Moses communicated to all of Israel, including Aaron and his sons, the instructions given by the LORD regarding the holy practices and laws.
The LORD commanded Aaron and his sons to maintain purity when dealing with holy offerings and to not profane His holy name.
A person could not approach holy offerings if they were unclean or defiled and would be cut off from the LORD if they did so.
Specific instances of uncleanness were outlined, including touching unclean animals, contact with the dead, sores, or running bodily issues.
A person made unclean through contact must wash themselves and wait until evening to become pure again, at which point they could partake in holy food.
Food or offerings that died naturally or were torn by animals were not to be eaten as it would cause defilement.
The LORD issued strict guidelines prohibiting strangers, hired servants, and married daughters outside the priestly household from eating holy offerings.
If a man ate a holy offering unintentionally, he was required to pay restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and returning it to the priest.
Any offerings made to the LORD must be without blemish and specifically outlined which animals—like blind, injured, or deformed ones—were unacceptable for sacrifice.
The sanctity of the Sabbath and annual feasts was emphasized, with detailed instructions for observing festivals like Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The priests managed offerings during these feasts, and Israelites were encouraged to focus on worship and thanksgiving during these holy convocations.
The LORD established principles for thanksgiving offerings, which were to be eaten entirely on the day they were sacrificed, with none left overnight.
The LORD reiterated His commandments for Israel to keep His statutes, honor His name, and live righteously as He had rescued them from Egypt and sanctified them as His people.
Additional guidelines were given for setting up and maintaining sanctuary lights using pure olive oil provided by the Israelite community.
Care for the twelve loaves of bread placed on the tabernacle table was specified, including the incorporation of incense as part of the sacrificial offering for remembrance.
A serious legal case arose involving a man who blasphemed the name of the LORD, and after inquiry, the LORD directed the community to stone him for his offense to uphold divine justice.
Laws regarding justice and equality were reiterated, including proportional punishment such as "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," proper restitution for harm caused to others, and fairness to both foreigners and Israelites.
The Israelites faithfully carried out the LORD’s instructions concerning the man guilty of blasphemy as an example of the seriousness of adhering to His laws.