20And your estrength shall be spent in vain;
for your fland shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.
21‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.
22gI will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number;
and hyour highways shall be desolate.
23‘And if iby these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me,
24jthen I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25And kI will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant;
when you are gathered together within your cities lI will send pestilence among you;
and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
26mWhen I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, nand you shall eat and not be satisfied.
27‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me,
28then I also will walk contrary to you in fury;
and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29oYou7 shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.
30pI will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols;
and My soul shall abhor you.
31I will lay your qcities waste and rbring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not ssmell the fragrance of your 8sweet aromas.
32tI will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.
33uI will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you;
your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.
34vThen the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land;
then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths.
35As long as it lies desolate it shall rest—
for the time it did not rest on your wsabbaths when you dwelt in it.
36‘And as for those of you who are left, I will send xfaintness9 into their hearts in the lands of their enemies;
the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee;
they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues.
37yThey shall stumble over one another, as it were before a sword, when no one pursues;
and zyou shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
38You shall aperish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
39And those of you who are left bshall 10waste away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands;
also in their cfathers’ iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away.
40‘But dif they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me,
41and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies;
if their euncircumcised hearts are fhumbled, and they gaccept their guilt—
42then I will hremember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember;
I will iremember the land.
43jThe land also shall be left empty by them, and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them;
they will accept their guilt, because they kdespised My judgments and because their soul abhorred My statutes.
44Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, lI will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them;
for I am the LORD their God.
45But mfor their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, nwhom I brought out of the land of Egypt oin the sight of the nations, that I might be their God:
I am the LORD.’ ”
46pThese are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between Himself and the children of Israel qon Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
Leviticus 27
Redeeming Persons and Property Dedicated to God
1Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: a‘When a man 1consecrates by a vow certain persons to the LORD, according to your 2valuation,
3‘if your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, baccording to the shekel of the sanctuary.
4‘If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels;
5‘and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels;
6‘and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver;
7‘and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
8‘But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for chim; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.
9‘If it is an animal that men may bring as an offering to the LORD, all that anyone gives to the LORD shall be holy.
10‘He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be dholy.
11‘If it is an unclean animal which they do not offer as a sacrifice to the LORD, then he shall present the animal before the priest;
12‘and the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
13e‘But if he wants at all to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth to your valuation.
14‘And when a man 3dedicates his house to be holy to the LORD, then the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.
15‘If he who dedicated it wants to 4redeem his house, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.
16‘If a man 5dedicates to the LORD part of a field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
17‘If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand.
18‘But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall freckon to him the money due according to the years that remain till the Year of Jubilee, and it shall be deducted from your valuation.
19‘And if he who dedicates the field ever wishes to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall belong to him.
20‘But if he does not want to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore;
21‘but the field, gwhen it is released in the Jubilee, shall be holy to the LORD, as a hdevoted field; it shall be ithe possession of the priest.
22‘And if a man dedicates to the LORD a field which he has bought, which is not the field of jhis possession,
23‘then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your valuation, up to the Year of Jubilee, and he shall give your valuation on that day as a holy offering to the LORD.
24k‘In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to the one who owned the land as a possession.
25‘And all your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: ltwenty gerahs to the
shekel.
26‘But the mfirstborn of the animals, which should be the LORD’s firstborn, no man shall dedicate; whether it is an ox or sheep, it is the LORD’s.
27‘And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall redeem it according to your valuation, and nshall add one-fifth to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.
28o‘Nevertheless no 6devoted offering that a man may devote to the LORD of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the LORD.
29p‘No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.
30‘And qall the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.
31r‘If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.
32‘And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever spasses under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
33‘He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, tnor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ ”
34uThese are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount vSinai.
Leviticus Commentaries
Leviticus 1
1:1—7:38 This section provides laws pertaining to sacrifice. For the first time in Israel’s history, a well-defined set of sacrifices was given to them, although people had offered sacrifices since the time of Abel and Cain (cf. Gen. 4:3, 4). This section contains instructions for the people (1:1–6:7) and the priests (6:8–7:38). For a comparison with the millennial kingdom sacrifices, see notes on Ezek. 45, 46.
