Day 27 Reading Schedule : Numbers 4-8

Leviticus 4:

The Law of the Sin Offering and Its Offering 

[Overview]

This chapter is about the regulations regarding the sin offering. The sin offering was an obligatory offering that had to be offered as an atonement ceremony for those who had broken God's law. The sin offering was offered in the same way as other sacrificial offerings in terms of form, but the type of offering differed depending on the status of the person offering it. First, when a priest committed a crime, a bull was offered (verses 1-12), and when the entire congregation of Israel committed a crime, a bull was offered (verses 13-21). However, in the case of the chieftain, a male goat was offered (verses 22-26), and for the common people, a lamb was offered (verses 27-35).

Leviticus 4 is about the regulations regarding the sin offering. The sin offering was an obligatory offering that anyone who had committed a crime had to offer. In particular, the method and offering of the sin offering differed depending on the person offering it. God required a special sacrifice from sinful humans, and in the Old Testament era, this was shown as the sin offering. And in the New Testament era, Jesus Christ made a holy and complete atonement for sinners with a single sacrifice of himself.

Leviticus 5

Sin Offering and Guilt Offering 

[Overview]

This chapter continues from the previous chapter, recording three cases in which sin offerings must be offered and the regulations for guilt offerings. Sin offerings are sacrifices offered to receive forgiveness for sins committed against God, and guilt offerings are sacrifices offered to receive forgiveness for sins committed against humans or holy things. A person who does not tell the truth as a witness, or who swears falsely unintentionally, or who touches an unclean thing, must offer a sin offering according to his financial ability (verses 1-13). In addition, a person who sins against the holy things of Jehovah or unintentionally violates one of the prohibitions must offer a guilt offering according to the prescribed regulations (verses 14-19). Both sacrifices were sacrifices offered to God, but the distinction was not clear in their actual application, so later sin offerings and guilt offerings were offered together without distinction.

Leviticus 5 records three types of crimes requiring sin offerings and guilt offerings. The laws for offering sin offerings and guilt offerings are the same, but the only difference is that in the case of a crime corresponding to the guilt offering, an additional compensation of one-fifth must be paid. Therefore, sin offerings and guilt offerings are topics that are dealt with in almost the same context.

Leviticus 6

Priestly Duties for Each Offering 

[Overview]

This chapter is the conclusion of the five offerings mentioned in Leviticus 1-5. The first half is supplementary to the guilt offering mentioned in the previous chapter, mentioning the guilt offering that must be offered by someone who has violated the property rights of another person (verses 1-7). Next, unlike the first part, which mainly explains the types of offerings and the reasons for offerings, it mentions the procedures and methods for offering burnt offerings, peace offerings (verses 8-13), grain offerings (verses 14-23), and guilt offerings (verses 24-30). This chapter mentions detailed regulations not only for the reasons for offerings but also for the procedures and methods, showing that all of the lives of the Israelites are entirely according to God's will.

Leviticus 6 is the conclusion of the five offerings mentioned above. Verses 1-7 are additional explanations of the guilt offering in Leviticus 5, and the remaining verses are God's instructions on the various types of guilt offerings and other offerings. That is, the main chapter was composed in a supplementary format regarding the offering, the method of offering it, and the regulations accompanying it.

Leviticus 7

Additional Laws on the Sacrificial Law 

[Overview]

This chapter is the final conclusion to the five types of sacrifices, and it mentions the regulations on the handling of sacrificial offerings and the priests' portions. First, it explains the regulations on the sin offering and the guilt offering and the priests' portions (verses 1-10), and then it mentions the regulations on the meat of the peace offering and the priests' portions (verses 11-34). In particular, it emphasizes the prohibition that the unclean cannot eat the meat of the peace offering. Finally, God commands the Israelites to keep these sacrificial regulations for generations to come (verses 35-38).

Leviticus 7 mentions the regulations on the guilt offering and the peace offerings following chapter 6, but it also mentions the priests' portions and the regulations on eating the offerings. In particular, the meaning of the regulations on the sacrificial system teaches us that all sacrifices to God are very important.

Leviticus 8:

The Priestly Ordination Ceremony 

[Overview]

This chapter contains records of the ordination ceremony of the priests who will be in charge of the sacrifices. The appointment of the priests was made through Exodus 29, but now that the tabernacle has been completed and the regulations for the sacrifices have been completed, the priestly activities are beginning in earnest. God commanded Moses to perform the ordination ceremony for Aaron’s family (verses 1-9). Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron and his sons and offered a guilt offering, a burnt offering, and a peace offering for the ordination ceremony (verses 10-29). After that, Aaron’s family spent seven days in the tabernacle performing the ordination ceremony, completing all preparations for the inauguration of the priests (verses 30-36).

Leviticus 8 presupposes the regulations of Moses recorded in Exodus 29 and fulfills all the sacrificial regulations from Leviticus 1 to 7. In particular, this chapter describes in detail the ordination ceremony in which Aaron and his descendants were consecrated as priests. This ordination of the priests could not be performed until the sacrificial system had been established by the regulations Moses had received on Mount Sinai, so it was put on hold and performed after the tabernacle was built and the sacrificial system was completed.