THE LORD - In the Hebrew text of Leviticus, Jehovah יהוה _y__e__hovâh_ is the name by which God is usually called. Where אלהים _'ĕlohı̂ym_ occurs, it is generally with a possessive pronoun, so as to designate Him as the God of the chosen people (Leviticus 2:13; Leviticus 11:45; Leviticus 18:21; Le... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL - It is important to observe that these first instructions Leviticus 1:2 are addressed expressly to the individual who felt the need of sacrifice on his own account. They were not delivered through the priests, nor had the officiating priest any choice as to what he... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNT - literally, that (offering) which ascends (as a flame). A MALE WITHOUT BLEMISH - Males were required in most offerings, since the stronger sex which takes precedence of the other. But females were allowed in peace-offerings Leviticus 3:1, Leviticus 3:6, and were expressly prescribed in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL PUT HIS HAND UPON THE HEAD OF THE BURNT OFFERING - The usual ceremony. By it the sacrificer identified himself with his victim Leviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8; Leviticus 4:15; Leviticus 8:14; Romans 12:1. TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM - This phrase belongs more especially to the sin-offerings... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL KILL THE BULLOCK - Tradition states that before the laying on of the hand, the victim was bound by a cord to a ring on the north side of the altar; as the words of the prayer were ended, the throat was cut and the blood received into a bowl held by an assistant. SPRINKLE THE BLOOD - Ra... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL FLAY - The sacrificer, or his assistant, had to skin and cut up the victim. The hide was the gratuity of the officiating priest. Leviticus 7:8. HIS PIECES - That is, its proper pieces, the parts into which it was usual for a sacrificed animal to be divided.... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT FIRE UPON THE ALTAR - This must specifically refer to the first burnt-offering on the newly-constructed altar. The rule was afterward to be, “it shall never go out,” Leviticus 6:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
The parts of the victim were then salted by the priest in conformity with the rule, Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 43:24; Mark 9:49, and placed IN ORDER upon the wood, i. e. in the same relation to each other that they had in the living animal.... [ Continue Reading ]
The parts which were washed were the stomach, and bowels, and feet, divided from the carcass at the knee-joint. THE PRIEST SHALL BURN - The verb here translated burn, is applied exclusively to the burning of the incense, to the lights of the tabernacle, and to the offerings on the altar. The primary... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE FLOCKS - These directions are more brief than those for the bullock. The burnt-offering of the sheep must have been that with which the people were most familiar in the daily morning and evening service. Exodus 29:38. Sheep were preferred for sacrifice when they could be obtained, except in s... [ Continue Reading ]
NORTHWARD BEFORE THE LORD - That is, on the north side of the altar. See also Leviticus 4:24, Leviticus 4:29, Leviticus 4:33; Leviticus 7:2. This was probably an arrangement of some practical convenience. On the west side of the altar stood the laver; on the east side was the place of ashes (see Lev... [ Continue Reading ]
OF TURTLEDOVES, OR OF YOUNG PIGEONS - The offering of a bird was permitted to one who was too poor to offer a quadruped. (Compare the marginal references.) But in certain rites of purification birds were appointed for all, whatever might be their circumstances. See Leviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:29;... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CROP WITH HIS FEATHERS - The weight of authority is in favor of the marginal rendering. It is most probable that the feathers were burned with the body, and that the wings, mentioned in Leviticus 1:17, were not mutilated. THE PLACE OF THE ASHES - The ashes were daily removed from the altar (exc... [ Continue Reading ]