The Readable Bible: Leviticus

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Leviticus

The Readable Bible

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The

Leviticus

Sacrifice and Sanctification

Birmingham, Alabama

Readable Bible

The Readable Bible: Leviticus

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

1 2 3 4 5—26 25 24 23 22

The Book of Leviticus

to the Community About

v Contents Preface ....................................................................................... x To the Reader x Acknowledgments ...................................................................... xi Dedication ............................................................................... xi Introduction to Leviticus xii Before You Read xii The Book of Leviticus ...................................................................... 1 Pentateuch Glossary 60 Weights and Measures in Leviticus 69 The Festivals of the Lord ................................................................. 70 Familiar Verses in Leviticus .............................................................. 71 People in Leviticus ........................................................................ 71 Subject Index ............................................................................. 72 The Jewish Calendar ..................................................................... 76 Translation Notes 77 Format and Presentation Notes 78 Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted ......................................... 79
Illustrations and tables are in italics Part 1. Instructions
Sacrifices Leviticus 1 A. Burnt Offering ............................................................................ 1 1. Bull 1 Illustration: Burnt Offering Altar ..................................................... 1 2. Sheep or Goat ........................................................................ 2 3. Birds .................................................................................. 2 Leviticus 2 B. Grain Offering ........................................................................... 2 1. Baked in an Oven .................................................................... 3 2. Cooked on a Griddle ................................................................. 3 3. Fried in a Pan ........................................................................ 3 4. Firstfruits ............................................................................. 3 Leviticus 3 C. Fellowship Offering ..................................................................... 3 1. Animal from the Herd ............................................................... 3 2. Lamb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3. Goat ................................................................................... 4 4. Eating Fellowship Offerings 5

Sin

Guilt

Part 2. Instructions for Priests Regarding Sacrifices

Burnt

Grain

Ordination

Sin

Guilt Offering

Fellowship

First

Additional

Part 3. Instructions for Priests About Their Service

vi Leviticus 4 D.
Offering 5 1. If the High Priest Sins ................................................................ 5 Illustration: Incense Altar 5 2. If the Whole Community of Israel Sins Unintentionally ......................... 6 3. If a Leader Sins Unintentionally 6 4. When Any Private Citizen Sins Unintentionally .................................. 7 Leviticus 5 5. Examples of Sins 7 6. Exception for the Poor ............................................................... 8 E.
Offering ........................................................................... 9 1. For Sins Regarding Any of the Lord’s Holy Things 9 2. For Doing Anything the Lord Has Forbidden ..................................... 9 Leviticus 6 3. For Acting Unfaithfully 9
A.
Offering ......................................................................... 10 B.
Offering ......................................................................... 10 C.
Offering ................................................................... 10 D.
Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Leviticus 7 E.
.......................................................................... 11 F.
Offering .................................................................... 12 1. To Give Thanks 12 2. As a Vow or a Freewill Offering ................................................... 12 G. Miscellaneous ......................................................................... 12 1. Warnings About Uncleanness 12 2. Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden ................................................... 13 3. Ownership of Offerings ........................................................... 13
Leviticus 8 A. Ordination Ceremony 14 Leviticus 9 B.
Offerings by the Priests .......................................................... 16 Leviticus 10 C.
Requirements for the Priests 17 1. Importance of Observing the Law Exactly ........................................ 17 2. Drinking Wine Before Serving the Lord Forbidden 18

Part 4. Laws of

Food Laws:

