Leviticus

17.1-16

Although the subheading in many Bibles for this chapter is "Statutes Against Eating Blood," more than one principle is addressed here. Verse five clarifies the foundation “The reason is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing in the open field, that they may bring them in to Yahweh... as sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh." But the statute is addressed to both the native and the sojourner (vv8,10,12,13,15) as a command to cease blasphemous practice that persists in the camp. "And they shall no longer (לֹא עוֹד lo-od), sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot." (v7) לֹא עוֹד is to cease from something that is continuing. As Yahweh has now instituted for His children the proper practice of sacrifice (Lev 1-8), the improper must cease. God is a jealous God. (Ex 34:14). More than merely for the sake of His jealousy, however, the proper reverence paid to the blood of a sacrifice is also due to the purpose of the blood. "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life." (v14). There will come a day when the need for sacrifice will be done away when the Perfect Sacrifice comes in the Messiah Christ. This passage prophetically points also to the day when the prohibition against the consumption of life-giving blood is transferred into the perfect as well, by the same fulfillment. On the eve of His trial before the crucifixion, Christ spoke these words to His disciples at the Last Supper: "And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." Mt 26:27–28. Every passage of Scripture has the precise purpose God intended before it was ever delivered or fulfilled. Amen.

CHAPTER 17

Statutes Against Eating Blood

1 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh has commanded, saying,
3 “Any man from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or who slaughters it outside the camp,
4 and has not brought it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to bring it near as an offering to Yahweh before the tabernacle of Yahweh, it will be counted as bloodguiltiness to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people.
5 “The reason is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing in the open field, that they may bring them in to Yahweh, at the doorway of the tent of meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh.
6 “And the priest shall splash the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting and offer up the fat in smoke as a soothing aroma to Yahweh.
7 “And they shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a perpetual statute to them throughout their generations.”’
8 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Any man from the house of Israel, or from the sojourners who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 and does not bring it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to offer it to Yahweh, that man also shall be cut off from his people.
10 ‘And any man from the house of Israel, or from the sojourners who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.
11 ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.’
12 “Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘No person among you may eat blood, and no sojourner who sojourns among you may eat blood.’
13 “So any man from the sons of Israel, or from the sojourners who sojourn among them, who in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.
14 “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
15 “And when any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean.
16 “But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”