Leviticus 9
25 Jul 2026 - Theology
The Glory of the Lord
Leviticus 9:1 - “And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;”
This chapter takes place on the eighth day of the consecration of the priests, which began in Leviticus 8:
Leviticus 8:33 - “And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.”
Here Aaron was to speak to all the people of Israel, telling them to offer sacrifices to the Lord, “for to day the Lord will appear unto you.” (4)
Leviticus 9:5-7 - “And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you. And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the Lord commanded.”
So Aaron went to the altar and began to offer the sacrifices that Moses told him to, which were commanded by the Lord. Aaron first offered a sin offering for himself (8), and a burnt offering. (10-14)
Aaron then brought the people’s offerings, including a sin offering for the people, a burnt offering, a meal offering, a peace offering, and a wave offering, and offered them before the Lord, as Moses commanded. (15-21)
Leviticus 9:22-23 - “And Aaron 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. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.”
What does it mean when it says “the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people”?
Leviticus 9:24 - “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”
This is a theophany, the glory of the Lord appearing as fire. The heavenly fire is a visible sign to all the people that the priesthood and all their offerings have been accepted.
The event does not mark the first time that God had dwelt among Israel, for His glory had already filled the Tabernacle in Exodus 40. Rather, this event publicly confirms the ongoing means by which Israel can draw near to God through the priesthood and the sacrificial system.
References
- The Hebrew - Greek Key Study Bible (KJV Version)
- The Torah Portion-by-Portion by Rabbi Seymour Rossel (2007)