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LEVITICUS – LESSON TWO
(1:1-
With the tabernacle constructed, God speaks to Moses from the tent of meeting (1:1). We are introduced to the law, in the next two lessons, regarding offerings of five distinct sacrifices: Burnt offerings, Meat or Meal offerings, Peace offerings, Sin offerings and Trespass offerings. The word “offerings” is the Hebrew word, “Korban” which literally means ‘to come near.” Freely coming near with sacrifice in order to be accepted by God, or coming near with necessity burdened with sin and needing to make restitution, God’s people have divine instruction. Knowing how the tabernacle was laid out, will help us have a good mental image of where the priest did his work when these sacrifices were presented to be offered.
I. JEHOVAH SPEAKS FIVE OFFERINGS (1:1-
A. BURNT OFFERING – “PERSON ACCEPTED” (1:3-
1. “Burnt” – “OLAH” Hebrew – “that which ascends”
2. HERD – bullock (1:3-
a. Male, without blemish
b. laying on hand – individual identified with offering.
c. Individual kills bullock
d. Aaron’s sons throw collected blood on all sides of the altar that is before the door of the tabernacle.
e. Bullock skinned and cut in pieces.
f. “WHOLE” bullock (without skin – cf. 7:8) placed in order upon the fire of altar.
1. Inwards and legs washed with water.
g. Purpose: atonement – not for sin, but for acceptance before God.
h. Sweet savor unto Jehovah.
3. FLOCK – sheep or goat (1:10-
a. Male, without blemish
b. Individual kills animal on north side of the altar.
c. Aaron’s sons throw collected blood on all sides of the altar.
d. Animal cut in pieces and laid in order on fire of the altar.
1. Inwards and legs washed with water.
e. Sweet savor unto Jehovah.
4. BIRDS – turtle doves or young pigeons (1:14-
a. Priest brings presented bird to altar.
b. Priest wrings off head and rends wings but does not divide the animal.
c. Blood of bird pressed upon side of the altar.
d. Crop (gullet) of bird cast aside on east side of the altar where ashes are collected.
e. Priest offers bird in smoke upon the altar
f. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
B. MEAT – MEAL OFFERING (2:1-
1. “MINCHAH” Hebrew – “gift, inferior to superior”
2. DRY MIXTURE OF FINE FLOUR – OIL – FRANKINCENSE (2:1-
a. Priest, Aaron’s son, takes a handful to burn upon the altar.
b. Handful portion offered, remainder belongs to Aaron and sons.
c. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
3. BAKED IN OVEN (2:4)
a. Unleavened cakes – fine flour with oil poured upon it.
b. Unleavened wafers (thin cakes) – anointed with oil.
c. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
4. BAKING PAN – FLAT PLATE (2:5-
a. Fine flour – unleavened – mixed with oil.
b. Part into pieces
c. Oil poured on it.
d. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
5. FRYING PAN – LIDDED COOKNG PAN (2:7)
a. Fine flour with oil
b. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
6. Meal offerings brought to the Priest (2:8-
a. People bring offering to Priest – Priest brings the offering to the altar.
b. Offering is a “memorial” and is burned upon the altar – offering is graciously remembered by the Lord (cf. Acts 10:4).
c. That which is burned of meal offering is a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
d. Portion of meal offering to be eaten by Priests – Aaron and sons.
7. Specific requirements regarding meal offering (2:11-
a. No meal offering to be made with leaven.
b. No leaven or honey to be “burned” as an offering made by fire.
c. Leaven and honey can be presented as an offering of first fruits.
d. Every offering, including meal offerings, to be seasoned with salt (cf. Ezek. 43:24) – “salt of the covenant” – permanence of covenant (cf. Num. 18:19).
8. FIRST FRUITS (2:14-
a. Parched grain in the fresh ear of corn – beaten or crushed in ear.
b. Oil put on it.
c. Frankincense laid on it.
d. Sweet savor unto Jehovah – made by fire.
C. PEACE OFFERINGS – “FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD” (3:1-
1. HERD – bullock (3:1-
a. Male or female – without blemish
b. Laying on hand – individual identified with offering.
c. Individual kills animal at door of the tent of meeting.
d. Aaron’s sons throw collected blood of animal upon all sides of the altar.
e. Fat upon the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat on them, the fat upon loins, and the fat of the membrane on the liver of the animal offered to God – God’s food.
f. Sweet savor unto Jehovah.
2. FLOCK – sheep or goat (3:6-
a. Male or female – without blemish
b. Laying on hand – individual identified with offering.
c. Individual kills animal at door of tent of meeting.
d. Aaron’s sons throw collected blood of animal upon all sides of the altar.
e. Fat upon the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat on them, the fat upon the loins, and the fat of the membrane on the liver of the animal offered to God – God’s food.
f. Sweet savor unto Jehovah
3. All the fat is the Lord’s (3:16-
a. Perpetual law: not eating of blood or fat.
QUESTIONS:
1. How do the first three offerings differ from the sin and trespass offerings?
2. Why is there a variety of offerings under the heading of burnt offerings, meal offerings, and peace offerings?
3. Why is the concept of “atonement” (1:4) connected with the burnt offerings which were distinct from sin or trespass offerings?