Laws for

Laws About

Ceremonial Cleansing

a Person

a

Uncleanness

Skin Disorder

Ceremonial

Laws Regarding Bodily

Part 5. Laws for the Day of Atonement

The Tabernacle

Put On the Sacred

Enter the Holy

Lots

Most

vii 3. Rules for Eating the Priests’ Portion 18 4. Sin Offering Law Clarification .....................................................18
Ceremonial Cleanness and
Leviticus 11 A.
Clean and Unclean Animals ............................................. 19 1. Clean Animals ...................................................................... 19 2. Unclean Animals ................................................................... 19 Leviticus 12 B.
a Woman Who Gives Birth ................................................. 21 Leviticus 13 C.
Skin Disorders and Mildew 22 1. Defiling Skin Disorders ............................................................ 22 2. Mildew 26 Leviticus 14 D.
of
After
Defiling
................ 27 1. Examination ........................................................................ 27 2. Initial Offering ..................................................................... 27 3. Washing ............................................................................ 28 4. Guilt Offering 28 5. Sin Offering ........................................................................ 28 6. Burnt Offering ..................................................................... 29 7. Exception for Poor Persons ........................................................ 29 E.
Cleansing of a Contaminated House 29 Leviticus 15 F.
Discharges.................................................... 31 1. Men’s Discharges ................................................................... 31 2. Women’s Discharges .............................................................. 32
Leviticus 16 Illustration:
........................................................... 33 A.
Garments ......................................................... 34 B.
Place ................................................................... 34 C. Cast
for the Scapegoat ........................................................... 34 D. Purify the
Holy Place ........................................................... 34 1. Make a Sin Offering with a Bull .................................................. 34 2. Make a Sin Offering with a Goat ................................................. 35 E. Purify the Altar ........................................................................ 35 F. Purify the Meeting Tent ................................................................ 35

Part 6. Miscellaneous Laws

Leviticus

Part 7. Consequences and Punishments for Sin

Part 8. Instructions for the Priests

Leviticus

viii G. Offer the Scapegoat 35 H. Take Off the Sacred Garments 35 I. Make Burnt Offerings 35 J. Clean Up ................................................................................ 35
17 A. Offerings to Idols Forbidden .......................................................... 36 B. Eating Blood Forbidden ............................................................... 36 Leviticus 18 C. Certain Sexual Relations Forbidden 37 Leviticus 19 D. Miscellaneous Dos and Don’ts........................................................ 38 1. Regarding Others .................................................................. 38 2. Regarding God 39 3. Regarding Commerce.............................................................. 40 4. Miscellaneous ...................................................................... 40
Leviticus 20 A. Sacrifices to Molech ................................................................... 41 B. Mediums and Spiritists ................................................................ 41 C. Disrespect of Parents .................................................................. 41 D. Sexual Immorality 41
21 A. Forbidden Acts for Priests ............................................................ 43 B. Impediments to the Priesthood ...................................................... 44 1. Bodily Defects ...................................................................... 44 Leviticus 22 2. Disrespect for God’s Offerings 44 3. Ceremonial Uncleanness .......................................................... 44 C. Restrictions Regarding Eating the Priests’ Share ................................... 45 D. Requirements for Animals to Be Sacrificed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Part

The Lord’s

Part 10. Service in the Holy Place

Part 11. A Case of Blasphemy:

of the Laws of Holiness for a Foreigner

Leviticus

Part 12. Sabbatical and Jubilee Years

Leviticus

Part 13. Rewards and Punishments

Leviticus

A.

Part 14. Laws About Redeeming What Is Dedicated

ix
9.
Festivals Leviticus 23 A. Sabbath Rest ........................................................................... 46 B. Passover 46 C. Unleavened Bread 46 D. Firstfruits 46 E. Weeks .................................................................................. 47 F. Trumpets ............................................................................... 47 G. Day of Atonement ..................................................................... 48 H. Shelters ................................................................................. 48
24 A. Lamp Service .......................................................................... 49 B. Bread of the Presence Service ......................................................... 49
Validity
A. The Case ............................................................................... 50 B. The Law ................................................................................ 50
25 A. The Sabbath Year ..................................................................... 51 B. The Jubilee Year ....................................................................... 51 1. Concept of Jubilee.................................................................. 51 2. Redemption of Land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 3. Purchase, Treatment, and Redemption of Slaves 52
26
Rewards for Obedience 54 B. Punishment for Disobedience 55
Leviticus 27 A. Valuation ............................................................................... 58 Table: Redemption Value of Persons ................................................. . 58 B. Restrictions 59

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

x

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

L

Spring

xi
2022

Introduction to Leviticusa

Leviticus is a record of the words God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai—the most detailed portion of the law regarding personal and corporate holiness under which Israel was to live. In Leviticus we see how God ordered Israel to live and worship. We learn that

• sacrifice is required to atone for sin,

• we are to be holy because he is holy, and

• believers are to worship as a community.

The laws of Leviticus deal with our relationships to God and one another. God makes it clear that (a) he wants to have a relationship with us, and (b) we must live a holy, obedient life (i.e., be set apart to him, be used to accomplish his purposes) if we want to enjoy a close, personal relationship with him.

