Leviticus 7

Leviticus 7 provides detailed instructions on the regulations for various offerings, focusing primarily on the guilt offering, peace offering, and the handling of the meat by the priests. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining holiness in all aspects of worship and offering sacrifices. This chapter continues to highlight the seriousness of sin and the steps necessary for atonement and fellowship with God.

Leviticus 7:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering (it is most holy):
2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the trespass offering. And its blood he shall sprinkle all around on the altar.

The trespass offering, also known as the guilt offering, was considered "most holy." This designation means it was set apart specifically for God and had to be handled with great reverence. The offering was slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering, indicating its connection to the idea of atonement and reconciliation. Sprinkling the blood around the altar symbolized the purifying effect of the sacrifice, restoring the relationship between the individual and God after a trespass or sin.

Leviticus 7:3-5 (NKJV)
3 And he shall offer from it all its fat. The fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails,
4 the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove;
5 and the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a trespass offering.

The fat portions of the animal, which were considered the best parts, were to be burned on the altar as a sign of giving the finest to God. The detailed description of the fat, kidneys, and liver being burned emphasizes the thoroughness of the offering. By burning these parts, the priest fulfilled his role in mediating between the sinner and God, offering up the sacrifice as a symbol of atonement and restitution for the trespass committed.

Leviticus 7:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Every male among the priests may eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.
7 The trespass offering is like the sin offering; there is one law for them both: the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.

The priests, being consecrated, were permitted to eat part of the trespass offering in a designated holy place, emphasizing the sanctity of the offering. This practice ensured that the offering remained part of the priestly duty to maintain the holy worship of God. The similarity between the sin offering and the trespass offering is reinforced, with both serving to make atonement for specific sins. The priest who performed the ritual was entitled to the meat, symbolizing his participation in the atonement process.

Leviticus 7:8 (NKJV)
8 And the priest who offers anyone’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered.

The skin of the burnt offering was given as a portion to the priest who conducted the sacrifice. This served as a provision for the priests, who depended on offerings for sustenance, while also acknowledging their role in the atonement process. It also ensured that nothing from the offering was wasted, as even the skin was put to use.

Leviticus 7:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Also every grain offering that is baked in the oven and all that is prepared in the covered pan, or in a pan, shall be the priest’s who offers it.
10 Every grain offering, whether mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to one as much as the other.

The distribution of the grain offerings highlights that the priests were to benefit from the offerings they facilitated. Those grain offerings prepared in different ways (baked or cooked) went to the specific priest who managed the offering, while other types of grain offerings were divided among all the priests. This system ensured fairness and provision for all the sons of Aaron, reflecting the communal responsibility in priestly duties.

Leviticus 7:11-13 (NKJV)
11 This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord:
12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil.
13 Besides the cakes, as his offering he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering.

The peace offering, which could be given in thanksgiving, involved a variety of baked goods in addition to the sacrifice. The unleavened cakes and wafers represent purity, while the leavened bread acknowledges the everyday sustenance of the people. This offering was an act of gratitude to the Lord, expressing thankfulness for His provision and peace.

Leviticus 7:14-15 (NKJV)
14 And from it he shall offer one cake from each offering as a heave offering to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering.
15 The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning.

One of the cakes from the thanksgiving offering was set apart as a heave offering, given to the priest as part of his provision. The flesh of the peace offering was required to be eaten on the same day, symbolizing the immediate and complete enjoyment of God's provision and peace. This requirement reinforced the sacredness and urgency of the offering, ensuring that it was treated with proper respect and consumed in the context of worship.

Leviticus 7:16-18 (NKJV)
16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it also may be eaten;
17 the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day must be burned with fire.
18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be imputed to him; it shall be an abomination to him who offers it, and the person who eats of it shall bear guilt.

For voluntary or vow offerings, there was a slight extension of time to eat the sacrifice—on the same day or the next day—but not beyond that. If any of the offering remained until the third day, it had to be burned. If eaten on the third day, the sacrifice would become invalid, and the person would bear guilt. This emphasized the importance of honoring the timeline set by God and maintaining the purity of the offering.

