Leviticus-Chap-4-1-21

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

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. (JPS-1917).

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 “Leviticus Chapter 4:1-21

Part One..

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Leviticus Chapter 4 introduces the “Korban Chatat, or the “Sin Offering”. Unlike the voluntary offerings mentioned in previous chapters, this sacrifice is required when a person or the community commits an error “unwittingly”. It establishes a profound legal and spiritual principle, that even unintentional mistakes carry a weight that must be addressed through a formal process of restoration and atonement. Blessed be אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God).

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Below is Leviticus Chapter 4: 1-21: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below each verse is an explanation of the verse above.

1. “And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim begins a new set of instructions specifically concerning the handling of human error and the restoration of sanctity.

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If any one shall sin through error, in any of the things which יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded not to be done, and shall do any one of them:

Explanation: The “Sin Offering” is defined as a remedy for those who violate a ivine prohibition by mistake or through ignorance, rather than through open rebellion.

3. if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto יְהוָה - the LORD for a sin-offering.

Explanation: If the High Priest (the anointed one) errs, his mistake brings a sense of guilt upon the entire nation due to his representative role; therefore, he must bring a young bullock without blemish.

4. And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before יְהוָה - the LORD; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before יְהוָה - the LORD.

Explanation: The priest brings the animal to the entrance of the Tabernacle and places his hand upon its head, symbolically transferring the burden of the unintentional error to the animal before it is slaughtered.

5. And the anointed priest shall take of the blood of the bullock, and bring it to the tent of meeting.

Explanation: The High Priest personally takes the blood of the bullock into the Tent of Meeting, signifying that his atonement requires entry into the inner sanctum.

6. And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before יְהוָה - the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

Explanation: The priest dips his finger in the blood and sprinkles it seven times before the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, acknowledging the holiness of the space he has compromised.

7. And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before יְהוָה - the LORD, which is in the tent of meeting; and all the remaining blood of the bullock shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.

Explanation: Blood is placed on the horns of the golden altar of incense, and the remaining blood is poured at the base of the large altar of burnt offering outside.

8. And all the fat of the bullock of the sin-offering he shall take off from it; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

Explanation: The specific internal fats of the bullock, which represent the "best" or the “richest” parts of the animal, are removed for the offering.

9. and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the lobe above the liver, which he shall take away by the kidneys,

Explanation: The kidneys and the fat attached to the flanks are carefully separated, following the strict protocol for what must be consumed by the altar fire.

10. as it is taken off from the ox of the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall make them smoke upon the altar of burnt-offering.

Explanation: These portions are burned upon the altar of burnt offering, mirroring the procedure used for the peace offerings described in earlier chapters.

11. But the skin of the bullock, and all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, and its inwards, and its dung,

Explanation: Unlike other sacrifices where parts are eaten, the skin, meat, head, and legs of this specific bullock are treated differently because of the nature of the sin.

12. even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out shall it be burnt.

Explanation: The entire remainder of the bullock is carried outside the camp to a clean place where the altar ashes are poured and is burned completely on a wood fire.

13. And if the whole congregation of Israel shall err, the thing being hid from the eyes of the assembly, and do any of the things which יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded not to be done, and are guilty:

Explanation: The law now addresses the “whole congregation”. If the nation as a whole errs because a matter was “hid from their eyes”, they are still held accountable once the error is realized.

14. when the sin wherein they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bullock for a sin-offering, and bring it before the tent of meeting.

Explanation: Once the community becomes aware of the communal sin, the elders must provide a young bullock as a collective offering for the sanctuary.

15. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before יְהוָה - the LORD; and the bullock shall be killed before יְהוָה - the LORD.

Explanation: The elders of the congregation, acting as the representatives of all the people, lay their hands on the head of the bullock to signify communal responsibility.

16. And the anointed priest shall bring of the blood of the bullock to the tent of meeting.

Explanation: The anointed priest brings the blood of this communal bullock into the Tent of Meeting, just as he did for his own individual error.

17. And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before יְהוָה - the LORD, in front of the veil.

Explanation: The same ritual of sprinkling the blood seven times before the veil is repeated on behalf of the nation.

18. And he shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before יְהוָה - the LORD, that is in the tent of meeting, and all the remaining blood shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.

Explanation: The blood is applied to the horns of the incense altar and poured at the base of the outer altar, purifying the entire ritual space for the people.

19. And all the fat thereof shall he take off from it, and make it smoke upon the altar.

Explanation: All the designated fat from the communal bullock is taken up and burned upon the altar.

20. Thus shall he do with the bullock; as he did with the bullock of the sin-offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Explanation: The priest performs the exact same ceremony as he did for his own bullock; through this formal act, the priest makes atonement for the people, and they are forgiven.

21. And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bullock; it is the sin-offering for the assembly”.

Explanation: The remains of the communal bullock are carried outside the camp and burned, serving as a powerful visual reminder that the sin has been removed from the midst of the people.

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My Closing Message:

Part One of Leviticus Chapter 4 reminds us that ignorance is not an excuse for remaining in a state of disharmony with the Divine. Whether it is the highest leader or the entire community, an “unwitting” mistake still requires an intentional act of correction. The meticulous nature of these rituals shows that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim provides a clear, structured path for forgiveness, ensuring that even when we stumble, we are never left without a way to return to a state of purity!

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“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe 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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