(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
ADONAI said to Moshe,
Then the LORD said to Moses,
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
And the LORD{H3068} spake{H1696} unto Moses{H4872}, saying{H559},
Leviticus 7:28 is part of the legal and ceremonial instructions given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, which form the core of the book of Leviticus. The book itself is centered around the priesthood, sacrifices, and laws that were to govern the religious life of the Israelites. It serves as a manual for worship and holiness, emphasizing the importance of atonement, ritual purity, and proper conduct before God.
The specific context of Leviticus 7:28 is within a section discussing the peace offering, one of the five main types of sacrifices in ancient Israelite worship. This verse is part of the detailed regulations concerning the offerings, particularly the portion that was to be given to the priests (Aaron and his sons) from the sacrifices brought by the people.
The themes of this verse include:
1. **Divine Speech**: The verse begins with "And the LORD spake unto Moses," a common refrain in Leviticus, indicating a direct revelation from God to Moses, which carries divine authority.
2. **Sacrificial System**: It is a continuation of the instructions regarding the sacrificial system, highlighting the specifics of the peace offering, which was a voluntary offering of thanksgiving or fulfillment of a vow.
3. **Priestly Entitlement**: The verse specifies that the breast of the peace offering, which was waved before the Lord, was to be a perpetual due to Aaron and his sons, ensuring the sustenance of the priesthood.
4. **Holiness and Atonement**: The broader context of the peace offering emphasizes the concept of communion with God, achieved through the correct performance of sacrifices, which also served to make atonement for the offerer.
5. **Covenantal Relationship**: The sacrificial system was a key component of the covenant between God and Israel, with the priests serving as mediators. The detailed instructions reinforced the importance of obeying God's commandments as part of the covenantal obligations.
In summary, Leviticus 7:28 is situated within the extensive legal and ritual instructions given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. It underscores the sanctity of the sacrificial system, the role of the priesthood, and the need for the Israelites to follow God's commandments to maintain their relationship with Him. The historical context is the period of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, approximately the 13th century BCE, as they were being shaped into a nation set apart for God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)