Reply Obj. 8 and 9:  Just as the people were initiated by circumcision to the divine worship, so were the ministers by some special purification or consecration:  wherefore they are commanded to be separated from other men, as being specially deputed, rather than others, to the ministry of the divine worship.  And all that was done touching them in their consecration or institution, was with a view to show that they were in possession of a prerogative of purity, power and dignity.  Hence three things were done in the institution of ministers:  for first, they were purified; secondly, they were adorned [’Ornabantur.’  Some editions have ‘ordinabantur’—­’were ordained’:  the former reading is a reference to Lev. 8:7-9] and consecrated; thirdly, they were employed in the ministry.  All in general used to be purified by washing in water, and by certain sacrifices; but the Levites in particular shaved all the hair of their bodies, as stated in Lev. 8 (cf.  Num. 8).

With regard to the high-priests and priests the consecration was performed as follows.  First, when they had been washed, they were clothed with certain special garments in designation of their dignity.  In particular, the high-priest was anointed on the head with the oil of unction:  to denote that the power of consecration was poured forth by him on to others, just as oil flows from the head on to the lower parts of the body; according to Ps. 132:2:  “Like the precious ointment on the head that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron.”  But the Levites received no other consecration besides being offered to the Lord by the children of Israel through the hands of the high-priest, who prayed for them.  The lesser priests were consecrated on the hands only, which were to be employed in the sacrifices.  The tip of their right ear and the thumb of their right hand, and the great toe of their right foot were tinged with the blood of the sacrificial animal, to denote that they should be obedient to God’s law in offering the sacrifices (this is denoted by touching their right ear); and that they should be careful and ready in performing the sacrifices (this is signified by the moistening of the right foot and hand).  They themselves and their garments were sprinkled with the blood of the animal that had been sacrificed, in memory of the blood of the lamb by which they had been delivered in Egypt.  At their consecration the following sacrifices were offered:  a calf, for sin, in memory of Aaron’s sin in fashioning the molten calf; a ram, for a holocaust, in memory of the sacrifice of Abraham, whose obedience it behooved the high-priest to imitate; again, a ram of consecration, which was a peace-offering, in memory of the delivery from Egypt through the blood of the lamb; and a basket of bread, in memory of the manna vouchsafed to the people.

In reference to their being destined to the ministry, the fat of the ram, one roll of bread, and the right shoulder were placed on their hands, to show that they received the power of offering these things to the Lord:  while the Levites were initiated to the ministry by being brought into the tabernacle of the covenant, as being destined to the ministry touching the vessels of the sanctuary.