A bullock ... two rams ... a basket - compare Exodus 29:1-3. This shows the coherence of this part of Leviticus with the latter part of Exodus. The basket of unleavened bread used on this occasion appears to have contained:

(1) cakes or loaves of the ordinary unleavened bread;

(2) cakes of oiled bread, rather, oil bread (see Leviticus 2:1, Leviticus 2:4); and

(3) oiled wafers (see Leviticus 2:4, Leviticus 2:6).

Rabbinical tradition says that there were six cakes of each sort.

Take Aaron and his sons - The whole subject of this chapter has been anticipated in the notes, Exodus 28:1 (note), etc., and Exodus 29:1 (note), etc., in which all the sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies have been explained in considerable detail; and to those notes the reader is referred. It is only necessary to observe that Aaron and his sons were not anointed until now. Before, the thing was commanded; now, first performed.

Take Aaron, and his sons with him,.... That is, order them to come, or send a message to them, that they appear at such a time at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, where the ceremony of consecration was to be performed, and was performed, Leviticus 8:3 which is observed and recorded by Moses, to show that he had a divine warrant for what he did, and that it was not from favour and affection to his brother, and because of the relation he and his family stood in to him, that he invested him and them with the priestly office, but it was by a command from the Lord; nor did Aaron take this honour to himself, but was called of God to it, Hebrews 5:4,

and the garments; the garments for the priesthood, ordered and described, and now made, see Exodus 28:1.

and the anointing oil; which also was ordered to be made, and now was made, Exodus 30:23.

and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; which were all to be used at the consecration with the anointing oil Aaron was to be anointed, and also the tabernacle and the altar; and the bullock was to be a sin offering, and one of the rams a burnt offering for Aaron, and his sons, and the other ram was the ram of consecration of them; and out of the basket of unleavened bread one cake of each sort was to be taken, and waved with other things, and burnt, which finished the consecration; but with it was no oath, as in the consecration of the antitypical high priest Christ Jesus, which difference is observed by the apostle, Hebrews 7:21 see Exodus 29:1.

Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

[1] Aaron

The priests did not consecrate themselves, all was done by another, in this instance Moses, acting for Jehovah. The priests simply presented their bodies in the sense of Rom 12:1.

2. Take Aaron and his sons-The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been ordered long before (Ex 29:1-46), but it is now described with all the details of the ceremonial, as it was gone through after the tabernacle was completed and the regulations for the various sacrifices enacted.

8:1-13 The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been delayed until the tabernacle had been prepared, and the laws of the sacrifices given. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, to signify that they ought to purify themselves from all sinful dispositions, and ever after to keep themselves pure. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to our God, Re 1:5,6; and those that draw near to God must be washed in pure water, Heb 10:22. The anointing of Aaron was to typify the anointing of Christ with the Spirit, which was not given by measure to him. All believers have received the anointing.