Aaron faithfully offers sacrifices to atone both for himself and for Israel, obeying God’s commands for proper worship.
Moses then said to Aaron, “Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the LORD has commanded.” (v.7) Here, we see Moses speaking directly to Aaron, his brother. Moses lived during the 15th century BC, and was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3:10). In this setting at the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai, Moses instructs Aaron, who became Israel’s first high priest around the same period, to begin the priestly duties that would symbolize the people’s commitment to holiness. The place where this instruction happens is important to note: they are at the newly erected Tabernacle. The Sinai region is a rugged desert land traditionally located between Northeastern Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, where the Israelites camped after their exodus from Egypt.
In calling Aaron to “offer your sin offering and your burnt offering,” Moses emphasizes that even the highest spiritual leaders must seek atonement for their own sins before leading others. This underlines the holiness of God and the imperative that each person, including Aaron, be personally cleansed before serving the community (Hebrews 9:7). The sin offering and burnt offering were central sacrifices in the Old Testament system. They pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice for sin, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10).
This verse also highlights that the atonement process is for both “yourself and the people,” emphasizing that God’s desire for holiness extends across all levels of the community. Aaron’s act foreshadows a mission of intercession on behalf of others, an important job of the high priest (Hebrews 5:1-2). This priestly role finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who made atonement for the sins of humanity once and for all (Hebrews 7:27).
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Leviticus 9:7 meaning
Moses then said to Aaron, “Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the LORD has commanded.” (v.7) Here, we see Moses speaking directly to Aaron, his brother. Moses lived during the 15th century BC, and was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3:10). In this setting at the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai, Moses instructs Aaron, who became Israel’s first high priest around the same period, to begin the priestly duties that would symbolize the people’s commitment to holiness. The place where this instruction happens is important to note: they are at the newly erected Tabernacle. The Sinai region is a rugged desert land traditionally located between Northeastern Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, where the Israelites camped after their exodus from Egypt.
In calling Aaron to “offer your sin offering and your burnt offering,” Moses emphasizes that even the highest spiritual leaders must seek atonement for their own sins before leading others. This underlines the holiness of God and the imperative that each person, including Aaron, be personally cleansed before serving the community (Hebrews 9:7). The sin offering and burnt offering were central sacrifices in the Old Testament system. They pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice for sin, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10).
This verse also highlights that the atonement process is for both “yourself and the people,” emphasizing that God’s desire for holiness extends across all levels of the community. Aaron’s act foreshadows a mission of intercession on behalf of others, an important job of the high priest (Hebrews 5:1-2). This priestly role finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who made atonement for the sins of humanity once and for all (Hebrews 7:27).