Before the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, living a holy life required conformity to the Old Testament laws of personal and corporate holiness. These laws prescribed the offering of sacrifices, the celebration of festivals, and expectations for personal conduct. While Christians are not obligated by the Old Testament law, we are nevertheless called to holiness. The core of those expectations for personal conduct that God set in Leviticus transcends time and place and is relevant to all people everywhere because it is repeated in the New Testament. To encounter those expectations in Leviticus is to encounter a timeless God who knows what will promote or hinder human flourishing and who urges us to choose what is best for us. It also helps us understand what Scripture means when it states that Jesus, a Jew who was obligated to live by the laws in Leviticus, “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he was without sin.”

So dive into Leviticus and praise God that so much of what it teaches is summed up in Jesus Christ, who has atoned for our sins and shown us the way to peace with God our Father. Praise him that God’s righteousness is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ, who kept the Law perfectly on our behalf.

Before You Read

In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is to” are equal terms, all the same strength. Read lists from top to bottom in the first column then read the next column.

Law code portions are formatted like modern law codes—in outline form, with headings and subheadings and bold text. When there is a list of actions by a person, the person acting is not repeated at the front of each action as it is in the Hebrew text because the person is presented at the beginning of the list. The following are editorial additions, not part of the biblical text: words in italics, outline and list letters and numbers, and headings that are not part of sentences.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Please browse the glossary before you begin reading. You will find helpful information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important explanations of the words “L” and “Yahweh.”

a “Leviticus”: a Greek word meaning “about the Levites.” The Hebrew Bible title, Vayikra, means “and he called.”

xii

26:46 These are the rules, regulations, and instructions that the L established betweenb himself and the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.

Part 1. Instructions to the Community About Sacrifices

7:37 This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the fellowship offering, 38 which the L gavec to Moses on Mount Sinai on the day that he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the L

in the Sinai wilderness.

1 The L called from the meeting tent and told Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites that when any one of you brings an offering to the L, you are to bring as your sacrifice an animal from the herd or the flock. 3 If it is a A. burnt offering, the offerer is to offer a 1. bulld without defect at the entrance to the meeting tent so that it will be acceptable to the L

4 The offerer is to lay their hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted to make atonement for them, and 5 slay the young bull before the L

Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer up the blood by sprinkling it against all the sides of the burnt offering altar at the entrance to the meeting tent.

6 The offerer shall skin it and cut it into pieces.

7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange the wood.

8 Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and suet,e on the altar’s burning wood.

9 The offerer shall wash the entrails and legs with water.

The priest shall burn it all on the altar.

Burnt Offering Altar

It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L.

a Because Leviticus is presented in outline format and more than 90 percent is words spoken by God, quote marks appear only at the beginning and the end of God’s words in each section rather than at the beginning of every paragraph within a section.

b Literally, “gave between between” [sic].

c Literally, “commanded.”

d Literally, “a male from the herd.”

e “Suet”: the hard, fatty tissue on the loins and kidneys of cattle, sheep, and other animals.

1 Leviticusa

Leviticus 1


10

Or, if the offering is from the flock, a 2. sheep or goat burnt offering, the offerer shall offer a male without defect 11 and slay it on the north side of the burnt offering altar before the L.

Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood against all the sides of the altar.

12 The offerer shall cut it into pieces.

The priest shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the suet, on the altar’s burning wood.

13 The offerer shall wash the entrails and legs with water.

The priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar.

It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L

14 Or, if the offering to the L is a burnt offering of 3. birds, the offerer is to bring a dove or a young pigeon.

15 The priest shall bring it to the burnt offering altar and wring off the head and burn it on the altar; drain out its blood on the side of the altar;

16 remove the cropa with its contentsb and throw it to the east side of the altar in the place for the ashes;

17 tear it open by the wings, but not sever it into two parts; and burn it on the altar on the burning wood.

It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L.

2 Leviticus

1 “When anyone presents a B. grain offering as an offering to the L, the offering must be of fine flour. The offerer is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, 2 and take it to Aaron’s sons, the priests.

A priest shall burn a handful of the fine flour and olive oil and all the frankincense as a memorial portion on the burnt offering altar. It is an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L.

3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons for food. It is an especially holy part of the offerings made by fire to the L.

a “Crop”: an enlargement like a pouch in a bird’s gullet, used for the initial softening of food. Sometimes “crop” may refer to the whole digestive tract.

b Or “with its feathers.”

