Leviticus 7 details the laws concerning various offerings and the portions designated for the priests. It begins with the trespass offering, specifying its holiness and priestly consumption. The chapter then outlines the regulations for peace offerings, including different types and strict time limits for eating the flesh. Crucially, it reiterates the prohibitions against consuming fat and blood, with severe penalties for transgression.
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.
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
¶ This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;
Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Study Notes for Leviticus 7
Verse 1
The trespass offering ('Asham) addresses specific instances of wrongful action against God or neighbor that require restitution. Like the sin offering, it is designated 'most holy,' meaning consumption is restricted to the priests in a sacred location.
Verse 2
The requirement that the trespass offering be slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering emphasizes the gravity and sacredness of the atonement process, linking it closely to the general sacrificial ritual.
Verse 6
Only male priests (the sons of Aaron) were permitted to eat the meat of the 'most holy' offerings (sin and trespass), symbolizing their unique consecrated status and limiting contact with the sacred food.
Verse 7
This verse establishes that the law governing the distribution of the trespass offering is identical to that of the sin offering: the priest who performs the rite receives the meat as his sustenance.
Verse 8
The skin of the burnt offering was the only part not consumed by fire, and it was given to the officiating priest. This portion provided practical material for clothing or trade, contributing to the priest's livelihood.
Verse 11
The peace offering (Shelamim) is unique because it is the only major sacrifice shared among God (fat), the priest (breast/shoulder), and the worshipper (remaining meat), symbolizing fellowship and communion.
Verse 13
Leavened bread is normally forbidden on the altar, but it is permitted here as a secondary offering alongside the unleavened cakes. This leavened bread was eaten by the priest and the offerer during the celebratory meal.
Verse 15
The thanksgiving peace offering must be consumed entirely on the day of sacrifice. This strict time limit emphasizes the urgency of expressing gratitude and ensures the meat is shared while the celebratory impulse is fresh.
Verse 18
Eating the meat on the third day renders the sacrifice unacceptable and is deemed an 'abomination.' This strict time limit maintains the sanctity of the offering and prevents ritual decay or defilement.
Verse 20
Participation in the sacred meal requires ritual purity. If a person eats the offering while in a state of uncleanness, they violate the holiness of the sacrifice and are subject to being 'cut off' (excommunication or divine judgment).
Verse 21
This verse reiterates the severe penalty for violating the sanctity of the peace offering through contact with human, animal, or object uncleanness, underscoring the necessity of ritual separation.
Verse 23
The fat (suet or internal organ fat) was reserved exclusively for the Lord, as it was considered the choicest part. Eating the fat was forbidden because it was the portion designated for the altar.
Verse 26
The prohibition on consuming blood is fundamental throughout the Torah because the blood represents the life (soul) of the creature. Blood must be reserved solely for the purpose of atonement upon the altar.
Verse 30
The worshipper personally presents the fat (for God) and the breast (for the priest) to the officiating priest. The breast is then ritually ‘waved’ before the Lord, marking its transfer as the priest’s food.
Verse 34
The 'wave breast' and the 'heave shoulder' were designated as permanent, non-negotiable portions for the Aaronic priesthood, establishing a perpetual means of their support and sustenance.
Verse 37
This verse serves as a summary colophon, listing the six main categories of sacrificial and priestly laws detailed across Leviticus 1-7, concluding the initial instruction given to Moses.
Verse 38
The summary emphasizes that these detailed sacrificial regulations were revealed by the LORD to Moses at Mount Sinai, thus placing the entire system under divine authority and covenant mandate.
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