Leviticus 8:10-13

The anointing 8:10-13

The anointing of the tabernacle and the priests with oil (Leviticus 8:10-12) signified their sanctification whereby God set them apart to holy purposes and filled them with the power of His Spirit. Filling and indwelling are two distinct ministries of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit did not permanently indwell these priests, as He does all believer-priests today, but He did temporarily fill them (i.e., control them). [Note: See Walvoord, pp. 70-73.] The significance of the sevenfold sprinkling seems to have been that seven was "the covenant number," [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 2:336.] the guarantee of the completeness of the work, as in the seven days of creation. The leaders anointed the vessels because they became the instruments of blessing to the Israelites. The Israelites may have repeated this ritual with each new generation of priests, though Moses did not state this in the text.

The procedure for consecrating consisted of two parts.

1. The priests experienced consecration to their office by washing, clothing, and anointing (Leviticus 8:6-13).

2. Israel’s leaders then consecrated the sacrificial rites by which the priests experienced consecration (Leviticus 8:14-36).