2

4 If you bring a grain offering

1. baked in an oven as an offering, it must be of fine, unleavened flour presented either as cakes mixed with olive oil or unleavened wafers spread with olive oil. 5 If it is a grain offering

2. cooked on a griddle, it must be made of fine, unleavened flour mixed with olive oil. 6 You are to break it into pieces and pour olive oil on it. It is a grain offering. 7 If it is a grain offering

3. fried in a pan, it must be made of fine flour with olive oil. In each case

8 bring the grain offering made of these things to the L.

Present it to the priest, and he shall take it to the altar 9 and take the memorial portion out of the grain offering and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L. 10 The rest of the grain offering is for Aaron and his sons, an especially holy part of the offerings made by fire to the L

11 No grain offering that you make to the LORD is to be made with leaven, for you are not to offer up in smoke any yeast or honey as an offering made by fire to the L. 12 You may bring them to the L as a firstfruits offering, but they must not be offered on the altar as a soothing aroma. 13 You are to season all your grain offerings with salt so that the salt of the covenant of your God will not be left out of your grain offerings. With all your offerings you are to offer salt.

14 If you offer to the L a grain offering of

4. firstfruits, you shall offer as your grain offering of firstfruits crushed,a fresh heads of roasted new grain and 15 put olive oil and frankincense on it. It is a grain offering.

16 The priest shall offer up in smoke a memorial portion of the grain, along with the olive oil and all the incense. It is a burnt offering to the L.

1 “If the offering is a C. fellowship offering, offer an

1. animal from the herd, male or female. You shall offer one without defect before the L.

2 Lay your hand on the head of the offering, and slay it at the entrance to the meeting tent. Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the sides of the altar, 3 and

a Or “coarsely ground.”

3
Leviticus 3

from the fellowship offering, as a food offering, offer by fire to the L the fat that covers its entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 both kidneys with their fat near the loins and the long lobe of the liver (that is to be removed with the kidneysa).

5 Aaron’s sons shall offer it up on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood. It is an offering made by fire, a soothing aroma to the L.

6–7

If your offering to the L for a fellowship offering is a 2. lamb from the flock, male or female, the offerer is to offer one without defect before the L,

8 lay a hand on its head, and slay it in front of the meeting tent.

Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood against the sides of the altar 9 and offer by fire as a food offering these parts of the fellowship offering to the L: its fat (the entire fat tail removed close to the backbone and the fat over and on the entrails),

10 both kidneys with their fat near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver (that is to be removed with the kidneysb).

11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the L.

12 If your offering is a 3. goat, offer it before the L this way:

13 Lay a hand on its head and slay it in front of the meeting tent.

Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.

14 The offerer shall offer by fire this portion as a food offering to the L: the fat over and on the entrails, 15 both kidneys with the fat near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver (that is to be removed with the kidneysc).

16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire, a soothing aroma. All the fat is the L’s.

a The Hebrew in verses 3–4 does not clearly express whether the priest or the offerer is to perform the actions. English Bible translations differ in their interpretations. Verses 9–10 and 14–15 are similarly not clear.

b See verse 4 footnote.

c See verse 4 footnote.

4

4. Eating Fellowship Offerings

19:5 When you offer a fellowship offering to the L, offer it properly so you will be accepted by God. 6 It is to be eaten by the priests on the day you offer it or the day after. Whatever is left until the third day is to be burned. 7 If any is eaten on the third day, it is an offense; it will not be accepted. 8 Anyone who eats it on the third day will bear his sin for desecrating what is holy to the L and is to be cut off from the community.

3:17 This is to be an everlasting statute for all generations, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

D. Sin Offering

1 And the L told Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites that if a person sins unintentionally by doing any of the things that the L has commanded not to be done, if he does even one of them, this is what to do:

1. 3 If the high priest sins, so as to bring guilt upon the people, as a sin offering for the sin he has committed, he is to offer a bull without defect to the L;

4 bring the bull before the L at the entrance of the meeting tent; lay his hand on its head; and slay it before the L 5 Then the high priest is toa take some of its blood into the meeting tent.

