19 Then ye shall sacrifice H6213 one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering, H2403 and two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings. H8002
And if his oblation H7133 be a sacrifice H2077 of peace offering, H8002 if he offer H7126 it of the herd; H1241 whether it be a male H2145 or female, H5347 he shall offer H7126 it without blemish H8549 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of his offering, H7133 and kill H7819 it at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 the priests H3548 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 upon the altar H4196 round about. H5439 And he shall offer H7126 of the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offering H8002 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is on them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And Aaron's H175 sons H1121 shall burn H6999 it on the altar H4196 upon the burnt sacrifice, H5930 which is upon the wood H6086 that is on the fire: H784 it is an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And if his offering H7133 for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offering H8002 unto the LORD H3068 be of the flock; H6629 male H2145 or female, H5347 he shall offer H7126 it without blemish. H8549 If he offer H7126 a lamb H3775 for his offering, H7133 then shall he offer H7126 it before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of his offering, H7133 and kill H7819 it before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 thereof round about H5439 upon the altar. H4196 And he shall offer H7126 of the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offering H8002 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 thereof, and the whole H8549 rump, H451 it shall he take off H5493 hard H5980 by the backbone; H6096 and the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is upon them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 it upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And if his offering H7133 be a goat, H5795 then he shall offer H7126 it before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of it, and kill H7819 it before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 thereof upon the altar H4196 round about. H5439 And he shall offer H7126 thereof his offering, H7133 even an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is upon them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 them upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 for a sweet H5207 savour: H7381 all the fat H2459 is the LORD'S. H3068 It shall be a perpetual H5769 statute H2708 for your generations H1755 throughout all your dwellings, H4186 that ye eat H398 neither fat H2459 nor blood. H1818
Or if his sin, H2403 wherein he hath sinned, H2398 come to his knowledge; H3045 he shall bring H935 his offering, H7133 a kid H8163 of the goats, H5795 a male H2145 without blemish: H8549 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of the goat, H8163 and kill H7819 it in the place H4725 where they kill H7819 the burnt offering H5930 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 it is a sin offering. H2403 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 of the blood H1818 of the sin offering H2403 with his finger, H676 and put H5414 it upon the horns H7161 of the altar H4196 of burnt offering, H5930 and shall pour out H8210 his blood H1818 at the bottom H3247 of the altar H4196 of burnt offering. H5930 And he shall burn H6999 all his fat H2459 upon the altar, H4196 as the fat H2459 of the sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings: H8002 and the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for him as concerning his sin, H2403 and it shall be forgiven H5545 him. And if any H259 one H5315 of the common H776 people H5971 sin H2398 through ignorance, H7684 while he doeth H6213 somewhat against any H259 of the commandments H4687 of the LORD H3068 concerning things which ought not to be done, H6213 and be guilty; H816 Or if his sin, H2403 which he hath sinned, H2398 come to his knowledge: H3045 then he shall bring H935 his offering, H7133 a kid H8166 of the goats, H5795 a female H5347 without blemish, H8549 for his sin H2403 which he hath sinned. H2398
And this is the law H8451 of the sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 which he shall offer H7126 unto the LORD. H3068 If he offer H7126 it for a thanksgiving, H8426 then he shall offer H7126 with the sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 unleavened H4682 cakes H2471 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 and unleavened H4682 wafers H7550 anointed H4886 with oil, H8081 and cakes H2471 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 of fine flour, H5560 fried. H7246 Besides the cakes, H2471 he shall offer H7126 for his offering H7133 leavened H2557 bread H3899 with the sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 of his peace offerings. H8002 And of it he shall offer H7126 one H259 out of the whole oblation H7133 for an heave offering H8641 unto the LORD, H3068 and it shall be the priest's H3548 that sprinkleth H2236 the blood H1818 of the peace offerings. H8002 And the flesh H1320 of the sacrifice H2077 of his peace offerings H8002 for thanksgiving H8426 shall be eaten H398 the same day H3117 that it is offered; H7133 he shall not leave H3240 any of it until the morning. H1242 But if the sacrifice H2077 of his offering H7133 be a vow, H5088 or a voluntary offering, H5071 it shall be eaten H398 the same day H3117 that he offereth H7126 his sacrifice: H2077 and on the morrow H4283 also the remainder H3498 of it shall be eaten: H398 But the remainder H3498 of the flesh H1320 of the sacrifice H2077 on the third H7992 day H3117 shall be burnt H8313 with fire. H784 And if any of the flesh H1320 of the sacrifice H2077 of his peace offerings H8002 be eaten H398 at all H398 on the third H7992 day, H3117 it shall not be accepted, H7521 neither shall it be imputed H2803 unto him that offereth H7126 it: it shall be an abomination, H6292 and the soul H5315 that eateth H398 of it shall bear H5375 his iniquity. H5771
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Leviticus 23
Commentary on Leviticus 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
Le 23:1-4. Of Sundry Feasts.
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, … concerning the feasts of the Lord—literally, "the times of assembling, or solemnities" (Isa 33:20); and this is a preferable rendering, applicable to all sacred seasons mentioned in this chapter, even the day of atonement, which was observed as a fast. They were appointed by the direct authority of God and announced by a public proclamation, which is called "the joyful sound" (Ps 89:15). Those "holy convocations" were evidences of divine wisdom, and eminently subservient to the maintenance and diffusion of religious knowledge and piety.
3. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest—(See on Ex 20:8). The Sabbath has the precedence given to it, and it was to be "a holy convocation," observed by families "in their dwellings"; where practicable, by the people repairing to the door of the tabernacle; at later periods, by meeting in the schools of the prophets, and in synagogues.
