Leviticus-Chap-1
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Remember
the following two truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Vayikra - Leviticus Chapter 1, sets out the laws for the burnt-offering (olah): who brings it, what kind of animal is required, and the priestly procedures that make the offering acceptable before יְהוָה - the LORD.
Let us now read
Vayikra - Leviticus chapter 1 (JPS-1917 version)!
1. “And יְהוָה - the LORD called unto Moshe - Moses, and spoke unto him out of the tent of meeting, saying:
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When any man of you bringeth an offering unto יְהוָה, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd or of the flock.
3. If his offering be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish; he shall bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before יְהוָה.
4. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5. And he shall kill the bullock before יְהוָה - the LORD; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall present the blood, and dash the blood round about against the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting.
6. And he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into its pieces.
7. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay wood in order upon the fire.
8. And Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, and the head, and the suet, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar;
9. but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water; and the priest shall make the whole smoke on the altar, for a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto יְהוָה - the LORD.
10. And if his offering be of the flock, whether of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-offering, he shall offer it a male without blemish.
11. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before יְהוָה; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall dash its blood against the altar round about.
12. And he shall cut it into its pieces; and the priest shall lay them, with its head and its suet, in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar.
13. But the inwards and the legs shall he wash with water; and the priest shall offer the whole, and make it smoke upon the altar; it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto יְהוָה - the LORD”.
14. And if his offering to the LORD be a burnt-offering of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons.
15. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and pinch off its head, and make it smoke on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be drained out on the side of the altar.
16. And he shall take away its crop with the feathers thereof, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, in the place of the ashes.
17. And he shall rend it by the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder; and the priest shall make it smoke upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire; it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
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As we have seen, Leviticus 1 opens the sacrificial code with the olah, the wholly-burnt offering, an act of total dedication in which the worshiper gives an unblemished animal to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. The chapter establishes ritual form, priestly responsibility, and the theology of atonement and devotion: the offering is both gift and means by which the offerer expresses submission and seeks reconciliation with the Divine. The JPS-1917 version provides a wording that preserves the ‘formal’, l’egal tone of the text while highlighting its cultic precision’.
Let us now take a closer look at the verse by verse with comments’
Verse 1.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim calls Moses from the Tent of
Meeting to instruct Israel about offerings this frames the laws as divine
commands delivered in the sanctuary context.
Verse 2.
The law applies to any man who brings an offering; the categories are herd
or flock, signalling broad accessibility of worship for different means.
Verse 3.
A burnt offering from the herd must be a male without blemish and
is brought to the tent door purity and approachability are
required for acceptance.
Verse 4
Laying the hand on the head (semikhah) transfers identity or intent to the offering; the
act makes the offering acceptable and effects atonement in a cultic sense.
Verse 5.
The offerer slays the animal before יְהוָה - the LORD; priests handle the blood and
apply it to the altar blood marks the boundary between life and sacred
substitution.
Verse 6.
The animal is flayed and cut into parts preparing the offering for the
altar’s consumption and for priestly handling.
Verse 7.
The priests arrange the pieces, the head, and the suet on the wood on the
altar, order and completeness matter in sacrificial worship.
Verse 8.
The entrails and legs are washed ritual cleanliness attends the
offering’s inner parts, symbolizing purification.
Verse 9.
The priest burns all on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma
to יְהוָה - the LORD, total consumption signifies
complete dedication.
Verse 10.
If the offering is from the flock, the same rules apply: male without
blemish; the pattern is consistent across animal categories.
Verse 11.
The same laying on of hands and slaughtering procedure applies, semikhah and priestly mediation remain central.
Verse 12.
The priest arranges and burns the pieces on the altar,
priestly role is to present the worshiper’s gift to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Verse 13.
For a goat of the herd, the same pattern repeats, uniformity emphasizes
the rite’s theological meaning over species differences.
Verse 14.
If the offering is a bird (turtledove or young pigeon), the ritual
adapts: the priest wrings off the head and burns it on the altar poverty
sensitive provisions allow the poor to participate.
Verse 15.
The blood is drained on the side of the altar
and the crop and feathers removed, specific gestures preserve the rite’s
symbolic integrity.
Verse 16.
The priest burns the bird’s head, crop, and
feathers on the altar—again; the offering is wholly given to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Verse 17.
The law closes by repeating that all burnt offerings are to be wholly burned on the altar consummation is the defining feature of the olah.
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In Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a particular line or statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and solitude in your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is always there and ready to help and guide you!
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy
your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Eloheichem); walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה – the LORD
your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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follows;
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת-
יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be
with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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