"Take from this ram the fat,
the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts,
the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat around them,
and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.)
From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD,
take a loaf, and a cake made with oil, and a wafer.
Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons
and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.
Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar
along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD,
an offering made to the LORD by fire.
After you take the breast of the ram for Aaron's ordination,
wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share.
Consecrate those parts of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons:
the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.
This is always to be the regular share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons.
It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD
from their fellowship offerings."
Exodus 29:22-28 (NIV)
__________________________________________
Chapter 29 of Exodus details the process of consecrating Aaron and his descendants as priests.
In this section (vs. 22-28), parts of the ram for the ordination are offered to the LORD as wave offerings and burnt offerings. Certain portions of the offerings were designated as the share belonging to the priests for food. Leviticus chapter 7 gives more details about this process.
Burnt offerings, wave offerings and fellowship offerings are mentioned in this passage. I think it would be best to wait until we get into the book of Leviticus to discuss those offerings in more detail. It is about ten chapters away from where we are now, which seems like a lot of material, but the Exodus account will soon shift back into a more narrative style, which will move along more swiftly. I plan to be more disciplined about writing regularly. Also, this will give me some time to study ahead into the book of Leviticus so that I have a better idea of how to explain these matters when we get there. I will definitely be asking the LORD for understanding in these matters!