6 The priest is to dip his finger into it; sprinkle some of it seven times before the L in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 7 The priest is to put some on the horns of the altar of fragrant incenseb that is in the meeting tent before the L; pour out all the remainder of the blood of the bull at the base of the burnt offering altar that is at the entrance of the meeting tent;

8 remove all the fat of the bull of the sin offering (the fat over and on the entrails), 9 both kidneys with the fat near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver (that is to be removed with the kidneys, 10 just as it is removed from cattle sacrificed as fellowship offerings). The priest is to burn them on the burnt offering altar; 11–12 and bring out and burn up all the rest of the bull (its skin, flesh, head, legs, entrails, and dung) outside the camp on a wood fire at a ceremonially clean place where the ashes are dumped. It must be burned where the ashes are dumped.

a “The priest is to” repeats at the start of verses 6, 7, and 9.

b “Altar of fragrant incense”: an altar in front of the veil in the Holy Place in the tabernacle. It had imitation animal horns on the corners. See Exodus 30:1–6.

5
Leviticus 4
Incense Altar

2. 13

If the whole community of Israel sins unintentionally (that is, does something that is not noticed by a the assembly, does anything forbidden by the L’s commands), they are guilty. 14 When they become aware of the sin they have committed, the congregation of Israel is to offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the meeting tent.

15 The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the L and slay it before the L

16 The high priest shall bring some of its blood into the meeting tent. 17 The priest is to dip his finger into it, sprinkle it seven times before the L in front of the veil, 18 put some of it on the horns of the incense altar that is in the meeting tent before the L, and pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the burnt offering altar that is at the entrance of the meeting tent, 19 and remove all its fat and burn it on the altar.

20 He is to do this with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. Thus the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn up the remainder as he burned up the bull of the sin offering. It is the sin offering for the congregation.

3. 22 If a leader sins unintentionally by doing anything forbiddenb by the commands of the L his God, when he realizes his guilt, 23 when he becomes aware of his sin,c he is to bring a male goat without defect as an offering, 24 lay his hand on its head, and slay it in the place where they slay the burnt offering before the L. d

It is a sin offering.

25 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the burnt offering altar with his finger, pour out the rest of the blood at its base, 26 and burn all the fat on the altar like the fat of the fellowship offerings. Thus the priest shall make atonement for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.

a Literally, “is hidden from.”

b Literally, “by doing anything that ought not to be done.”

c Or “when the sin he has committed is made known to him.”

d See Leviticus 1:3–5.

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4. 27 When any private citizena sins unintentionally (by doing anything the L has forbidden), when they realize their guilt, 28 when the sin they have committed is made known to them, they are to bring a female goat without defect as an offering for the sin they have committed. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slay it in the place of the burnt offering.

30 The priest shall take some of its blood and put it on the horns of the burnt offering altar with his finger, pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar,

31 remove all the fat as he removed the fat of the fellowship offerings, and burn it on the burnt offering altar as a soothing aroma before the L.

Thus the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

32 Or they are to bring a female lamb without defect as an offering for a sin offering, 33 lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slay it in the place where they killed the burnt offering.

34 The priest shall take some of its blood and put it on the horns of the burnt offering altar with his finger, and pour all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. The priest is to 35 remove all the fat as he removed the fat of the lamb of the fellowship offerings, and the priest is to burn it on the altar on top of the offerings made by fire to the L. b

Thus the priest shall make atonement for them for the sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

5. Examples of Sins

1 “If anyone

sins by not speaking up when they have heard a public request to testify when they are a witness regarding something they have seen or know about, they will be held responsible.c 2 If anyone touches anything unclean (e.g., the carcass of an unclean wild animal, the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of an unclean swarming thing), even if they are unaware of it,d they are unclean and are guilty;

a Literally, “any person of the land,” referring to a person who is not a leader or priest.

b See Leviticus 3:1–5.

c Literally, “They will bear their sin.”

d Literally, “and it is hidden from them.” And next verse.

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Leviticus 5

If anyone touches human uncleanness of whatever sort,a even if they were unaware of it when they did it, when they learn of it they are guilty; or 4 takes an oathb thoughtlessly to do evil or to do good—any matter about which one may speak thoughtlessly with an oath—without being aware of their error, but realizes it later, they are guilty in one of these ways.

5 Anyone who becomes aware he is guilty in any of these ways must confess in what way they have sinned 6 and, as a penalty c for the sin they have committed, bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering.

