Leviticus22

Leviticus 22 details regulations for priests concerning their ritual purity and access to holy offerings, emphasizing that uncleanness profanes God's name. It also outlines strict requirements for animals presented as sacrifices, demanding they be without blemish to be acceptable to the Lord. Furthermore, the chapter specifies who may partake of the holy things and concludes with a reminder of God's holiness and His sanctification of Israel.

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Priestly Purity and Handling Holy Things

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they hallow unto me, and that they profane not my holy name: I am Jehovah.

Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approacheth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from before me: I am Jehovah.

What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

the soul that toucheth any such shall be unclean until the even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his flesh in water.

And when the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.

That which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts, he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith: I am Jehovah.

They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die therein, if they profane it: I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

Who May Eat the Holy Offerings?

There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest’s, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

But if a priest buy any soul, the purchase of his money, he shall eat of it; and such as are born in his house, they shall eat of his bread.

And if a priest’s daughter be married unto a stranger, she shall not eat of the heave-offering of the holy things.

But if a priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and be returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s bread: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.

And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give unto the priest the holy thing.

And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto Jehovah,

and so cause them to bear the iniquity that bringeth guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

Requirements for Acceptable Sacrifices

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that offereth his oblation, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill-offerings, which they offer unto Jehovah for a burnt-offering;

that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats.

But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto Jehovah, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto Jehovah.

Either a bullock or a lamb that hath anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

That which hath its stones bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, ye shall not offer unto Jehovah; neither shall ye do thus in your land.

Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

Additional Sacrificial Regulations

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day.

And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto Jehovah, ye shall sacrifice it that ye may be accepted.

On the same day it shall be eaten; ye shall leave none of it until the morning: I am Jehovah.

Call to Keep God’s Commandments

Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am Jehovah.

And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am Jehovah who halloweth you,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah.

Study Notes for Leviticus 22

Verse 2

The priests must maintain strict separation and ritual purity when dealing with God’s holy offerings. Failure to do so profanes God’s holy name, treating sacred things as common.

Verse 3

The phrase 'cut off from my presence' signifies severe punishment, often death or exclusion from the community, emphasizing the danger of approaching God while in a state of profanity.

Verse 4

This verse lists specific major impurities (leprosy, bodily discharge, contact with the dead) that temporarily disqualify a priest from consuming the sacrificial portions assigned to him.

Verse 6

Minor forms of uncleanness only required washing and waiting until sunset (until even) for the priest to be restored to ritual purity and resume eating the holy food.

Verse 8

Priests were also forbidden from eating animals that died naturally or were killed by predators (carrion). This rule maintained their physical and ritual purity, setting them apart from the common diet.

Verse 10

The 'holy thing' (portions of sacrifices) was exclusive food for the priests and their immediate families. A 'stranger' (layperson, non-descendant of Aaron) was strictly prohibited from eating it.

Verse 11

Slaves bought by the priest and those born into his household were considered permanent members of the priestly family unit and were consequently permitted to eat the holy food.

Verse 12

If a priest’s daughter marries a non-priest ('stranger'), she loses her right to the holy food because her provision and status are now tied to her husband’s non-priestly household.

Verse 14

If a layperson unintentionally eats a holy offering, they must immediately make restitution by repaying the value of the food plus a 20% penalty (the 'fifth part') to the priest.

Verse 16

The priests are held responsible for preventing unauthorized consumption. Allowing laypersons to eat the holy things causes the priests to 'bear the iniquity of trespass,' polluting their sacred duty.

Verse 18

These standards for sacrifice apply universally, not only to native Israelites but also to 'strangers' (resident aliens) who participate in the covenant community through offerings.

Verse 19

The foundational requirement for an acceptable offering is that it must be a 'male without blemish.' This signifies offering God the best possible quality and points toward the perfect sacrifice to come (Christ).

Verse 22

This list specifies severe physical defects (blindness, broken limbs, skin conditions) that render an animal unacceptable for sacrifice. God rejects defective or second-rate gifts.

Verse 23

A distinction is made: minor imperfections (superfluous or lacking parts) might be accepted only for a *freewill* offering, which is a voluntary gift, but never for a *vow* or obligatory sacrifice.

Verse 25

The strict quality standards apply regardless of the source of the offering, meaning priests must not accept blemished animals even from foreigners, ensuring the sanctity of the altar.

Verse 27

Sacrificial animals needed to be at least eight days old before they could be offered. This ensured the animal was viable and links to the concept of sanctification often associated with the eighth day.

Verse 28

This law, rooted in mercy and respect for life, prohibits the slaughter of a mother and her offspring on the same day. It reflects God’s concern for the natural order and humane treatment.

Verse 30

The sacrifice of thanksgiving (V. 29) was meant to be a communal feast, consumed completely on the day of offering. This prevents the holy food from decaying or being treated casually.

Verse 32

This concluding statement summarizes the theological purpose of Leviticus: Israel must obey to avoid profaning God's name. God’s ultimate desire is to be recognized and 'hallowed' (treated as holy) by the people he saved.

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Leviticus22

Priestly Purity and Handling Holy Things

Who May Eat the Holy Offerings?

Requirements for Acceptable Sacrifices

Additional Sacrificial Regulations

Call to Keep God’s Commandments

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