The Consecration of Aaron and his Sons

The Consecration of Aaron and his Sons is often cited as a Pinpointed Lunar Sabbath. This event happened on the 8th day of the first month of the second year of the Exodus.

This page presents the rationale for considering it as a Pinpointed Lunar Sabbath, and discusses several objections.

Rationale

Aaron and his sons were consecrated on the First Day of the First Month of the Second Year.

Then YHVH spoke to Moses, saying: "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. (Exo 40:1-2)

"Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." Thus Moses did; according to all that YHVH had commanded him, so he did. And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up. (Exo 40:12-17)

Leviticus Chapters 1 through 7 then document the instructions that YHVH gave to Moses after the tabernacle was erected but before Aaron and his sons were consecrated in Chapter 8. This establishes that the time of consecration began on the first day of the first month of the second year.

Aaron and his sons were then commanded to stay inside the Tabernacle for seven days (Lev 8:33). This would be days one through seven of the first month. On the eighth day, Moses called them out of the Tabernacle (Lev 9:1) and YHVH appeared to them (Lev 9:23).

This proves that they began their sanctification on the New Moon Day, that the assembly of the congregation was on the 8th day of the month, and that the New Moon Day was not included as a workday in reckoning the Sabbath.

Objections

While the timing of the events stated above is correct, there is not sufficient evidence that the 8th day was a Sabbath. The main justification used is that there was an "assembly" of the congregation on that day, although it is not specifically referred to as an "assembly". The purpose of the crowd gathering was not necessarily because it was the Sabbath day, but because Aaron instructed the people to bring sacrifices that day:

And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering, also a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to sacrifice before YHVH, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today YHVH will appear to you.' " So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before YHVH. (Lev 9:3-5)

This command could have been given on any day of the week, and so this does not provide sufficient evidence to "pinpoint" the 8th day as a Lunar Sabbath.

Pinpointed Lunar Sabbaths
Abib 15 in Egypt	The First Week of Manna	The Last Day in Rephidim
The Law of the Leper	The Consecration of Aaron and his Sons	Esther 9
The Feast of Tabernacles	The Wave Sheaf Offering	Passover in Gilgal
Marching Around Jericho	The Dedication of Solomon's Temple	Hezekiah's Cleansing of the Temple
The Healing at the Pool	Healing of the Blind Man	Paul's Journey to Troas
The Crucifixion Week	Siege of Jerusalem	Christ the Firstfruits