After the Israelites set up Yahweh’s dwelling, someone would have take care of it. The lamps needed to be trimmed, the bread of the Presence made, and the sacrifices offered. For these tasks, Yahweh appointed Moses’s brother, Aaron, and his four sons. Scripture never explains why he chose Aaron over Moses. But Moses’s initial refusal to return to Egypt led to Aaron becoming the one who spoke to the people.¹ Now he would speak for the people.

Yahweh commanded Moses to separate Aaron from the Israelites to serve as high priest. Part of what set him apart was the special clothing he wore while serving. Most Israelite men wore a simple tunic covered by a cloak. The high priest’s raiment included several more layers decorated with gold and the same colors as the dwelling. Notably missing from the list of clothing is any kind of footwear. While on the holy ground of the dwelling, or possibly the entire sanctuary, the priests likely served barefoot.²

For as long as the covenant at Sinai (the law) lasted, only Aaron’s descendants could serve as priests. But when Jesus initiated the new covenant, he became our eternal High Priest in the line of Melchizedek. Under the law, Jesus didn’t qualify for the priesthood because he came from the tribe of Judah.³ But under the new covenant, he alone qualifies because he offered up himself.⁴