Leviticus 7:19-21 (NKJV)
19 The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it.
20 But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people.
21 Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.

The requirement to maintain ritual purity is emphasized here. Any meat that came into contact with something unclean had to be burned, preserving the holiness of the sacrifice. Only those who were ritually clean could eat of the peace offering. Eating the peace offering while in an unclean state resulted in severe consequences—being cut off from the community, a sign of being separated from the blessings and protection of God's people. This ensured the sacredness of the offering was upheld, reinforcing the importance of cleanliness in worship.

Leviticus 7:22-25 (NKJV)
22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
23 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat.
24 And the fat of an animal that dies naturally, and the fat of what is torn by wild beasts, may be used in any other way; but you shall by no means eat it.
25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people.

God gave clear instructions regarding the consumption of animal fat. While fat from animals that died naturally or were killed by predators could be used for other purposes, it was strictly forbidden to eat the fat of sacrificial animals. The fat belonged to God and was to be burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma. Consuming it was a direct violation of God's command, resulting in being cut off from the community, highlighting the sacredness of the offering process and the obedience required from the people.

Leviticus 7:26-27 (NKJV)
26 Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast.
27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.

The prohibition against eating blood was a core aspect of the dietary laws. Blood symbolized life, and life was considered sacred and belonging to God. Eating blood was strictly forbidden, with the penalty again being separation from the community. This command emphasized respect for life and for the sacredness of the blood, which would later become more significant in the sacrificial system and its fulfillment in Christ’s atonement.

Leviticus 7:28-31 (NKJV)
28 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
29 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offering to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offering.
30 His own hands shall bring the offerings made by fire to the Lord. The fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord.
31 And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.

The peace offering required personal involvement from the offerer, symbolized by their bringing the offering themselves. The fat and breast of the animal were used for different purposes: the fat was burned on the altar as an offering to God, while the breast was given to Aaron and his sons. The wave offering ritual involved symbolically lifting the breast before God, acknowledging His provision and blessings. This division of the offering emphasized the relationship between God, the priests, and the people, reinforcing community ties through worship.

Leviticus 7:32-34 (NKJV)
32 Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a heave offering from the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
33 He among the sons of Aaron, who offers the blood of the peace offering and the fat, shall have the right thigh for his part.
34 For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering I have taken from the children of Israel, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons from the children of Israel by a statute forever.

Along with the breast, the right thigh was also set aside for the priests. The heave offering, similar to the wave offering, was an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision. The priests, who served as mediators between God and the people, received these portions as their provision. This statute provided for the priests in perpetuity, ensuring that they were sustained by the sacrifices offered to the Lord. It was a constant reminder of the priests' vital role in maintaining the relationship between God and His people.

Leviticus 7:35-36 (NKJV)
35 This is the consecrated portion for Aaron and his sons, from the offerings made by fire to the Lord, on the day when Moses presented them to minister to the Lord as priests.
36 The Lord commanded this to be given to them by the children of Israel, on the day that He anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations.

These verses reiterate that the portions of the offerings designated for Aaron and his sons were part of their consecration to serve as priests. God commanded that this provision be made for them perpetually, tying their sustenance to the faithfulness of the people in making offerings. This ensured that the priesthood was properly supported and reminded the Israelites of the priestly service’s enduring importance throughout all generations.

Leviticus 7:37-38 (NKJV)
37 This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecrations, and the sacrifice of the peace offering,
38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day when He commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai.

These final verses serve as a summary of the laws concerning the various offerings presented in this and previous chapters. They were given directly by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and were to be followed by the Israelites during their time in the wilderness and beyond. This reiterates the divine origin of these commands and their significance in Israel’s worship and relationship with God. The chapter closes by underscoring the importance of obedience to these laws, which were given to ensure the Israelites’ holiness and fellowship with the Lord.