Exodus 29: The blood sacrifices continue

Synopsis: 

God commands that Aaron be clothed in his new fancy robes and that the miter be placed upon his head and his sons are to be dressed in their fancy clothes and bonnets put upon their heads. Then oil is to be poured upon them (Yes, that means upon their nice clothes). Then they are to put their hands on a bullocks which is then to be slaughtered. The blood is to be put on the tips of the horns of the altar and the rest of the blood poured on the floor beside the bottom of the altar.  The fat and liver are to be burned on the altar because God LOVES the smell, but the flesh and dung are to be burned by fire outside of camp for a sin offering. Then Aaron and sons are to put their hands on a ram which is then to be slaughtered and cut into pieces and burned on the altar because again, God LOVES the smell. Aaron and his sons are to put their hands on another ram, this one is to be killed and the blood put on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and sons, on their right thumb and on the great toe of their right foot. More blood is to be sprinkled on the altar and when that is done, the rest of the blood is to be sprinkled upon Aaron and his sons (and yes, that does mean blood is to be sprinkled on their nice fancy robes).  Only then are Aaron and his sons considered hallowed.  The fat, rump, kidneys and right shoulder of this ram and some oiled bread are to be given to Aaron and his sons for a wave offering. These are to be put on the altar and burned, because again, God REALLY loves the way it smells. A breast of the ram is to be sanctified as a wave offering, this is to belong to Moses. The other breast is also sanctified through wave offering. This is for Aaron and his sons. The bloodied oiled robes of Aaron are to be considered holy and any son who is going to take his place ministering to the needs of God has to wear them for 7 days. There are more rules about eating the offerings. From then on out, 2 lambs a day are to be offered continually, one in the morning and one in the evening. This is to be mixed with flour oil and wine and burned in continual offering because again, God REALLY loves the smell. If the Israelites do this, God will dwell among them.

In other words:

Details of the first blood sacrifice in the tabernacle are given and it is REALLY clear that these people are all about the blood in a kind of sick way I associate more with Aztecs than with the ancient Jews.

Most bizarre part:

Exodus 29:20, 21 – this is where the blood of a ram is put on the tip of the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe of Aaron and his sons. And then it is sprinkled about the altar and then sprinkled on Aaran and his sons so that the nice new robes will have blood on them and be consecrated. But, God forbid they don’t wear underwear during this ritual. That wouldn’t be ok.

What I am thankful for:

That the blood sacrifice element of this religion didn’t survive and as far as we know is no longer practiced.

What makes me wonder: 

All this blood is because God really loves the smell. Really? I like steak as much as the next girl, but this appears to be an obsession.

Moral Lesson Learned:

Make sure your meat is well cooked (Exodus 29)