(The Lord speaking is red text)
In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
They are to slaughter the guilt offering in the place where they slaughter the burnt offering, and its blood is to be splashed against all sides of the altar.
The guilt offering must be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest shall sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar.
In the place where they kill the burnt-offering shall they kill the trespass-offering; and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle upon the altar round about.
In the place{H4725} where they kill{H7819} the burnt offering{H5930} shall they kill{H7819} the trespass offering{H817}: and the blood{H1818} thereof shall he sprinkle{H2236} round about{H5439} upon the altar{H4196}.
Leviticus 7:2 is a verse from the third book of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. The book of Leviticus primarily deals with laws and rituals concerning sacrifices and offerings, priestly duties, and holiness. It is set in the context of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
**Themes:**
1. **Sacrificial System:** The verse is part of the detailed instructions given to Moses regarding the sacrificial system that the Israelites were to follow. This system was central to the religious life of ancient Israel and was meant to provide a means for the people to atone for their sins and maintain a right relationship with God.
2. **Ritual Purity:** The instructions for the killing and sprinkling of the blood of the trespass offering emphasize the importance of ritual purity. Blood, considered the life source in Levitical law, played a crucial role in the purification process.
3. **Atonement:** The trespass offering, specifically, was a sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins against God's commandments, particularly those involving property or sanctity. The sprinkling of blood on the altar was a symbolic act representing the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the individual to the community.
4. **Centrality of the Altar:** The command that the trespass offering be killed in the same place as the burnt offering underscores the centrality of the altar as the locus of sacrificial worship.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to the time of Moses, around the 13th century BCE, during the period when the Israelites were receiving the Law at Mount Sinai.
- **Purpose:** The book was intended to guide the religious practices of the Israelites, distinguishing them from their pagan neighbors through a complex system of worship and ethical behavior.
- **Cultural Significance:** The sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus was foundational to Israelite identity and worship until the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, after which Jewish religious practices evolved to focus more on prayer, repentance, and adherence to the Torah.
In summary, Leviticus 7:2 reflects the themes of the sacrificial system, ritual purity, atonement, and the centrality of the altar in ancient Israel's worship. It is set against the backdrop of the Israelites' formative religious experiences as they established their covenant with God in the wilderness.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)