Leviticus 22:17-33

VOWS AND FREEWILL OFFERINGS 22:17-33
TEXT 22:17-33

17

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

18

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them. Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that offereth his oblation, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill-offerings, which they offer unto Jehovah for a burnt-offering;

19

that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20

But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21

And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

22

Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto Jehovah, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto Jehovah.

23

Either a bullock or a lamb that hath anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24

That which hath its stones bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, ye shall not offer unto Jehovah; neither shall ye do thus in your land.

25

Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

26

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

27

When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

28

And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day.

29

And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto Jehovah, ye shall sacrifice it that ye may be accepted.

30

On the same day it shall be eaten; ye shall leave none of it until the morning: I am Jehovah.

31

Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am Jehovah.

32

And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am Jehovah who halloweth you,

33

who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 22:17-33

507.

Why address these instructions to whosoever?

508.

These are directions for a burnt offering given in fulfillment of a vow or given as a freewill offering. Define the difference.

509.

What is the one point of Leviticus 22:17 through 19?

510.

What would happen if a blemished animal was brought to be offered?

511.

The animals for the peace-offering are also to be without blemish, but there is an exception. What is it? Or is this the meaning of the text?

512.

There was one imperfection in the animal for which it should be removed from the land. What was it?

513.

Explain in your own words Leviticus 22:25.

514.

Why the regulation that an animal under eight days old was not acceptable? Suppose the mother died?

515.

Since both the mother and the offspring are to be used as offerings, why not kill them both on one day?

516.

What offering is in view in Leviticus 22:29? Cf. Leviticus 7:15-16.

517.

What is the whole purpose of these regulations and the offerings?

PARAPHRASE 22:17-33

And the Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel that if an Israelite or other person living among you offers a burnt offering sacrifice to the Lordwhether it is to fulfill a promise or is a spontaneous free will offeringit will only be acceptable to the Lord if it is a male animal without defect; it must be a young bull or a sheep or a goat. Anything that has a defect must not be offered, for it will not be accepted. Anyone sacrificing a peace offering to the Lord from the herd or flock, whether to fulfill a vow or as a voluntary offering, must sacrifice an animal that has no defect, or it will not be accepted: an animal that is blind or disabled or mutilated, or which has sores or itch or any other skin disease, must not be offered to the Lord; it is not a fit burnt offering for the altar of the Lord. If the young bull or lamb presented to the Lord has anything superfluous or lacking in its body parts, it may be offered as a free will offering, but not for a vow. An animal that has injured genitalscrushed or castratedshall not be offered to the Lord at any time. This restriction applies to the sacrifices made by foreigners among you as well as those made by yourselves, for no defective animal is acceptable for this sacrifice. And the Lord said to Moses, When a bullock, sheep, or goat is born, it shall be left with its mother for seven days, but from the eighth day onward it is acceptable as a sacrifice by fire to the Lord. You shall not slaughter a mother animal and her offspring the same day, whether she is a cow or ewe. When you offer the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving, you must do it in the right way, eating the sacrificial animal the same day it is slain. Leave none of it for the following day. I am the Lord. You must keep all of My commandments, for I am the Lord. You must not treat Me as common and ordinary. Revere Me and hallow Me, for I, the Lord, made you holy to Myself and rescued you from Egypt to be My own people! I am the Lord!

COMMENT 22:17-33

Leviticus 22:17-19 The sacrifice must be as pure as the priest. Indeed, without the proper sacrifice the priest cannot serve. Since every offerer is responsible for the selection of the animal these words are not only given by God to Moses, and through Moses to Aaron, but to all the Israelites, and even to the foreigners in Israel. A burnt offering is the subject under discussion, but such an offering could conceivably have several expressions; such as a vow or a freewill offering. Under these two we can include all others, for the worshipper was either fulfilling a personal need, such as a vow or he was expressing his thanks or praise to God. In either case the animal, be it a bull, sheep or goat, must be a male without blemish. We have already commented on our burnt offering who was without blemish. Cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19.

Leviticus 22:20-22 What was said of the burnt offerings as related to a personal or public expression is here said of the peace offerings.

