1. Leviticus 24:8 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why are these loaves called “the bread of the presence”?

Leviticus 24:8 (ESV)

8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the LORD regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.

These loaves are called the bread of the presence because they were placed in the presence of God. The word before literally means, before the face of God. By presenting these loaves each week, the twelve tribes acknowledged that the Lord supplied food for his people.