Leviticus 7 Explained: The Law of the Offerings
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.
In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering.
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.
As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.
And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest’s that offereth it.
And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord.
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the Lord, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest’s office;
Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
Which the Lord commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Leviticus 7 delves deeper into the specifics of various offerings, providing detailed instructions for both the priests and the people. This chapter not only clarifies the procedures but also reveals important principles about God's holiness, His provision for His servants, and the nature of fellowship with Him. Understanding these details helps us appreciate the depth of the sacrificial system and its reflection of God's character.
The Guilt Offering: Atonement and Restoration (Leviticus 7:1-6)
The regulations for the guilt offering are outlined with precision. Leviticus 7:1 emphasizes the offering's holiness, highlighting the importance of approaching God with reverence and understanding the gravity of sin. This offering was to be slaughtered in the same place as the burnt offering, signifying its crucial role in atoning for unintentional sins that required restitution.
Several new elements are introduced here, including the designated location for the offering and the portions to be burned on the altar. Notably, Leviticus 7:3-6 specifies that any male priest could partake of the remaining meat. This emphasizes the shared responsibility and privilege of the priesthood in serving God and ministering to the people. The repeated emphasis on the guilt offering being "most holy" underscores the purity of God and the expectation of holy conduct from His people.
Provision for the Priests: God's Care for His Servants (Leviticus 7:7-10)
These verses serve as a crucial interlude, summarizing the portions of the offerings allocated to the priests as their sustenance. Since the priests were not assigned land within the tribal divisions, God made specific provisions for their needs through the sacrificial system. Leviticus 7:7-10 highlights God's commitment to caring for those dedicated to His service.
This principle of providing for those who minister in spiritual things resonates throughout Scripture. As Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 9:1-12 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18, those who dedicate their lives to ministry deserve to be supported. This demonstrates God's faithfulness in meeting the needs of those who serve Him.
The Fellowship Offering: A Celebration of Communion (Leviticus 7:11-21)
The fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering, stands out as a unique sacrifice in which the offerer was permitted to partake of the sacrificial meal. This offering fostered a sense of community and celebration, as the worshiper shared the meal with family and friends. Leviticus 7:11 emphasizes that this offering was a means of drawing near to God through thanksgiving, the fulfillment of a vow, or as a freewill offering.
The offering included both leavened and unleavened cakes and wafers (Leviticus 7:12), adding to the festive nature of the occasion. The regulations regarding the consumption of the meat were strict: thanksgiving offerings had to be eaten on the same day (Leviticus 7:15), while vow and freewill offerings could be consumed on the second day (Leviticus 7:16). Eating any portion on the third day rendered the sacrifice unacceptable, and the offender would bear the consequences of their iniquity (Leviticus 7:17-18). Similarly, consuming the offering while unclean disqualified the sacrifice (Leviticus 7:19-21). This highlights the importance of purity and obedience in approaching God.
The Prohibition of Fat and Blood: Reverence for Life (Leviticus 7:22-27)
A strict prohibition against consuming fat and blood is reiterated in Leviticus 7:22-27. God reserved the fat, considered the choicest part of the animal, for Himself (see commentary on Leviticus 3:1-17). This served as a constant reminder that God deserves our best.
The prohibition against consuming blood stems from the recognition that "the life of a creature is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). Since life is a gift from God, and blood was used for atonement, it was considered sacred and not to be consumed. This reverence for life, symbolized by abstaining from blood, continues to be a significant practice for observant Jews today, who adhere to kosher slaughtering methods to ensure the complete removal of blood from meat.
The Priests' Portion: A Permanent Provision (Leviticus 7:28-36)
God made specific provisions for the priests from the fellowship offerings. Their designated portion included the breast and the right thigh. The breast was presented as a wave offering before the Lord (Leviticus 7:30), a symbolic gesture of dedication. The offerer held the breast while the priest placed his hands beneath, and together they lifted it up, signifying that it belonged to God. God then graciously gave it back to Aaron and his sons for their sustenance (Leviticus 7:31). The right thigh was given specifically to the officiating priest (Leviticus 7:33). This arrangement was intended to be their permanent portion throughout their generations (Leviticus 7:36), demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to providing for those who serve Him.
Summary and Conclusion: Divine Authority (Leviticus 7:37-38)
Leviticus 7 concludes with a summary statement encompassing the various offerings discussed throughout the preceding chapters. By explicitly connecting these instructions to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai (Leviticus 7:38), the text firmly establishes their authority as originating from the Lord through Moses. This summary also serves as a transition to the subsequent section, which narrates the anointing of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, further emphasizing the divinely ordained nature of the Levitical system.
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.
In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering.
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.
As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.
And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest’s that offereth it.
And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord.
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the Lord, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest’s office;
Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
Which the Lord commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Leviticus 7 delves deeper into the specifics of various offerings, providing detailed instructions for both the priests and the people. This chapter not only clarifies the procedures but also reveals important principles about God's holiness, His provision for His servants, and the nature of fellowship with Him. Understanding these details helps us appreciate the depth of the sacrificial system and its reflection of God's character.
The Guilt Offering: Atonement and Restoration (Leviticus 7:1-6)
The regulations for the guilt offering are outlined with precision. Leviticus 7:1 emphasizes the offering's holiness, highlighting the importance of approaching God with reverence and understanding the gravity of sin. This offering was to be slaughtered in the same place as the burnt offering, signifying its crucial role in atoning for unintentional sins that required restitution.
Several new elements are introduced here, including the designated location for the offering and the portions to be burned on the altar. Notably, Leviticus 7:3-6 specifies that any male priest could partake of the remaining meat. This emphasizes the shared responsibility and privilege of the priesthood in serving God and ministering to the people. The repeated emphasis on the guilt offering being "most holy" underscores the purity of God and the expectation of holy conduct from His people.
Provision for the Priests: God's Care for His Servants (Leviticus 7:7-10)
These verses serve as a crucial interlude, summarizing the portions of the offerings allocated to the priests as their sustenance. Since the priests were not assigned land within the tribal divisions, God made specific provisions for their needs through the sacrificial system. Leviticus 7:7-10 highlights God's commitment to caring for those dedicated to His service.
This principle of providing for those who minister in spiritual things resonates throughout Scripture. As Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 9:1-12 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18, those who dedicate their lives to ministry deserve to be supported. This demonstrates God's faithfulness in meeting the needs of those who serve Him.
The Fellowship Offering: A Celebration of Communion (Leviticus 7:11-21)
The fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering, stands out as a unique sacrifice in which the offerer was permitted to partake of the sacrificial meal. This offering fostered a sense of community and celebration, as the worshiper shared the meal with family and friends. Leviticus 7:11 emphasizes that this offering was a means of drawing near to God through thanksgiving, the fulfillment of a vow, or as a freewill offering.
The offering included both leavened and unleavened cakes and wafers (Leviticus 7:12), adding to the festive nature of the occasion. The regulations regarding the consumption of the meat were strict: thanksgiving offerings had to be eaten on the same day (Leviticus 7:15), while vow and freewill offerings could be consumed on the second day (Leviticus 7:16). Eating any portion on the third day rendered the sacrifice unacceptable, and the offender would bear the consequences of their iniquity (Leviticus 7:17-18). Similarly, consuming the offering while unclean disqualified the sacrifice (Leviticus 7:19-21). This highlights the importance of purity and obedience in approaching God.
The Prohibition of Fat and Blood: Reverence for Life (Leviticus 7:22-27)
A strict prohibition against consuming fat and blood is reiterated in Leviticus 7:22-27. God reserved the fat, considered the choicest part of the animal, for Himself (see commentary on Leviticus 3:1-17). This served as a constant reminder that God deserves our best.
The prohibition against consuming blood stems from the recognition that "the life of a creature is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). Since life is a gift from God, and blood was used for atonement, it was considered sacred and not to be consumed. This reverence for life, symbolized by abstaining from blood, continues to be a significant practice for observant Jews today, who adhere to kosher slaughtering methods to ensure the complete removal of blood from meat.
The Priests' Portion: A Permanent Provision (Leviticus 7:28-36)
God made specific provisions for the priests from the fellowship offerings. Their designated portion included the breast and the right thigh. The breast was presented as a wave offering before the Lord (Leviticus 7:30), a symbolic gesture of dedication. The offerer held the breast while the priest placed his hands beneath, and together they lifted it up, signifying that it belonged to God. God then graciously gave it back to Aaron and his sons for their sustenance (Leviticus 7:31). The right thigh was given specifically to the officiating priest (Leviticus 7:33). This arrangement was intended to be their permanent portion throughout their generations (Leviticus 7:36), demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to providing for those who serve Him.
Summary and Conclusion: Divine Authority (Leviticus 7:37-38)
Leviticus 7 concludes with a summary statement encompassing the various offerings discussed throughout the preceding chapters. By explicitly connecting these instructions to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai (Leviticus 7:38), the text firmly establishes their authority as originating from the Lord through Moses. This summary also serves as a transition to the subsequent section, which narrates the anointing of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, further emphasizing the divinely ordained nature of the Levitical system.