Caveat: This blog post is among the papers submitted by the blogger for his OT1 class. The blogger does not claim mastery and scholarship on the matter.
Leviticus
1 (Burn/Whole Offering)
The first chapter of Leviticus states the procedural
requirements for burnt offerings. In
some translations, burnt offerings are translated as whole offerings. The term burn or whole offering denotes the
fact that the offering is entirely burnt.
According to John Hartley, the hebrew word for “whole offering” is often
rendered as “holocaust”.[1]
Literary
and Historical Context:
The
book of Leviticus is a continuation of the book of Exodus. After the construction of the tabernacle in
Exodus 40, we can read at the beginning of Leviticus that God “called Moses and
spoke to him from the tent of meeting”.[2] Some
holds to the view that the book of Leviticus is part of the priestly material
which began in Exodus 25:1 and ends with the book of Numbers 10:10. It can also been that in the book of Exodus
to Numbers, law and history are intertwined with each other. The book of Leviticus serves as guide for the
nation of Israel on how to maintain its relationship with a holy God.[3]
Moreover,
when one peruses upon the entire book of Leviticus, one cannot fail to notice
that from chapters one to seven, several types of sacrifices or offerings were
discussed. These sacrifices are as
follows: burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. When the people of Israel became the people
of God by virtue of the Sinai Covenant, these sacrifices which are believed to
have been observed since the time of the patriarchs have to be regulated in
order to conform to the worship of the one true God of Israel.[4]
Furthermore,
the instructions on the different sacrifices preceded the pericope of the
consecration of the priest, so that the initial sacrifice would be properly
done.[5]
Leviticus 1 as an Apodictic and Sacrificial Law
Leviticus 1 is an
apodictic law as opposed to Casuistic law.
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart describes apodictic law as “direct
commands, generally applicable, telling the Israelites the sorts of things they
are supposed to do to fulfil their part of the covenant with God.”[6] Further, chapter one clearly states what an
offerer and priest must do when a burnt offering is presented.
Likewise, the first chapter is a sacrificial law because
it regulates the what, when, and how the sacrifices are to be offered.
Instructions
for Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:3-17)
The first two verses of chapter one serves as a general
introductory note for the offerings to be presented by the people of Israel.
Among
the sacrifices mentioned is the burnt/whole offering. In the instruction for burnt/whole offering,
we can see alternating participation between the offerer and priest. The offerer should present an offering which
may either come from his own herd or flock, which can be a bull, sheep, goat,
turtledoves or pigeons as sacrifice. The
primary condition for the sacrifice is that it should be perfect or without any
blemish. Also, the entire sacrifice
should be consumed by fire.
Burnt
offering from the Herd: Bull sacrifice (v. 3-9)
Participation of the Offerer
|
Participation of the Priest
|
Presents a male
offering at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (v. 3)
|
|
Lay his hand on the
head of the offering (v. 4)
|
|
Kill the offering (v.
5a)
|
|
Brings the blood and
throws it against the sides of the alter located at the entrance of the Tent
of Meeting (v. 5b)
|
|
Flays/skins the
offering and cuts it into pieces (v.6)
|
|
Puts fire on the altar
and arranges the woods (v.7)
|
|
Washes the entrails
and legs with water(v. 9a)
|
Arrange the pieces of
the offering: head and fat placed on the wood (v.8)
|
Burns all the pieces
of sacrifice (v. 9b)
|
Burnt
offering from the Flock: Sheep or Goat (v. 10-13)
Participation of the Offerer
|
Participation of the Priest
|
Presents a male
offering without blemish (v. 10)
|
|
Kill the offering at
the North Side of the Altar (v. 11a)
|
|
Throws the blood of
the offering against the sides of the altar (v.11b)
|
|
Cuts the offering into
pieces (v. 12a)
|
|
Arrange the wood and
fire; with the head and fat of the offering on the wood (v. 12b)
|
|
Wash the entrail and
legs with waters (v.13a)
|
|
Burn all the pieces of
the sacrifice (v. 13b)
|
Burnt
offering of Birds: Turtledove or Pigeon
Participation of the Offerer
|
Participation of the Priest
|
Present a turtledove
or pigeon (v.
|
|
Brings the offer to
the altar, and wrings off the head
|
|
Draws the blood on the
side of the altar
|
|
Removes the crop with
its contents and case is beside the altar on the east side
|
|
Tears the offer open
by its wing, without severing it completely
|
|
Burns the offer on the
altar
|
The
type of sacrifice as burnt offering depends upon the choice and social stature
of the offerer. An affluent Israelite
can bring a bull, while the middle class Israelite may bring a sheep or goat,
and the poor will bring a turtledove or pigeon, as burnt/whole offering.[7]
The
offering should not only be without blemish but also that it must be from the
male gender. In ancient Israel, male
livestocks are given premium than female livestocks. In other words, male livestocks are costly on
the part offerer when presented as sacrifice.[8] It can also be seen that the sacrifice should
come from one’s herd or flock.
Purpose of Burnt Offering
Chapter one fails to
explicitly mention the purpose behind the sacrifice. However, some scholars suggest that the
purpose of burnt offering is to entreat the deity’s response.[9] It is a means to approach the Lord with a
plea, which may include victory, mercy, forgiveness, purification, or favour.[10]
In addition, this type of offering can also be considered
as an atonement offering; not for a specific sin, but for the offerer’s general
inclination towards sin. In short, the
atonement mentioned in verse 4 denotes a plea for fellowship with God.[11] Moreover, this offering also denotes worship
submission and surrender.[12]
Present Day Application
In
the New Testament, it is stated that we were ransomed by the “precious blood of
Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:19).
As a result thereof, we who had been ransomed should live a life a
gratitude in terms of our attitude when we serve, and live our lives in daily
worship to God..
Just
as the offerer of burnt offerings who gave perfect sacrifices, likewise, we
should pursue excellence in the things that we do. The bible says that in whatever we do, we
should do it all for the glory of God.
Also, when we work, “we should not work by way of eye-service, as
people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord…work heartily,
as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col 3:22-24).
Moreover,
we should live our lives as an act of daily worship. The bible says that “…by the mercies of
God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1) this can only happen when we
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2).
May
we completely surrender to God in whatever circumstances we are. God’s acceptance does not depend upon our
good works, but by the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb for us.
[1]
John E. Hartley, Leviticus, Word
Biblical Commentary (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1992), CD-Rom.
[2]
Alec Motyer, Roots: Let the Old
Testament Speak, ed. John Stott (Scotland, Great Britain: Christian Focus,
2009), p. 71.
[3]
Hartley, Leviticus, CD-Rom.
[4]
Ibid.
[5]
Ibid.
[6]
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How
to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Manila, Philippines: OMF Literature),
p. 171.
[7]
R. Laird Harris, Leviticus,
Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan), p. 538.
[8]
Hartley, Leviticus, CD-Rom.
[9]
John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old
Testatment (Quezon City, Philippines: CGM), p.120.
[10]
Ibid.
[11]
Hartley, Leviticus, CD-Rom.
[12]
Harris, Leviticus, p. 538.
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