He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. The sin offering bull — the first of the three ordination animals — receives the hand-laying from Aaron and his sons together. The corporate hand-laying communicates the corporate identification: the entire priestly family being ordained identifies together with the sin offering that addresses the corporate need for atonement before the priestly service can begin. The priests who will administer atonement for Israel begin their ministry by being atoned for themselves. Hebrews 5:3 says the high priest has to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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