In our Torah reading for this week, parashat Tzav (פרשת צו), we learn how the priests of ancient Israel were consecrated for service by the blood of the lamb. First Aaron and his sons were washed with water, arrayed in priestly garments, and anointed with holy oil. During this ordination ceremony, a sin offering and burnt offering were offered on their behalf, and then a special “ram of ordination” (i.e., eil hamilu’im: אֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים, lit. “ram of abundance [מָלֵא]”) was slaughtered. Some of this ram’s blood was applied to the right ear, right thumb, and big toe of the Aaron and his sons (a picture of Yeshua as our suffering High Priest), and the rest of the blood was dashed upon the sides of the altar. After its slaughter, Moses took some unleavened bread and put it in the hands of the priests to perform tenufah (a wave offering) before the altar (a picture of the resurrection).
Parashat Tzav Podcast:
