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 Moses 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, 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. 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 and chapter 25).