4. These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons—Their observance took place in the parts of the year corresponding to our March, May, and September. Divine wisdom was manifested in fixing them at those periods; in winter, when the days were short and the roads broken up, a long journey was impracticable; while in summer the harvest and vintage gave busy employment in the fields. Besides, another reason for the choice of those seasons probably was to counteract the influence of Egyptian associations and habits. And God appointed more sacred festivals for the Israelites in the month of September than the people of Egypt had in honor of their idols. These institutions, however, were for the most part prospective, the observance being not binding on the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, while the regular celebration was not to commence till their settlement in Canaan.
Le 23:5-8. The Passover.
5. the Lord's passover—(See Ex 12:2, 14, 18). The institution of the passover was intended to be a perpetual memorial of the circumstances attending the redemption of the Israelites, while it had a typical reference to a greater redemption to be effected for God's spiritual people. On the first and last days of this feast, the people were forbidden to work [Le 23:7, 8]; but while on the Sabbath they were not to do any work, on feast days they were permitted to dress meat—and hence the prohibition is restricted to "no servile work." At the same time, those two days were devoted to "holy convocation"—special seasons of social devotion. In addition to the ordinary sacrifices of every day, there were to be "offerings by fire" on the altar (see Nu 28:19), while unleavened bread was to be eaten in families all the seven days (see 1Co 5:8).
Le 23:9-14. The Sheaf of First Fruits.
10. ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest—A sheaf, literally, an omer, of the first-fruits of the barley harvest. The barley being sooner ripe than the other grains, the reaping of it formed the commencement of the general harvest season. The offering described in this passage was made on the sixteenth of the first month, the day following the first Passover Sabbath, which was on the fifteenth (corresponding to the beginning of our April); but it was reaped after sunset on the previous evening by persons deputed to go with sickles and obtain samples from different fields. These, being laid together in a sheaf or loose bundle, were brought to the court of the temple, where the grain was winnowed, parched, and bruised in a mortar. Then, after some incense had been sprinkled on it, the priest waved the sheaf aloft before the Lord towards the four different points of the compass, took a part of it and threw it into the fire of the altar—all the rest being reserved to himself. It was a proper and beautiful act, expressive of dependence on the God of nature and providence—common among all people, but more especially becoming the Israelites, who owed their land itself as well as all it produced to the divine bounty. The offering of the wave-sheaf sanctified the whole harvest (Ro 11:16). At the same time, this feast had a typical character, and pre-intimated the resurrection of Christ (1Co 15:20), who rose from the dead on the very day the first-fruits were offered.
Le 23:15-22. Feast of Pentecost.
15. ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath—that is, after the first day of the passover week, which was observed as a Sabbath.
16. number fifty days—The forty-ninth day after the presentation of the first-fruits, or the fiftieth, including it, was the feast of Pentecost. (See also Ex 23:16; De 16:9).
17. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals, &c.—These loaves were made of "fine" or wheaten flour, the quantity contained in them being somewhat more than ten pounds in weight. As the wave-sheaf gave the signal for the commencement, the two loaves solemnized the termination of the harvest season. They were the first-fruits of that season, being offered unto the Lord by the priest in name of the whole nation. (See Ex 34:22). The loaves used at the Passover were unleavened; those presented at Pentecost were leavened—a difference which is thus accounted for, that the one was a memorial of the bread hastily prepared at their departure, while the other was a tribute of gratitude to God for their daily food, which was leavened.
21. ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein—Though it extended over a week, the first day only was held as a Sabbath, both for the national offering of first-fruits and a memorial of the giving of the law.
22. thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, &c.—(See on Le 19:9). The repetition of this law here probably arose from the priests reminding the people, at the presentation of the first-fruits, to unite piety to God with charity to the poor.
Le 23:23-25. Feast of Trumpets.
24. In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath—That was the first day of the ancient civil year.
a memorial of blowing of trumpets—Jewish writers say that the trumpets were sounded thirty successive times, and the reason for the institution was for the double purpose of announcing the commencement of the new year, which was (Le 23:25) to be religiously observed (see Nu 29:3), and of preparing the people for the approaching solemn feast.
27-32. there shall be a day of atonement … and ye shall afflict your souls—an unusual festival, at which the sins of the whole year were expiated. (See Le 16:29-34). It is here only stated that the severest penalty was incurred by the violation of this day.
34-44. the feast of tabernacles, for seven days unto the Lord—This festival, which was instituted in grateful commemoration of the Israelites having securely dwelt in booths or tabernacles in the wilderness, was the third of the three great annual festivals, and, like the other two, it lasted a week. It began on the fifteenth day of the month, corresponding to the end of our September and beginning of October, which was observed as a Sabbath; and it could be celebrated only at the place of the sanctuary, offerings being made on the altar every day of its continuance. The Jews were commanded during the whole period of the festival to dwell in booths, which were erected on the flat roofs of houses, in the streets or fields; and the trees made use of are by some stated to be the citron, the palm, the myrtle, and the willow, while others maintain the people were allowed to take any trees they could obtain that were distinguished for verdure and fragrance. While the solid branches were reserved for the construction of the booths, the lighter branches were carried by men, who marched in triumphal procession, singing psalms and crying "Hosanna!" which signifies, "Save, we beseech thee!" (Ps 118:15, 25, 26). It was a season of great rejoicing. But the ceremony of drawing water from the pool, which was done on the last day, seems to have been the introduction of a later period (Joh 7:37). That last day was the eighth, and, on account of the scene at Siloam, was called "the great day of the feast." The feast of ingathering, when the vintage was over, was celebrated also on that day [Ex 23:16; 34:22], and, as the conclusion of one of the great festivals, it was kept as a sabbath.