CONSECRATION OF AARON. WE must suppose that Aaron was forgiven for the part he took in making and worshipping the golden calf, for the Lord commanded Moses to consecrate his brother for the performance of sacred duties. Moses therefore. assembled all the people, and having washed Aaron and his sons with water, he put upon him the priestly coat, and girded him with the girdle, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod upon him, and girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod. And he put the breastplate of judgment upon him, and in the breastplate he put the Urim and Thummim. And upon Aaron's head Moses placed the golden mitre or holy crown, and anointed him with the sacred oil, and sprinkled the altar with it seven times. Then a bullock was slain as a sin offering, and Moses took the blood and put some of it with his finger upon the horns of the altar; a part of the animal also was burnt upon the altar, and the rest consumed to ashes without the camp. Then a ram was slain as a burnt offering, and Moses dipped his finger in the blood and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the toe of his right foot; and Aaron and his sons remained at the door of the tabernacle seven days and nights, after which the solemnity of consecration was complete. These ceremonies must not be regarded as vain forms; they were all symbols of some hidden or sacred meaning. The Urim and Thummim are supposed to have been exceedingly bright jewels, worn on great occasions by the high priest, and intended, by their pure radiance, to image the divine presence. |