Thus the priest will make atonement on behalf of their sin.

6. Exception for the Poor d

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If they cannot afforde a lamb as their guilt offering for the sin they have committed, they may bring two doves or two young pigeons to the L, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest. He shall offer the first one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck but not sever it. 9 He is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar and drain out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

10 The priest shall offer the second as a burnt offering according to the law above. Thus shall the priest make atonement for them for the sin they have committed.

And they will be forgiven.

11 Or if they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to instead, for the sin they committed, bring two quarts f of fine flour as a sin offering. They are not to put olive oil or incense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 They shall bring it to the priest. The priest shall take a handful as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar as an offering to the L made by fire. It is a sin offering.

13 Thus, the priest shall make atonement for them for any one of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The remainder will become the priest’s (as with the grain offering).”

a Literally, “of whatever sort of uncleanness by which one becomes unclean.”

b Literally, “swears with their lips.”

c Or “as compensation.”

d This section’s content may apply to everything in section D, “Sin Offering,” or it may be a continuation of section 5, “Examples of Sins.”

e Literally, “If their hand cannot bring.”

f Literally, “a tenth of an ephah.”

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E. Guilt Offering

14 The L

said to Moses,

1. 15 “If anyone acts unfaithfully or sins unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD’s holy things, as their compensation to the L, they are to bring a ram from the flock without defect and of equivalent valuea (measured in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel) for a guilt offering 16 to make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy item, add a fifth of the ram’s value to it, and give it all to the priest.

The priest shall make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

2. 17 If anyone sins by doing anything the LORD has forbidden and is unaware of it, they are guilty and will bear their sin. 18 They are to bring a ram without defect and of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering to the priest.

The priest shall make atonement for them for the wrong they committed unknowingly, and they will be forgiven.

19 It is a guilt offering, for indeed, they were certainly guilty before the L

1 The L told Moses,

3. 2 “If anyone sins and acts unfaithfully against the L by deceiving their neighbor about something deposited with or entrusted to them, through robbery (e.g., if they cheat their neighbor 3 or find lost property and lie about it, swearing falsely), or committing any such sin that people do, 4 when they sin this way and realize their guilt,b they must make full restitution: restore what they stole or extorted or the deposit entrusted to them or the lost item they found;

5 make restitution in full of anything about which they swore falsely; add a fifth of its value and give it to the victim it belongs to on the day of their guilt offering; 6 and as his trespass offering bring a ram from the flock, one without defect and of equivalent value,c to the priest as their guilt offering to the L

7 The priest shall make atonement for them before the L.

Then they will be forgiven for any of these things that they did that made them guilty.”

a Literally, “and according to the valuation.”

b Literally, “and is guilty.”

c Literally, “and according to the valuation.”

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
.” Leviticus 6

Part 2. Instructions for Priests Regarding Sacrifices

8 The L said to Moses, 9 “Give Aaron and his sons these instructions.a This is the law for the A. burnt offering.

It is to remain on the burnt offering altar grate all night until morning. The altar fire must be kept burning on it.

10 The priest shall put on his linen robe with the linen underwear next to his body and remove the ashes left after the fire consumed the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar. 11 Then he shall take off his sacred garments and put on his clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.

12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to burn wood on it. He is to arrange the burnt offering on it and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

14 This is the instruction for the B. grain offering.

Aaron’s sons are to offer it before the L in front of the burnt offering altar. 15 One shall take a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and olive oil and all the frankincense on the grain offering as a memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, a soothing aroma to the L

16 Aaron and his sons are to eat the rest of it in a holy place (i.e., eat it in the courtyard of the meeting tent) and eat it unleavened— 17 it must not be baked with yeast.

I have given it as their share of my burnt offerings. It is especially holy, like the sin offering and guilt offering. 18 Any sonb of Aaron may eat from the L’s burnt offerings. This is to be a permanent law throughout your generations. Whatever touchesc the offerings will become holy.”

C. Ordination Offering

19 The L told Moses, 20 “This is the offering Aaron and his sons must bring to the L on the day he is anointed: a regular grain offering of two quartsd of fine flour, half in the morning and half in the evening, 21 cooked with olive oil on a griddle, mixed well.

a Literally, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying.”

b Literally, “any male among the children.”

c Or “anyone who touches.”

d Literally, “a tenth of an ephah.”

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