10. One year atonement Heb. 7:25; 9:12, 15; 10:1–4, 12 10. Eternal propitiation
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:10 peace offerings. See note on 3:1–17.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:11 entrails, and its dung. This identifies the major internal organs of an animal, including the intestines' waste content.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:12 carry outside the camp. This was a symbolic gesture of removing the sin from the people (cf. Heb. 13:11–13 in reference to Christ).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:13–21 Sacrifices for the sin of the congregation were to follow essentially the same procedure as that for the sin of priests (4:3–12).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:16 the anointed priest. See note on 4:3.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:22–26 These are sacrifices for the sin of a ruler. The blood of the sacrifice was not sprinkled in the Holy Place, as for the priest or congregation (4:6, 17), but only on the altar of burnt offering.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 4:27–35 These are sacrifices for the sin of an individual. Either a goat (vv. 27–31) or a lamb (vv. 32–35) could be sacrificed in much the same manner as the offering for a ruler (vv. 22–26).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:1–13 Dealing with unintentional sins continues with an emphasis on sins of omission (vv. 1–4). Lambs/goats (v. 6), birds (vv. 7–10), or flour (vv. 11–13) were acceptable sacrifices.
Old Testament Sacrifices Compared to Christ's Sacrifice
Old Testament Sacrifices Compared to Christ's Sacrifice Leviticus Hebrews 1. Old Covenant (temporary) Heb. 7:22; 8:6, 13; 10:20 1. New Covenant (permanent) 2. Obsolete promises Heb. 8:6–13 2. Better promises 3. A shadow Heb. 8:5; 9:23–24; 10:1 3. The reality 4. Aaronic priesthood (many) Heb. 6:19–7:25 4. Melchizedekian priesthood (one) 5. Sinful priesthood Heb. 7:26, 27; 9:7 5. Sinless priest 6. Limited-by-death priesthood Heb. 7:16, 17, 23, 24 6. Forever priesthood 7. Daily sacrifices Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 25, 26; 10:9, 10, 12 7. Once-for-all sacrifice 8. Animal sacrifices Heb. 9:11–15, 26; 10:4–10, 19 8. Sacrifice of God's Son 9. Ongoing sacrifices Heb. 10:11–14, 18 9. Sacrifices no longer needed
10. One year atonement Heb. 7:25; 9:12, 15; 10:1–4, 12 10. Eternal propitiation
© 1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:1–5 This call to confession named a few examples of violations for which penitence was the right response: 1) withholding evidence (v. 1); 2) touching something unclean (vv. 2–3); and 3) rash oath making (v. 4).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:1 public adjuration . . . witness. A witness was sinning when he did not come forward to testify that he had actually seen or had firsthand knowledge of a violation, such as hearing the violator confess to the sin.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:4 swear. "Speaking thoughtlessly" suggests a reckless oath for good or bad, i.e., an oath the speaker should not or could not keep.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:5 confesses. Confession must accompany the sacrifice as the outward expression of a repentant heart that openly acknowledged agreement with God concerning sin. Sacrifice minus true faith, repentance, and obedience was hypocrisy (cf. Ps. 26:4; Isa. 9:17; Amos 5:21–26).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:7 burnt offering. See notes on 1:3–17.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:11 ephah. About 6 gallons. put no oil . . . frankincense. Contrast the grain offering (2:2).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:13 grain offering. See notes on 2:1–16.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:14–6:7 See 7:1–10 for the priests' instructions. The trespass or guilt offering symbolized an atonement for sin unknowingly committed where restitution was possible. Like the sin offering (4:1–5:13), this one was compulsory. For sins against the Lord's property, restitution was made to the priest (5:14–19), while restitution was made to the person who suffered loss in other instances (6:1–7).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:15 shekel of the sanctuary. This amounted to 20 gerahs (Ex. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Num. 3:47) or two bekas (Ex. 38:26), which is the equivalent of four-tenths of one ounce. God fixed the value of a shekel.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 5:16 a fifth. The offender was required to make a 120percent restitution, which was considerably lower than that prescribed elsewhere in the Mosaic law, e.g., Ex. 22:7, 9. Perhaps this is accounted for by a voluntary
