In The Priesthood of the Plebs, Peter Leithart notes the parallel between the Sinai Covenant and the priestly ordination rites (p.76). He concludes that ‘this parallel suggests that within the covenant with all Israel, Yahweh entered, through the ordination rite, into a priestly covenant with Aaron and his sons.’ I am sure Leithart is right in this, but I also wonder if it works the other way round. What if we read the book of Exodus as the ordination process of the kingdom of priests (19:6)?

The ordination process (Exod 28-29, 39-40) involves these stages:

selection of the appropriate people, determined by their ancestry (28:1)

bringing near to the entrance to the holy place (29:4)

washing (29:4)

dressing appropriately (29:5-9, see also 28:2-43 on making the appropriate garments)

anointing (29:7)

offering sacrifices (29:10-42)

sprinkling with blood (that has previously been sprinkled on the altar) (29:20-21)

feasting and enjoying the Lord’s presence (29:32-33, 42-46)

The book of Exodus shows the Israelites going through (almost) all these stages:

selection of the appropriate people, determined by their ancestry (1:1-7)

bringing near to the entrance to the holy place (12-19)

washing (chapter 14???, 19:10, 14)

dressing appropriately (19:10, 14)

anointing (???)

offering sacrifices (24:5)

sprinkling with blood (that has previously been sprinkled on the altar) (24:6-8)

feasting and enjoying the Lord’s presence (24: 9-11)

What do you think? I think the parallels between the speeches at Sinai and the instructions for ordination are suggestive, too:

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (19:4-6)

…

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (20:2)

Compare that with:

I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God. (29:44-46)

So my two questions are, when are the Israelites washed in preparation for their consecration? Does the crossing of the Red Sea fulfil that role? Or is the washing of the garments and abstinence from sex sufficient?

And second, is there an anointing process for the Israelites or is that unique to the Aaronic priesthood?