4. What does “whole burnt offering” have to do with the spiritual concept of the burnt offering?
5. What is the significance of “laying the hand” upon the sacrificial animal?
6. How is blood and water applied in the burnt offerings?
7. Why could translations present the offerings as “meat” offerings when what is described is connected with flour, bread, and grain?
8. The word for the “meal” offerings means what in the Hebrew language?
9. A portion of the meal offering was for whom?
10. No leaven or honey could be offered as a meal offering. (T) (F)
11. What is meant by the meal offering being “a memorial”?
12. Why could the spiritual concept in the “peace offerings” be the concept of “fellowship” with God?
13. Why were the blood and fat of the animal sacrificed not to be eaten by the one offering the sacrifice?
LEVITICUS – LESSON THREE
(4:1-
This lesson reveals God’s law regarding the sin and trespass offerings. These offerings are offered for those who sin “unwittingly” or “unintentionally.” The root Hebrew term denotes going astray or erring, and is used to describe sin which one does ignorance, not knowing he has sinned or inadvertently not done on purpose, but through carelessness. When the congregation or an individual is made aware of sins done ignorance, they are to offer the sin or trespass offering (Lev. 4:14, 28; 5:3). If knowing that one has sinned, but committed inadvertently, the person is to offer the sin or trespass offering (Lev. 4:2-
I. SIN OFFERING – EMPHASIZING PERSONS (4:1-
A. PRIEST WHO SINS (4:3-
1. Young bullock – without blemish is presented
2. Priest lays on hand – identifies him with the sacrificial animal.
3. Priest kills bullock.
4. Anointed priest sprinkles blood of animal seven times before the veil in the tabernacle – probably on the floor where the veil comes down; puts some blood on horns of the altar of sweet incense; the rest is poured out at the base of the altar before the tent of meeting.
B. WHOLE CONGREGATION SINS (4:13-
1. Same procedure as offering for priest, except elders of the people lay on the hands identifying congregation with the sacrifice.
2. “They shall be forgiven.”
C. RULER WHO SIINS (4:22-
1. Same procedure as offering for priest, except:
a. Goat without blemish is offered.
b. Blood thrown on horns of altar outside the door of the tent of meeting instead of golden altar of incense.
2. “He shall be forgiven.”
D. INDIVIDUAL AMONG THE PEOPLE (4:27-
1. Same procedure as offering for ruler, except:
a. Female goat or lamb is offered, not a male.
2. “He shall be forgiven.”
II. TRESPASS OFFERING -
A. Various trespasses: (5:1-
1. Not bearing witness when asked to testify.
2. Touching unclean things.
3. Swear rashly.
B. Purpose of offerings: make atonement for person’s sin (5:6, 13, 16, 6:7)
C. Sacrifices offered according to what one could afford (5:7-
1. Female lamb or goat
2. If not able to supply one of the above, one could offer two turtle doves or two young pigeons: One offered for a sin offering; the other for a burnt offering.
3. If not able to supply birds, then one can offer a measure of fine flour – no frankincense or oil in sin offering; remnant of sacrifice belongs to the priest as a meal offering.
D. Trespass in holy things of God – 1/5 part added to priests (5:14-
1. Ram offered, without blemish – estimated price in terms of silver shekel of the sanctuary.
2. Person adds 1/5 part to priest.
3. “Shall be forgiven.”
E. Trespass in dealings with people – 1/5 part added to offended neighbor (6:1-
1. Trespass is against Jehovah.
2. Various trespasses:
a. Cheat neighbor out of money.
b. Oppress neighbor
c. Swear to a lie.
3. Guilty party will restore and add 1/5 part to what was stolen.
4. Ram offered without blemish – estimated price.
5. “Shall be forgiven.”
QUESTIONS:
1. What two situations can be seen in sinning “unwittingly”?
2. How could the following sins be done “unwittingly”?
a. Not bearing witness called to do so solemnly.
b. Touching an unclean thing.
c. Swearing rashly.
d. Cheating neighbor out of money.
e. Oppressing neighbor
f. Swearing to a lie.
3. Why do you think that when the Priest sins, it is not said of him that his sin was made known to him before he offered his sacrifice?
4. What two places was the blood of the sacrifice of sin of a priest applied?
5. What part of the animal was burned upon the altar at the door of the tent of meeting?
6. What happened to the remainder of the animal in the sin offering for the priest?
7. What point is the Hebrew writer making in Hebrews 13:10-
8. If the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (Hebrews 10:4), how can the sin offerings for the whole congregation, rulers or an individual among the people result in those who have sinned “being forgiven” (Lev. 4:10, 26, 31)?
9. How does the spiritual concept in the trespass offering differ from the concept in the sin offering?
10. How does God accommodate the sinner who cannot offer up a lamb or a goat?
11. What was the standard currency in determining the cost of the sin regarding the holy things?
12. What were some sins regarding “the holy things” which a trespass offering was to be offered?
13. What was to be added to the trespass offering? Why?