Leviticus chapter six details further laws concerning offerings and priestly duties. It begins by outlining the restitution and trespass offering required for sins committed against a neighbour, emphasizing restoration of what was taken plus an additional fifth part. The chapter then provides specific instructions for the priests regarding the burnt offering, including the maintenance of the perpetual altar fire. Finally, it details the laws for the meat offering and the sin offering, specifying how they are to be prepared, consumed by the priests, and handled due to their extreme holiness.
If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,
then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,
or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.
And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest:
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering: the burnt-offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereon.
And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.
And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, as the memorial thereof, unto Jehovah.
And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.
It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as the sin-offering, and as the trespass-offering.
Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as his portion for ever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: whosoever toucheth them shall be holy.
This is the oblation of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto Jehovah in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.
On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before Jehovah: it is most holy.
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.
And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt with fire.
Study Notes for Leviticus 6
Verse 2
This section concludes the law of the trespass offering (Asham), specifically addressing sins of misappropriation, theft, or deceit where a neighbor is financially harmed. The focus is on violating trust.
Verse 5
Crucially, atonement requires not only the restoration of the principal amount stolen or withheld, but also a penalty of one-fifth (20%) added. This ensures justice is served before spiritual forgiveness is granted.
Verse 7
The priest makes atonement only after the required restitution (v. 5) and the offering (v. 6) are presented. This sequence demonstrates that true repentance involves righting the wrong done to one’s neighbor.
Verse 8
This marks the beginning of a new major section (Lev 6:8–7:38), known as the 'Torah of the Offerings,' which details the specific procedures and priestly prerogatives for handling the sacrifices.
Verse 9
The burnt offering (Olah) must burn throughout the night. This continuous burning symbolized the complete, uninterrupted dedication of the worshiper to the LORD.
Verse 10
The priest must wear specific sacred linen garments when handling the holy ashes, emphasizing the necessity of ritual purity even during the mundane task of cleaning the altar.
Verse 12
The fire on the altar was considered sacred, having been initially ignited by divine fire (Lev 9:24). The priests were commanded to continuously maintain this sacred fire, symbolizing God’s constant presence and acceptance.
Verse 13
The requirement that the fire 'shall ever be burning' (perpetual fire) highlights the continuous readiness required of the priests and the constant need for atonement and communion with God.
Verse 16
Unlike the burnt offering (which was wholly consumed), the priests received the remainder of the grain offering as their sustenance. It had to be eaten in the sacred precincts due to its holiness.
Verse 17
The Grain Offering is designated 'most holy' (qodesh qodeshim), placing it on the same level of sanctity as the sin and trespass offerings, requiring strict handling and consumption only by consecrated priests.
Verse 20
This describes a mandatory perpetual offering required of the High Priest, offered daily (half in the morning, half at night). It served as a personal dedication ritual upon his anointing.
Verse 23
The Grain Offering of the priest must be entirely burned and not eaten. Priests were forbidden from consuming offerings made for their own behalf or atonement, ensuring integrity in their service.
Verse 25
The Sin Offering (Hattat) is also designated 'most holy.' It was slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering, emphasizing the seriousness and immediate necessity of dealing with sin.
Verse 27
This verse addresses the 'contagious' nature of holiness. Anything that touches the sacrificial flesh becomes holy, necessitating careful washing or destruction of vessels to manage the sacred substance.
Verse 30
This provides a critical exception: if the blood of the sin offering was taken into the Holy Place (the Tent of Meeting) for reconciliation (as on the Day of Atonement), the flesh could not be eaten by the priests but had to be burned outside the camp.
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