Man is always full of questions when he is given an assignment. If we are not to offer an animal with a blemish, just what shall I call -blemished-'? God has an answer: an animal which is blind, disabled, mutilated, one that has a discharge, or an itch or scabs; all these have a blemish. You shall not use any of them as an offering.

Leviticus 22:23 It would seem from the reading of this verse in the American Standard version that there is some exception to the above prohibitions. The New English Bible translates this verse: If a bull or a sheep is overgrown or stunted, you may make of it a freewill offering, but it will not be acceptable in fulfillment of a vow. The Jerusalem Bible translates it: As a voluntary offering, you may offer a bull or a lamb that is underdeveloped or deformed; but such will not be acceptable in payment of a vow. In each of these translations (and in others) the thought is that dislocations and deformed blemishes can be offered when the worshipper is making a peace offering as an expression of worship or praise, but not a peace offering in fulfillment of a vow.

Leviticus 22:24-25 The four terms: bruised, crushed, broken, cut, refer to the four ways used in the practice of gelding or castrating animals. Such was strictly forbidden of the Israelites. If a stranger gave or sold such an animal to be used as an offering it must be rejected. Evidently such a practice was aligned with some form of idolatry.

Leviticus 22:26-28 Are we to conclude that because Leviticus 22:27 discusses the natural birth of a bull, sheep or goat that one born by any artificial means would not be acceptable as a sacrifice? Such an argument from silence was used by traditionalists in the days of our Lord. It would seem the only reason found for not killing the mother and the young for a sacrifice on the same day was to teach kindness or mercy to dumb animals. We are impressed over and over again at the tender thoughtfulness of the One who cared enough to tell man how to live. Under seven days the animal is extremely weak, and unfit for human food, and hence must not be offered as the food of God, as sacrifices are called.

Leviticus 22:29-33 Four times in five verses God identifies Himself Why? Because an acceptance of the sovereignty of God is behind all obedience. This is the beginning of worship and service: Hallowed be Thy name! The peace offering is clearly indicated in Leviticus 22:29-30. (Cf. Leviticus 7:15-16). Once again we have found the comments of Andrew Bonar of particular poignancy:

When first the purpose was formed of offering a thanksgiving, it was the duty of each one to see that the purpose sprang from a thankful heart. Let none be induced to bring it because of the arguments of some of his friends, or because it might appear fitted to produce an impression in his favour among his neighbors. It must be at your own will. It must flow spontaneously from the heart. So, also, it must not be laid by, as if you were intending to use it for a feast. Leave none of it till tomorrow; use it at the time. As the peace-offerings represented communion with God, reconciled to the sinner, they must represent this as enjoyed by the sinner, as his feast, his joy, his chief delight. Now, thanksgivings were of this class; and the offerer must not seek any selfish gratification on such an occasion, but must, on the spot and at the time, offer all to his God, and in the presence of his God, satisfied with this full outpouring of his own soul to the God who pours out His fellowship in return. Five motives are strewn on their path to constrain them to close obedience. 1. I am the Lord. This is authority. 2. I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. This is His holiness, and His desire to diffuse awe of His holy name. 3. I am the Lord which hallow you. Here is an appeal to their privileges as Israelites. Do you not feel that you actually are set apart for me? 4. I am the Lord which brought you out of Egypt. Here is His claim as Redeemer, who paid the price and set free the captives. Is there gratitude in your souls? Is there sense of thankfulness for favour done? 5. Your Godas well as your Lord; His claim as Father, Shepherd, King, and whatever else there is that is tender in relationship, or beneficial in office, or sweet in characterall is summed up in YOUR GOD! Who is like our God? Who would not fear Thee?? (Jeremiah 10:6)

FACT QUESTIONS 22:17-33

514.

Which is the most importantthe priest or the sacrifice?

515.

Who was really responsible for obtaining an acceptable sacrifice?

516.

How does a vow or a freewill offering relate to the burnt offering?

517.

Why list all the blemishes of Leviticus 22:22?

518.

What is the one exception? Discuss.

519.

Why was castrating so violently opposed?

520.

Why not kill the mother and the young on the same day?

521.

Why does God identify Himself four times in five verses?

522.

Give the three characteristics of real thanksgiving.

523.

List and discuss the five motives for obedience.