And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Aaron
Exodus 24:9-11 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: …
Leviticus 10:12-14 And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy: …
and the bread
Exodus 29:2,3,23 And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them…
Matthew 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
Aaron and his sons
Aaron, the brother of Moses, was appointed as the first high priest, and his sons were designated as priests. This priestly lineage was established by God to mediate between Him and the people of Israel. The role of the priests was crucial in maintaining the covenant relationship, and their consecration was necessary for the proper worship and service in the Tabernacle. This priesthood is a type of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who mediates the new covenant.
are to eat the meat of the ram
The eating of the sacrificial meat was part of the ordination ceremony for the priests. This act signified their participation in the sacrificial system and their acceptance of the responsibilities of the priesthood. The ram was a symbol of substitutionary atonement, pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. The consumption of the meat also indicated the priests' sustenance and dependence on God's provision.
and the bread that is in the basket
The bread, likely unleavened, was part of the offerings presented during the ordination. Bread in biblical times was a staple food, symbolizing life and sustenance. In the context of the priestly ordination, it represented the priests' dedication to God and their reliance on Him for spiritual nourishment. This foreshadows the bread of life, Jesus Christ, who provides eternal sustenance to believers. The inclusion of bread in the ritual highlights the holistic provision of God for both physical and spiritual needs.
“ ‘At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting…’ ” (Exodus 29:32a)
• God picks the doorway of the tabernacle as the meeting point. It is where heaven’s glory touches earth’s routine (Exodus 29:42–43).
• The entrance is public enough to be seen by Israel (Leviticus 4:4) yet holy enough to be guarded by the priests (Numbers 3:38).
• Think of it as an invitation: come as near as God’s holiness allows. Later, the risen Christ would declare, “I am the gate” (John 10:9), fulfilling this pattern by opening direct access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19–22).
• The location underscores accountability. Aaron and his sons stand “before the LORD” (Exodus 40:12) where obedience—or disobedience—can’t hide.
“ ‘…Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram…’ ” (Exodus 29:32b)
• The ram is the ordination offering (Exodus 29:19–28). Eating part of it seals their consecration.
– Shared food = shared fellowship (Leviticus 7:15).
– Consuming the sacrifice internalizes their calling: God’s holiness must move from altar to heart (Psalm 51:6).
• Only the priests may eat this specific portion (Leviticus 8:31–32). It’s a privilege with boundaries—sin offerings for the people are burned outside the camp (Leviticus 4:12; Hebrews 13:11).
• A meal in God’s presence anticipates the greater fellowship meal with the Lamb of God (Matthew 26:26–29; Revelation 19:9).
• The act prefigures believers today “partaking of the altar” by identifying with Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10:16–18).
“ ‘…and the bread that is in the basket.’ ” (Exodus 29:32c)
• Three kinds of bread were waved before the LORD (Exodus 29:23):
– Unleavened loaves
– Unleavened cakes mixed with oil
– Wafers spread with oil
• Bread speaks of daily dependence. Priests must rely on God’s provision before they can serve His people (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).
• Oil-anointed bread pictures the Spirit’s empowerment. Ministry is never sustained by ritual alone (Zechariah 4:6).
• By eating both meat and bread, the priests enjoy a balanced covenant meal—satisfaction (protein) plus sustenance (grain)—pointing to Christ who is simultaneously “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29) and “the bread of life” (John 6:35).
• Nothing was to be left until morning (Exodus 29:34), teaching immediate obedience and fresh fellowship every day (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Exodus 29:32 paints a vivid picture of ordained priests sharing a sacred meal right at God’s doorway. The place (the entrance), the participants (Aaron and his sons), and the provisions (ram and bread) all highlight fellowship grounded in sacrifice, dependence, and holiness. The scene ultimately foreshadows the believer’s privilege of dining in communion with Christ, who fulfills both the altar and the bread for all who draw near in faith.
Verse 32. - The bread that is in the basket - i.e., the loaf, cake, and wafer which still remained in the basket after one of each had been subtracted (see ver. 23, and compare vers. 2, 3).