Leviticus

1.1-17

All the words of the law in the book of Leviticus and the first ten chapters of Deuteronomy were given to Moses during the fifty days following the setting up of the Tabernacle, prior to the Israelites' departure from Mount Sinai. In the first chapter, three categories of burnt offerings are detailed: those from the herd (vv3-9), those from the flock (vv10-13), and those of birds (vv14-17). Each is brought to the priests of Yahweh by the petitioner for sacrifice, but their manner and locations of slaughter differ. The offerings from the herd - a male calf, or ram, were to be brought near to the doorway of the tent of meeting, where the petitioner would lay his hands on the head of the animal to be sacrificed "that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf." (vv3-4). The offerings from the flock, a male sheep or goat, were to be brought near, yet slaughtered on the side of the altar northward before Yahweh (vv11) to the right-facing side of the holy of holies. Offerings of birds, either turtledoves or pigeons, were not slaughtered by the petitioner but by the priests themselves. Distinct from the subsequently described types of offerings (five total) in the next six chapters of Leviticus (Burnt Offerings, Grain Offerings, Peace Offerings, Sin Offerings, and Guilt Offerings), all of these sacrifices are to be completely burned, leaving nothing for the person offering it, nor the priests to later consume. The description of the bird offerings may have been a later addition to the statute, making provision for people of all wealth classes to have sacrificial access to Yahweh (birds were in abundant supply and inexpensive), evidenced by the opening declaration making no mention of birds, "you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or flock." (v2), and the distinction in manner from how these sacrifices were slaughtered. Identical for each sacrifice was that their entrails were separated (vv9,13,16), yet the crop of the birds was cast beside the altar eastward. Note that the bird was to be torn open (שִֹֹׁסַּע - sissa) in verse 17, not torn in two. This reflects Abram's sacrifice in Gen 15 when he was commanded to cut the larger animals in two, but did not divide the birds. All are finally offered up in smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing/pleasing aroma to Yahweh (vv9,13,17). The word used to describe the aroma basically means rest, signifying the tranquility and peace the sacrifice brings between God and the worshiper.

CHAPTER 1

The Statutes of Burnt Offerings

1 Then Yahweh called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,
2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man from among you brings an offering near to Yahweh, you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock.
3 ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall bring it near, a male without blemish; he shall bring it near to the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before Yahweh.
4 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.
5 ‘Then he shall slaughter the young bull before Yahweh; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring near the blood and splash the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
6 ‘And he shall then skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.
7 ‘And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8 ‘Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the suet over the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.
9 ‘Its entrails, however, and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar for a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh.
10 ‘But if his offering is from the flock, of the sheep or of the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall bring near a male without blemish.
11 ‘And he shall slaughter it on the side of the altar northward before Yahweh, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood around on the altar.
12 ‘He shall then cut it into its pieces with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.
13 ‘The entrails, however, and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall bring all of it near and offer it up in smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh.
14 ‘But if his offering to Yahweh is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring near his offering from the turtledoves or from young pigeons.
15 ‘And the priest shall bring it near to the altar and wring off its head and offer it up in smoke on the altar; and its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar.
16 ‘He shall also take away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar eastward, to the place of the ashes.
17 ‘Then he shall tear it by its wings, but he shall not separate it. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh.