Reflections on Leviticus 1

Leviticus 01 (Contemporary English Version)

1. The LORD spoke to Moses from the sacred tent and gave him instructions for the community of Israel to follow when they offered sacrifices. Sacrifices to please me must be completely burned on the bronze altar. Bulls or rams or goats are the animals to be used for these sacrifices. If the animal is a bull, it must not have anything wrong with it. Lead it to the entrance of the sacred tent, and I will let you know if it is acceptable to me.
   
2. (SEE 1:1)
   
3. (SEE 1:1)
   
4. Lay your hand on its head, and I will accept the animal as a sacrifice for taking away your sins.
   
5. After the bull is killed in my presence, some priests from Aaron's family will offer its blood to me by splattering it against the four sides of the altar.
   
6. Skin the bull and cut it up,
   
7. while the priests pile wood on the altar fire to make it start blazing.
   
8. Wash the bull's insides and hind legs, so the priests can lay them on the altar with the head, the fat, and the rest of the animal. A priest will then send all of it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.
   
9. (SEE 1:8)
   
10. If you sacrifice a ram or a goat, it must not have anything wrong with it.
    
11. Lead the animal to the north side of the altar, where it is to be killed in my presence. Then some of the priests will splatter its blood against the four sides of the altar.
    
12. Cut up the animal and wash its insides and hind legs. A priest will put these parts on the altar with the head, the fat, and the rest of the animal. Then he will send all of it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.
    
13. (SEE 1:12)
    
14. If you offer a bird for this kind of sacrifice, it must be a dove or a pigeon.
    
15. A priest will take the bird to the bronze altar, where he will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar,
    
16. remove the bird's craw with what is in it, and throw them on the ash heap at the east side of the altar.
    
17. Finally, he will take the bird by its wings, tear it partially open, and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.
    
    

    ---

    
    Leviticus expresses "God's desire that His holiness be reflected in the life of His covenant people Israel." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)  The first seven chapters serve as a handbook on sacrifice, thus outlining procedures for the five types of sacrifice: burnt, grain, fellowship, sin, and guilt offerings. Chapter one begins with the burnt offering.
    
    Verse two says that burnt offerings can come either "from the herd or the flock." From the herd would be a bull and from the flock would be a sheep or goat. However, verse 14 also mentions an offering of a bird. Not everyone owned livestock, so accomodation was made to allow for the offering of a bird. In the case of livestock (from the herd or flock) an unblemished male was to be offered. The animal was to be brought to "the entrance to the tent of meeting" by the worshiper, "so that he may be accepted by the LORD." (1:3) The one being accepted by the Lord was the worshiper rather than the animal. The person making the offering was to place his hand on the head of the animal while he cut its throat, identifying himself with the death of the animal "so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him." (1:4)
    
    The worshiper was then to slaughter the animal and give it to the priests who would "present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar." (1:5) Next, the worshiper was to skin the animal and cut it into pieces and the priests would take the pieces and arrange them on the altar where they had prepared a fire to completely burn up the parts of the animal. Before the priests placed the entrails and shanks on the altar, the worshiper was to wash them with water. Throughout this procedure the person making the offering did the preparation of the offering, but the priests made the actual offering to the Lord on the altar. The animal was totally consumed by the fire on the altar with the exception of the hide.
    
    In the case of a bird offering, the whole procedure was handled by the priest, evidently due to the size of the offering. The crop of the bird was the only part not consumed on the altar. Whether livestock or bird, the burning of the offering was said to be "a pleasing aroma to the LORD." (1:17)