1:1—6:7 God had taken the nation at its word, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:8; 24:3–8) and gave detailed instructions as to how they were to sacrifice to Him. Five sacrifices were outlined: the first 3 were voluntary, the last 2 compulsory. They were: 1) burnt offering (1:1–17); 2) grain offering (2:1–16); 3) peace offering (3:1–17); 4) sin offering (4:1–5:13); and 5) trespass offering (5:14–6:7). All these offerings were forms of worship to God, to give expression of the penitent and thankful heart. Those who were truly God’s by faith gave these offerings with an attitude of worship; for the rest, they were external rituals only.
1:1 Now the LORD called to Moses. Leviticus begins where Exodus left off (see Introduction: Author and Date; Background and Setting). No sooner did the glory cloud come down to rest on the tabernacle in the concluding verses of Exodus, than God instructed Moses with the content in Leviticus. The question of how to use the tabernacle in worship is answered here by an audible voice from the Divine Glory over the ark in the Holy of Holies (cf. Ex. 40:34; Num. 7:89; Ps. 80:1). tabernacle of meeting. This is so named since it was the place where Israel would gather to meet the LORD (cf. Ex. 25:8, 22; 26:1–37). See Ex. 25–32 for a detailed description of the tabernacle.
1:2 Speak to the children of Israel. This is essential revelation, with reference to their spiritual life, for all the descendants of Jacob, who was also called Israel (cf. Gen. 32:28). When any one of you brings. These were completely voluntary and freewill offerings with no specific number or frequency given (1:3). The regulation excluded horses, dogs, pigs, camels, and donkeys, which were used in pagan sacrifices, as well as rabbits, deer, beasts, and birds of prey. The sacrifice had to be from the offerer’s herd or he had to purchase it. an offering. The Pharisees manipulated this simple concept so that adult children could selfishly withhold the material goods which would help their parents, under the guise of Corban, that it was dedicated to the Lord (cf. Mark 7:8–13). herd…flock. These terms refer to the cattle (1:3), sheep, or goats (1:10) respectively. Only domestic animals could be sacrificed.
1:3–17 See 6:8–13 for the priests’ instructions. The burnt offerings were the first sacrifices revealed because these were the ones to be most frequently offered: every morning and evening (Num. 28:1–8), every Sabbath (Num. 28:9, 10), the first day of each month (Num. 28:11–15), and at the special feasts (Num. 28:16—29:40). This offering signified voluntary and complete dedication and consecration to the Lord. It was an offering of repentance for sins committed, with the desire to be purged from the guilt of sinful acts. Designed to demonstrate the sinner’s penitence and obedience, it indicated his self-dedication to the worship of God. The most costly animal was mentioned first; the least costly last. The singing of psalms later became a part of this ritual (cf. Pss. 4; 5; 40; 50; 66).
Lev. 1:3
Christ in the Levitical Offerings
Offering: 1. Burnt Offering (Lev. 1:3-17; 6:8-13)
Christ’s Provision: atonement
Christ’s Character: Christ’s sinless nature
Offering: 2. Grain Offering (Lev. 2:1-16; 6:14-23)
Christ’s Provision: dedication/consecration
Christ’s Character: Christ was wholly devoted to the Father’s purposes
Offering: 3. Peace Offering (Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-36)
Christ’s Provision: reconciliation/fellowship
Christ’s Character: Christ was at peace with God
Offering: 4. Sin Offering (Lev. 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30)
Christ’s Provision: propitiation
Christ’s Character: Christ’s substitutionary death
Offering: 5. Trespass Offering (Lev. 5:14-6:7; 7:1-10)
Christ’s Provision: repentance
Christ’s Character: Christ paid it all for redemption
1:3–9 This section describes the sacrifice of bulls (1:5).
