被切成塊，作為馨香的火祭焚燒獻給耶和華。
- 解經：與贖罪祭不同，這種祭物的整隻牲畜都要在祭壇上焚燒獻上。傳統上，這被視為對神全然的降服與奉獻；這一圖景在基督身上得到了應驗，祂捨棄自己，成為馨香的祭物（以弗所書 5:2）。
- 授職的祭物與塗血之禮（第二隻公綿羊）（29:19–28）：宰殺第二隻公綿羊。摩西將羊的部分血抹在亞倫和他眾子的右耳垂、右手大拇指和右腳大腳趾上，並將其餘的血灑在祭壇周圍。也將血和膏油灑在亞倫、他的眾子及其衣物上。公綿羊的部分肉連同一個餅、一個調油的餅和一個薄餅在耶和華面前作搖祭獻上，而胸部和腿部則歸作祭司的分。
- 解經：傳統上，耳、拇指和腳趾被解讀為整個人（聽覺、工作與行止）的奉獻。經文本身並未明確指出這項意義。血與油並用，顯示事奉是建立在贖罪與聖靈之上的。
- 七日的承接聖職的禮儀（29:29–37）：亞倫的聖衣將傳給他的後代，他們要穿著這聖衣接受承接聖職的禮節。承接聖職之禮所用的公綿羊肉，要在會幕門口煮熟，由亞倫和他的兒子們連同餅一起食用；外人不得食用。這項承接聖職的禮儀為期七天，每天都要獻上一頭公牛作贖罪祭，為祭壇贖罪，並透過膏抹使之分別為聖。
- 解經：分別為聖需要時間，並非一蹴可幾。共進筵席表明，祭司在潔淨之後，得以進入與神相交的關係中。祭壇本身也需要贖罪，這彰顯了神對聖潔的極度重視。
- 預備祭物（29:1–3）：神吩咐摩西拿一隻公牛犢和兩隻無殘疾的公綿羊，連同用細麥麵製作的無酵餅、調油的餅和抹油的薄餅。
- 每日獻祭（29:38–42）：世世代代都要在會幕門口獻上常獻的祭。
- 每日的燔祭（29:38–42）：每天要獻上兩隻一歲的羔羊，一隻在早晨，另一隻在黃昏。每隻羔羊都要配上十分之一伊法的細麵，並調和四分之一欣搗成的油，還要加上四分之一欣酒作為奠祭。
- 解經：敬拜是一種日常的規律，而非偶爾為之的活動。早晚敬拜的模式表明，與神的團契應持續不斷地維繫。
- 每日的燔祭（29:38–42）：每天要獻上兩隻一歲的羔羊，一隻在早晨，另一隻在黃昏。每隻羔羊都要配上十分之一伊法的細麵，並調和四分之一欣搗成的油，還要加上四分之一欣酒作為奠祭。
- 神同住的應許（29:43–46）：神宣告了會幕的用途。
- 救贖的目標（29:43–46）：神將在那裡與以色列人相會，會幕將因祂的榮耀而成聖。祂將使會幕、祭壇以及亞倫和祂的眾子成聖。祂將住在以色列人中間，作他們的神；他們也將知道，祂就是那將他們從埃及領出來的主－「好使我住在他們中間」（29:46）。
- 解經：這節經文闡明了整個體系的目的。救贖不僅意味著脫離奴役，更意味著與神恢復關係。
- 救贖的目標（29:43–46）：神將在那裡與以色列人相會，會幕將因祂的榮耀而成聖。祂將使會幕、祭壇以及亞倫和祂的眾子成聖。祂將住在以色列人中間，作他們的神；他們也將知道，祂就是那將他們從埃及領出來的主－「好使我住在他們中間」（29:46）。
屬靈意義
縱觀整章，出埃及記第 29 章展示了有罪之人如何得以適宜侍奉聖潔的神，以及神為何希望他們親近自己。
- 神使我們適於事奉
- 舊約的預表: 潔淨、穿戴、獻祭和膏抹，這一切均由神提供；祭司們未曾貢獻任何屬於自己的東西。
- 在基督裡得應驗: 信徒已蒙洗淨（提多書 3:5），披戴了基督（加拉太書 3:27），並成為聖潔的祭司和君尊的祭司（彼得前書 2:5, 9）。
- 生活應用: 事奉始於神為我們所做的一切，而非始於我們自身的資格。
- 基督成全了獻祭所無法成就的
- 舊約的預表: 單是分別為聖那祭壇，就需要連續七天獻祭；而每日的獻祭也從未間斷。
- 在基督裡得應驗: 動物的獻祭無法除罪（希伯來書 10:1–4）。基督一次獻上自己作為永遠有效的贖罪祭（希伯來書 10:10–14），既是贖罪祭和燔祭，也是通往與神相交之路。
- 生活應用: 信徒可以滿懷信心地來到神面前，因為解決罪的工作已經完成了。
- 每日獻上整個生命
- 舊約的預表: 祭司們在身心上都全然獻身，敬拜活動也在每天的早晚持續進行。
- 生活應用: 信徒將自己獻上，當作活祭（羅馬書 12:1）。這種分別為聖的態度體現在日常生活中－包括我們的聽聞、言行與行止－並藉著每日的禱告與讚美得以持守（詩篇 141:2；希伯來書 13:15）。
- 目標：神居住在祂的子民中間
- 舊約的預表: 本章以神的目的作結：「好叫我住在他們中間」（29:46）。
- 在基督裡得應驗: 道成了肉身，住在我們中間（約翰福音 1:14）；而神最終與祂的子民同住，則應許在啟示錄 21:3 中。
- 生活應用: 信徒是神的殿（哥林多後書 6:16）。救恩的目標不只是罪得赦免，更是在神同在中生活。
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