Day 8: Leviticus 1-14

I'll be forthright - Leviticus is not my favorite book, and I found it difficult once again. I felt like I was slogging through it.

The first things we get introduced to are the different types of offerings:

The Burnt Offering

• This is an offering of atonement
• it is a male animal that is without blemish
• It appears that it can be a bull, or livestock, or bird
• It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
• The type of animal appears to be immaterial - the important thing is the heart of the person who is making the sacrifice.
  

The Grain Offering

• It is of fine flour, oil, and frankincense
• the grain can be baked into a cake, which is then broken and sacrificed.
• the offering must be unleavened, to remember the Passover
• It must be seasoned with salt - salt is a mark of the covenant with God.
• It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

The Peace Offering

• Animal can be of the herd or the flock.
• Specific animals mentioned - lambs and goats.
• This offering is made by fire, but it is made for food.
• Specific mention that the people are not to eat either blood nor fat.

The Sin Offering

• This offering was for unintentional sin for individuals, priests, and groups.
• The sacrifice is a bull.
• The blood is drained and sprinkled.
• The fat is burned on an altar in the Tabernacle.
• The rest of the bull is taken outside of the camp and burned.
  

The Trespass Offering

• This covers: the withholding of testimony of an oath, the touching of something unclean, swearing
• The sacrifice standard is a female animal - either a lamb, or a bird (turtledove/pigeon)
• If the person can't afford those, they can offer a sacrifice of grain.
  
• If it is a trespass against the holy things of the Lord, then the sacrifice is a ram.

This section is also noteworthy as it marks the official beginning of the Priesthood for the Levites, and lays out the laws for clean and unclean food.