Leviticus 9:1

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 9:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
Leviticus 9:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass on the eighth day, etc.] When the seven days of consecration were ended, as Ben Gersom, the day following them, so soon was Aaron called to the execution of his office; and so both the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi make it to be the eighth day of the consecration, or the day after the anointing of Aaron and his sons, and which they both say was the beginning, or first day of Nisan, the day the tabernacle was erected by Moses: but that seems to have been set up before the consecration; rather this was, as Aben Ezra says, the eighth day of the month Nisan or March, and was the eighth day of the consecration, which began at the first day, on which day the tabernacle was set…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“THE PRIESTS' ENTRY INTO OFFICE. (Lev. 9:1-24) Moses called . . . Take thee a young calf for a sin offering--The directions in these sacred things were still given by Moses, the circumstances being extraordinary. But he was only the medium of communicating the divine will to the newly made priests. The first of their official acts was the sacrifice of another sin offering to atone for the defects of the inauguration services; and yet that sacrifice did not consist of a bullock--the sacrifice appointed for some particular transgression, but of a calf, perhaps not without a significant reference to Aaron's sin in the golden calf [Exo 32:22-24]. Then followed a burnt offering, expressive of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Leviticus 9:1 On the eighth day - i. e., on the first day after the week of consecration. Leviticus 9:2 A young calf - A bull calf, which might have been what we should call a yearling ox. Leviticus 9:3 A kid of the goats - A shaggy he-goat. See Leviticus 4:23 note. Leviticus 9:6 The glory of the Lord - Compare Exodus 16:7. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“On the eighth day - Namely, from the day of his consecration, or when the seven days of his consecration were ended. The eighth day is famous in scripture for the perfecting and purifying both of men and beasts. See Lev 12:2-3 Lev 14:8-10, Lev 15:13-14, Lev 22:27. And the elders of Israel - All the congregation were called to be witnesses of Aaron's installment into his office, to prevent their murmurings and contempt; which being done, the elders were now sufficient to be witnesses of his first execution of his office. Leviticus 9:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:1 eighth day: The priests had finished the seven-day period of probation commanded in 8:35. • elders: See study note on 4:15.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the eighth day: Not on the eighth day of the month, but on the first day after their consecration, which occupied seven days, and before which they were deemed unfit to minister in holy things, being considered in a state of imperfection. All creatures, for the most part, were considered as in a state of uncleanness and imperfection, seven days, and perfected on the eighth. (See note on Lev 12:2, Lev 12:3; Lev 14:8-10; Lev 15:13, Lev 15:14; Lev 22:27; Num 6:9, Num 6:10.) Lev 8:33, Lev 14:10, Lev 14:23, Lev 15:14, Lev 15:29; Num 6:10; Eze 43:26, Eze 43:27; Mat 28:1 Leviticus 9:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; Entrance of Aaron and his Sons upon their Office. - Lev 9:1-7. On the eighth day, i.e., on the day after the seven days' consecration, Aaron and his sons entered upon their duties with a solemn sacrifice for themselves and the nation, to which the Lord had made Himself known by a special revelation of His glory, to bear solemn witness before the whole nation that their service at the altar was acceptable to Him, and to impress the divine seal of confirmation upon the consecration they had received. To this end Aaron and his sons were to bring to the front of the tabernacle a young calf as a…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification