03 July 2014

EJ&T: Leviticus 3: The Peace Offering

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.
There are several types of peace offerings depending on the type of animal that is killed. These are covered in the following commandments. There is some additional information about peace offerings in Leviticus 7, which doesn't seem to require a separate commandment. It should, however, be referred to when making peace offerings, so I'm including it here.
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. Leviticus 7:11-14

  1. Make a peace offering by sacrificing an unblemished bull or cow
  2. If you're sacrificing a bull or a cow, be sure it has no imperfections on it. Once you've selected your unblemished sacrifice, put your hand on its head and kill it at the door of the tabernacle. The priests (Aaron's sons and their descendants) shall then sprinkle the blood round about the altar.

    When making the peace offering, the priests burn on the altar the fat that covers the internal organs, along with the kidneys and the lower part of the liver. This will smell good to God.

    And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

    And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Leviticus 3:1-5

  3. Make a peace offering by sacrificing unblemished male or female sheep
  4. If you're sacrificing a sheep, it can be male or female, but it must not have any imperfections on it. Put your hand on the sheep's head and kill it at the door of the tabernacle. The priests (Aaron's sons and their descendants) shall then sprinkle the blood round about the altar.

    The priests will then burn on the altar the fat, the rump, and the fat on the backbone, the fat on the internal organs, the kidneys along with any fat that is on them, and the lower part of the liver. This is a food offering for God.

    And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.

    And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD. Leviticus 3:6-11

  5. Make a peace offering by sacrificing a goat (blemished or unblemished, male or female)
  6. If you're sacrificing a goat, it can be male or female, blemished or unblemished. Put your hand on the sheep's head and kill it at the door of the tabernacle. The priests (Aaron's sons and their descendants) shall then sprinkle the blood round about the altar.

    The priests will then burn on the altar the fat on the internal organs, the kidneys along with any fat that is on them, and the lower part of the liver. This is a food offering. It will smell good to God.

    When making your peace offerings remember this: All the fat is the Lords! Don't eat any of the fat or drink any of the blood.

    And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

    And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour. Leviticus 3:12-16a

    And then there's also this from Numbers 15:

    And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the Lord: Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil. And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid. Numbers 15:8-11

1 comment:

Stephen said...

I picture this altar with dried crusted blood all around it, and charred animal remains on the top. What a lovely place to go on the weekend. Did they have steam cleaners in those days? The smoke might have been a pleasing savour to the LORD, but the place of sacrifice probably smelled like shit.
Steve Weeks