confession in contrast to an adjudicated and forced conviction.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:1–7 While all sins are against God (cf. Ps. 51:4), some are direct (Lev. 5:14–19) and others are indirect, involving people (6:1–7), as here. These violations are not exhaustive, but representative samples used to establish and illustrate the principle.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:6 equivalent. The priest served as an appraiser to give appropriate value to the goods in question.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:8–7:38 These were laws of sacrifice for the priesthood. Leviticus 1:1–6:7 has dealt with five major offerings from the worshiper's perspective. Here instructions for the priests are given, with special attention to the priests' portion of the sacrifice.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:8–13 The burnt offering. See notes on 1:3–17.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:9 on the hearth on the altar all night. This resulted in the complete incineration of the sacrifice, picturing it as totally given to the Lord, with the smoke arising as a sweet aroma to him (1:9, 13, 17).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:10–11 ashes. This described both the immediate (v. 10) and final (v. 11) disposition of the ash remains, i.e., that which is worthless.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:12 fat . . . peace offerings. See note on 3:4.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:13 burning . . . continually. The perpetual flame indicated a continuous readiness on the part of God to receive confession and restitution through the sacrifice.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:14–23 The grain offering. See notes on 2:1–16.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:15 handful. See note on 2:2.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:16–18 Unlike the burnt offering, the grain offering provided food for the priests and their male children, i.e., future priests.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:16 in a holy place. This was to be eaten only in the courtyard of the tabernacle.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:19–23 Aaron, as high priest, was to make a daily grain offering at morning and night on behalf of his priestly family.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:20 he is anointed. See 8:7–12. ephah. See note on 5:11.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:22–23 The priest . . . anointed to succeed him. The high priests who succeed Aaron are in view here. whole . . . burned. The priests' offering was to be given completely, with nothing left over.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:24–30 The sin offering. See notes on 4:1–5:13.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:25 burnt offering. See notes on 1:3–17. most holy. See note on 2:3.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:26 priest . . . eat. The priest putting the offering on the brazen altar could use it for food, if the sacrifice was for a ruler (4:22–26) or the people (4:27–35).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:27–28 Instructions on the cleanness of the priest's garments as they relate to blood.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 6:30 no sin offering . . . eaten. Those sacrifices made on behalf of a priest (4:3–12) or the congregation (4:13–21) could be eaten.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:1–10 The trespass or guilt offering. See notes on 5:14– 6:7. Verses 7–10 provide a brief excursus on what may be eaten by the priests.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:1 most holy. See note on 2:3.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:7 See note on 6:26.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:10 mixed with oil or dry. Both were acceptable options.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:11–36 The peace offering. See notes on 3:1–17. The purposes for the peace offering are given in 7:11–18. Special instructions that prevented a priest from being "cut off " (vv. 19–27) and the allotment to Aaron and his sons (vv. 28–36) are enumerated.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:11–15 A peace offering for thanksgiving shall also be combined with a grain offering (see 2:1–16). The meat had to be eaten that same
day, probably for the reason of health since it would rapidly spoil and for the purpose of preventing people from thinking that such meat had some spiritual presence in it, thus developing some superstitions.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:13 leavened bread. Contrast the unleavened grain offering (see 2:11).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:16–18 vow . . . freewill offering. The priest could eat the meat the same day or next day, but eating on the third day brought punishment.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:19–21 cut off. Uncleanness was punishable by death. See ch. 22 for more details.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:22–27 See note on 3:17.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:27 cut off. See note on 7:19–21.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:29 offering . . . sacrifice. The worshiper made a peace offering from his sacrifice so that the Lord received the blood (v. 33) and the fat (v. 33). The priests received the breast (vv. 30–31) and right thigh (v. 33). The worshiper could use the rest for himself.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:30–32 wave offering. This was a symbolic act indicating the offering was for the Lord. Bread (Ex. 29:23–24), meat (Ex. 29:22–24), gold (Ex. 38:24), oil (Lev. 14:12), and grain (Lev. 23:11) all served as wave offerings. Another type of offering was the heave offering. Jewish tradition portrayed the wave offering as being presented with a horizontal motion and the heave offering with a vertical motion, as suggested by Lev. 10:15.