(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
He is to offer all its fat - the fat tail, the fat covering the inner organs,
And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof: the fat tail, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
And he shall offer{H7126} of it all the fat{H2459} thereof; the rump{H451}, and the fat{H2459} that covereth{H3680} the inwards{H7130},
Leviticus 7:3 is part of the book of Leviticus, which is the third book of the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses. The book primarily deals with laws and rituals concerning sacrifices and offerings to God, as well as priestly duties and holiness. It was likely written during the time of Moses, around the 14th century BCE, as the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.
The verse itself is part of the regulations concerning the peace offering, which is one of the five main offerings described in Leviticus. The peace offering was a voluntary sacrifice that could be offered to express thanksgiving or to fulfill a vow. It was unique in that the offerer could partake in eating the sacrifice, along with family and friends, as a communal meal.
The themes of Leviticus 7:3 include:
1. **Worship and Sacrifice**: The detailed instructions for offerings emphasize the importance of proper worship and sacrifice as a means of maintaining a relationship with God.
2. **Holiness and Purity**: The requirement to offer the fat parts of the animal reflects the concept of giving the best to God, as the fat was considered the choicest part. This practice underscores the holiness and purity that God requires in worship.
3. **Communion with God**: The peace offering, in particular, symbolizes peace and fellowship with God. By sharing in the meal, the worshipper acknowledges God's provision and experiences a form of communion with the divine.
4. **Obedience and Detail**: The specificity of the instructions, such as which parts of the animal to offer, highlights the importance of obedience and attention to detail in religious practice.
In its historical context, these regulations would have been central to the religious life of ancient Israel. They served to distinguish the Israelite worship practices from those of surrounding cultures and to reinforce the unique covenant relationship between God and His people. The meticulous nature of these laws also would have played a role in the formation of the priestly class and their responsibilities in managing the sacrificial system.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)