SUMMARY
The Lord gives instructions to Moses about how to conduct various kinds of sacrifices.
ANALYSIS
In these first chapters of Leviticus, the Lord gives detailed instructions to MosesProphet who led Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land and received the law at Sinai. More about how to conduct various kinds of sacrifices: the burnt offering, grain offerings, offerings of well-being, sin offerings, guilt offerings, etc. This is the longest and most detailed description of sacrifices in the Bible and offers insight into the sacrificial and cultic system of ancient Israel. It is interesting to note that provision is made in these laws for poor people to participate in the sacrificial system, even those who are not able to offer the required sacrificial animal. In the laws about the sin offering, for example, those who cannot afford a sheep or goat (the specified sacrificial animal) can bring doves or pigeons (cf. 12:8; LukeThe "beloved physician" and companion of Paul. More 2:24). Those who cannot afford even doves or pigeons can bring a measure of flour instead (5:7-13). This concern for the poor continues throughout the book of Leviticus (see 19:9-10; 23:22).
It is also interesting to note that the sacrificial system was a primary source of support for the priests, who ate part of the offerings, depending on the type of sacrificeSacrifice is commonly understood as the practice of offering or giving up something as a sign of worship, commitment, or obedience. In the Old Testament grain, wine, or animals are used as sacrifice. In some New Testament writings Jesus' death on the cross as the... More (2:3, 10; 5:13). Some offerings, like the sacrifice of well-being, resemble Thanksgiving meals, with the priests and the ones bringing the sacrifice alike partaking of the feast (7:11-17).
