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Leviticus 1
1 And the LORD (= Yᵉhôvâh [YHVH]) called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Notice this book starts off with the word "and"; thus letting us know it connects to the book of Exodus, which is connected to Genesis. After all, it is the third book of Moses. Keep in mind this verse fulfills Exodus 25:22. As we go throughout this book, try to view these things in a spiritual sense, as it would be CHRIST who would eventually fulfill all of these things through HIS ultimate, loving, death sacrifice on the cross, for us. So although the things in this book did happen literally, compare them to how they relate to CHRIST and us spiritually today.
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish (i.e. the animal must not have any problems/flaws): he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
This verse of course foreshadowing the coming of our SAVIOR (JESUS CHRIST). Compare to Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 1:19.
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering (thus letting us know this couldn't be done by proxy); and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Keep in mind this offering isn't to be confused with a sin offering [that wasn't voluntary] but rather this was an offering whereby the priest could stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, being made clean. Remember, GOD is holy and perfect whereas we aren't, and so this offering would act as an atonement for them, whereby it would cover the un-holiness and sin of them, so that they could stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD. The placing of the hand upon the offering's head could also be viewed in the sense that the one (the priest) offering the sacrifice, was transferring his unworthiness to the sacrifice, which in the futurist sense would symbolize how our sins were transferred and laid upon CHRIST (the perfect LAMB slain, who was our ultimate sacrifice for one and all times), whereby we can stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD (in Heaven) today, therefore having our sins blotted out and forgiven upon repentance in HIM. Again, only ONE could fulfill it and that was JESUS CHRIST (GOD in the flesh), as HE was perfect and without sin. See also: 2 Peter 3:9.
5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And so it was, the priest would kill the bullock on the North side of the altar, whereby he could receive its blood. The blood would then be sprinkled upon the four sides of the altar; not directly upon it.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
Notice the skin wasn't to be offered here, as the skin was only to be offered specifically upon the sin offering. The cutting into pieces was to show that all of it was without blemish.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Why only wood? Because the smoke of the wood ascended up and was a sweet savor unto the LORD.
8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Anything GOD commands of us should always be done in order.
9 But his inwards (i.e. entrails) and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour (i.e. a savour of satisfaction) unto the LORD.
Compare to Genesis 8:21.
10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
Again, it was to be perfect and without spot just as JESUS CHRIST (GOD in the flesh) HIMself was and is.
11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about (i.e. on the four sides) upon the altar.
Why on the North side? So the Israelites wouldn't be distracted by the sun rise or the sun set behind the sacrifice, and fall into sun-worship like the heathens. Compare to Ezekiel 8:16. See also: "The Truth About Easter".
12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
The washing therefore would get rid of any bad smell from the animal.
14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
Fowls were used when that's all a person had at the time or could afford. These of course being clean animals.
15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
16 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
17 And he shall cleave (i.e. tear) it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder (i.e. he shall not separate it completely): and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
So there we have the instructions for the burnt offering, and in the next chapter (Leviticus 2), we will see what the instructions were for the meal offering.
Notice this book starts off with the word "and"; thus letting us know it connects to the book of Exodus, which is connected to Genesis. After all, it is the third book of Moses. Keep in mind this verse fulfills Exodus 25:22. As we go throughout this book, try to view these things in a spiritual sense, as it would be CHRIST who would eventually fulfill all of these things through HIS ultimate, loving, death sacrifice on the cross, for us. So although the things in this book did happen literally, compare them to how they relate to CHRIST and us spiritually today.
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish (i.e. the animal must not have any problems/flaws): he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
This verse of course foreshadowing the coming of our SAVIOR (JESUS CHRIST). Compare to Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 1:19.
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering (thus letting us know this couldn't be done by proxy); and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Keep in mind this offering isn't to be confused with a sin offering [that wasn't voluntary] but rather this was an offering whereby the priest could stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, being made clean. Remember, GOD is holy and perfect whereas we aren't, and so this offering would act as an atonement for them, whereby it would cover the un-holiness and sin of them, so that they could stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD. The placing of the hand upon the offering's head could also be viewed in the sense that the one (the priest) offering the sacrifice, was transferring his unworthiness to the sacrifice, which in the futurist sense would symbolize how our sins were transferred and laid upon CHRIST (the perfect LAMB slain, who was our ultimate sacrifice for one and all times), whereby we can stand in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD (in Heaven) today, therefore having our sins blotted out and forgiven upon repentance in HIM. Again, only ONE could fulfill it and that was JESUS CHRIST (GOD in the flesh), as HE was perfect and without sin. See also: 2 Peter 3:9.
5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And so it was, the priest would kill the bullock on the North side of the altar, whereby he could receive its blood. The blood would then be sprinkled upon the four sides of the altar; not directly upon it.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
Notice the skin wasn't to be offered here, as the skin was only to be offered specifically upon the sin offering. The cutting into pieces was to show that all of it was without blemish.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Why only wood? Because the smoke of the wood ascended up and was a sweet savor unto the LORD.
8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Anything GOD commands of us should always be done in order.
9 But his inwards (i.e. entrails) and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour (i.e. a savour of satisfaction) unto the LORD.
Compare to Genesis 8:21.
10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
Again, it was to be perfect and without spot just as JESUS CHRIST (GOD in the flesh) HIMself was and is.
11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about (i.e. on the four sides) upon the altar.
Why on the North side? So the Israelites wouldn't be distracted by the sun rise or the sun set behind the sacrifice, and fall into sun-worship like the heathens. Compare to Ezekiel 8:16. See also: "The Truth About Easter".
12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
The washing therefore would get rid of any bad smell from the animal.
14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
Fowls were used when that's all a person had at the time or could afford. These of course being clean animals.
15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
16 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
17 And he shall cleave (i.e. tear) it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder (i.e. he shall not separate it completely): and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
So there we have the instructions for the burnt offering, and in the next chapter (Leviticus 2), we will see what the instructions were for the meal offering.