1:3 burnt sacrifice. This offering is so called because it required that the animal be completely consumed by the fire, except for the crop of feathers of a bird (1:16) or skin of the bull, which went to the priest (1:6; 7:8). a male without blemish. Since no animal with any deformity or defect was permitted, the priests would inspect each animal, perhaps using a method which the Egyptians employed in their sacrifices, calling for all inspected and approved animals to have a certificate attached to the horns and sealed with wax. A male without blemish was required, as it was the choicest offering of the flock. at the door…before the LORD. This entrance to the courtyard around the tabernacle where the altar of burnt offering stood (Ex. 40:6) would place the one offering a sacrifice on the N side of the altar (cf. 1:11). God’s presence in the cloud rested upon the mercy seat of the ark in the Holy of Holies inside the tabernacle proper (see note on 1:1). The offering was brought to and offered before the Lord, not before man.
1:4 put his hand on the head. This symbolic gesture pictured the transfer of the sacrificer’s sin to the sacrificial animal and was likely done with a prayer of repentance and request for forgiveness (cf. Ps. 51:18, 19). on his behalf. This was a substitutionary sacrifice that prefigured the ultimate substitute—Jesus Christ (cf. Is. 53; see note on 2 Cor. 5:21). make atonement. The word means “cover.” The psalmist defines it by saying, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Ps. 32:1). Theologically, the “atonement” of the OT covered sin only temporarily, but it did not eliminate sin or later judgment (Heb. 10:4). The one time sacrifice of Jesus Christ fully atoned for sin, thus satisfying God’s wrath forever and insuring eternal salvation (cf. Heb. 9:12; 1 John 2:2), even to those who put saving faith in God for their redemption before Christ’s death on the cross (cf. Rom. 3:25, 26; Heb. 9:15).
1:5 He shall kill. Making vivid and dramatic the consequences of sin, the person offering the sacrifice slew and butchered the animal (cf. v. 6). Aaron’s sons. This refers to the immediate descendants of Aaron, i.e., Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (cf. Ex. 28:1). In the beginning, there were 5 priests, including Aaron, who served as the High-Priest. shall bring…sprinkle the blood. The priest had to collect the blood in a basin and then offer it to God as a sacrifice to indicate that a life had been taken, i.e.,
death occurred (cf. 17:11, 14). The price of sin is always death (cf. Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23). the altar. The altar of burnt offering (cf. Ex. 27:1–8; 38:1–7), which is in the courtyard outside of the tabernacle proper. The prototype experience, before the tabernacle was constructed, is remembered in Ex. 24:1–8.
1:9 wash. This allowed the one sacrificing to cleanse the animal of excrement and thus make it clean. a sweet aroma. The pleasant smell of burning meat signified the sacrifice of obedience which was pleasing to the Lord. While the costly ritual recognized God’s anger for sin committed (cf. 1:13, 17), the penitent heart behind the sacrifice made it acceptable. That was far more significant than the sacrifice itself (cf. Gen. 8:21; 1 Sam. 15:23). This is the first of 3 freewill offerings to please the Lord; cf. the grain offering (2:2) and the peace offering (3:5).
1:10–13 of the flocks. This section describes the sacrifice of sheep and goats.
1:11 north side. This placed the one sacrificing in front of the tabernacle door (cf. 1:3).
1:14–17 of birds. This section describes the sacrifice of birds. God does not ask the poor to bring the same burnt offering as those financially well off because the relative cost to the one sacrificing was an important factor. This is the kind of sacrifice brought by Joseph and Mary on the eighth day after Christ’s birth for Mary’s purification (cf. 12:8; Luke 2:22–24).
1:15 The priest…wring off. Unlike the livestock being killed by the one offering the sacrifice, the bird was killed by the priest.
1:16 crop…feathers. This refers to the neck or gullet of a bird, where food was stored. east side…place for ashes. This was the closest side to the entrance of the tabernacle compound and provided for the easiest removal of the ashes outside (cf. 6:10–11).
Leviticus 2
2:1–16 See 6:14–23 for the priests’ instructions. The grain offering signified homage and thanksgiving to God as a voluntary offering which was offered along with a burnt offering and a drink offering at the appointed sacrifices (cf. Num. 28:1–15). Three variations were prescribed: 1) uncooked flour (2:1–3); 2) baked flour (2:4–13); or 3) roasted firstfruit grain from the harvest (2:14–16). This was the only non-animal sacrifice of the 5 and shows that there was a place for offering from the fruit of the soil (as in the case of Cain in Gen. 4).
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