February 10: Exodus 29:1 – Exodus 31:18

Consecration of the Priests – Exodus 29

• God gives instructions for anointing Aaron and his sons as priests. The priests' clothing and turban are placed on Aaron and anointing oil is to be poured on his face. His sons will then be brought in and placed in their priests' garb.
• A bull without blemish is to be brought before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons place their hands on it. They will then kill the bull at the entrance of the tent, place some of its blood on the horn of the altar, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. The fat covering the entrails, the long lobe of the liver, and the kidneys are to be burned on the altar, while the flesh and its skin and dung are taken outside the camp and burned as a sin offering.
• They then take a ram (the ram of sacrifice), lay their hands on it, and then kill it. Its blood is thrown against the sides of the altar, and then they cut the ram into pieces and burn it on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.
• They are then to take another ram (the ram of ordination), lay their hands on it, and kill it. Part of its blood is put on the tips of Aaron's right ear and his sons' ears, and on the tips of their right thumbs and right great toes. Some of the blood will be thrown against the sides of the altar, and some sprinkled on Aaron and his sons' garments, along with anointing oil.
• The fat of the ram is then to be taken and used to make one loaf of bread and one cake of bread, and one wafer. They are placed in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved before the Lord in an offering, then burnt on the altar as a food offering to God.
• The flesh of the ram of ordination should be burned in the Holy Place, and they will eat of it and the bread in the basket at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons are to be ordained for seven days, sacrificing a bull as a sin offering each day.
• Instructions for sacrifices are given—one lamb in the morning and one in the evening each day. God says He will dwell among them in the tent of meeting and be their God.

The Altar of Incense – Exodus 30

• God gives instructions for building an altar of acacia wood on which to burn incense. It is to be overlaid with gold and then placed in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony.
• Aaron will be instructed to burn incense on it every morning and at twilight, and he will make atonement on the horns of the altar once a year.

The Census Tax

• God tells Moses that when he takes a census, that each person age twenty or older shall give a shekel for the service of the tabernacle.

The Bronze Basin

• God tells Moses they are to make a basin of bronze for washing, and place it between the tent of meeting and the alter. Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and their feet with its water whenever they go near the altar to burn a food offering to the Lord.

The Anointing Oil and Incense

• Instructions are given for making an anointing oil, and they are to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the table and its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and its utensils, and the basin and its stand. They are then to anoint Aaron and his sons.

Ohaliab and Bezalel – Exodus 31

• God tells Moses that He has called by name Bezalel and filled him with His spirit to devise artistic designs. He has also appointed Ohaliab and other men to build all of these parts of the tent of meeting.

The Sabbath

• God tells Moses to instruct the people of Israel that they are to keep the Sabbath, and that whoever profanes it will be put to death. When God is finished speaking, He gives to Moses the tablets of the testimony.