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:36 he anointed them. See 8:30.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:37–38 Moses gives a summary conclusion of 1:3–7:36.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 7:37 ordination offering. This refers to the offerings at the ordination of Aaron and his sons (see 8:14–36; Ex. 29:1–46).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:1–10:20 Beginnings of the Aaronic priesthood are discussed in this section. Before the time of Aaron, the patriarchs (Gen. 4:3–4) and the fathers (Job 1:5) had offered sacrifices to God, but with Aaron came the fully prescribed priestly service.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:1–36 Aaron and his sons were consecrated before they ministered to the Lord. The consecration of Aaron and his sons had been ordered long before (see notes on Ex. 29:1–28), but is here described with all the ceremonial details as it was done after the tabernacle was completed and the regulations for the various sacrifices enacted.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:2 the garments. See notes on Ex. 28:1–43. the anointing oil. Oil was used for ceremonial anointing (Lev. 8:12, 30). sin offering. See notes on 4:1–5:13, esp. 4:3–12.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:6–9 See notes on Ex. 28:1–43.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:8 the Urim and the Thummim. A feature on the breastpiece of the high priest by which God's people were given his decision on matters that required a decision. See note on Ex. 28:30.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:11 seven times. See note on 4:6.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:12 to consecrate him. This act was to ceremonially set Aaron apart from the congregation to be a priest unto God, and from the other priests to be high priest.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:14–17 See notes on 4:3–12.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:17 dung. See note on 4:11.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:18–21 See notes on 1:3–17.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:23–24 right ear . . . right hand . . . right foot. Using a part to represent the whole, Aaron and his sons were consecrated to listen to God's holy word, to carry out his holy assignments, and to live holy lives.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:29 wave offering. See note on 7:30–32.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 8:35 performing what the Lordhas charged. The commandment of God ordered Aaron and his sons to do exactly as the Lord had spoken through Moses. Disobedience would meet with death.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:1–24 Since the priests had been consecrated and appropriate sacrifices offered on their behalf, they were prepared to fulfill their
priestly duties on behalf of the congregation as they carried out all of the prescribed sacrifices in Lev. 1–7 and rendered them to the Lord.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:2–4 sin . . . burnt . . . peace . . . grain offering. See notes on 4:1–5:13; 1:3–17; 3:1–17; and 2:1–16 respectively.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:4, 6the glory of the Lord. The Lord's manifestation or presence was going to appear to them to show acceptance of the sacrifices. See notes on vv. 23–24, where that appearance is recorded.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:8–21 Aaron presented sacrifices on his own behalf (vv. 8–14) and on behalf of the people (vv. 15–21).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:17 burnt offering . . . morning. See Ex. 29:41 and Num. 28:4.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:21 wave offering. See note on 7:30–32.
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:22 lifted up his hands toward the people. The high priest gave a symbolic gesture for blessing, perhaps pronouncing the priestly blessing (Num. 6:24–26; cf. 2 Cor. 13:14).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:23 the glory of the Lord appeared. The Bible speaks often of the glory of God—the visible appearance of his beauty and perfection reduced to blazing light. His glory appeared to Moses in a burning bush in Midian (Ex. 3:1–6), in a cloud on Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:15–17), and in a rock on Mount Sinai (Ex. 33:18–23). The glory of God also filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34), led the people as a pillar of fire and cloud (Ex. 40:35–38), and also filled the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:10–11). When Aaron made the first sacrifice in the wilderness, as a priest, the "glory of the Lord appeared to all the people." In these manifestations, God was revealing his righteousness, holiness, truth, wisdom, and grace—the sum of all he is. However, nowhere has God's glory been more perfectly expressed than in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14). It will be seen on earth again when he returns (Matt. 24:29–31; 25:31).
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON 9:24 fire came out . . . consumed. This fire miraculously signified that God had accepted their offering (cf. 1 Kings 18:38–39), and the people shouted for joy because of that acceptance and worshiped God.