Leviticus-Chapter-6
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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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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
As we transition from the opening of the book, which focused on the individual’s desire to draw near to the Divine, Chapter 6 shifts the focus to the Kohanim (the Priests). The first five chapters (Parashat Vayikra) address the “how” of the offerings for the person bringing them; now, the Torah addresses the “how” for those who must maintain the sanctuary. This chapter underscores that while an individual’s inspiration may be a spark, it is the disciplined, daily rhythm of the community’s leadership that ensures the fire never goes out. It teaches us that holiness is not just a momentary feeling but a perpetual commitment!
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Let
us read Leviticus Chapter 6, verses 1 to 23: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you
will find my commentary on same.
1 “And
יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Command
Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering: it is that
which goeth up on its firewood upon the altar all night unto the morning; and
the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereby. 3 And
the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put
upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed
the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 4 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other
garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. 5 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning
thereby, it shall not go out; and the priest shall kindle wood on it every
morning; and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall make
smoke thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. 6 Fire
shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out. 7 And this is the law of the meal-offering: the sons of
Aaron shall offer it before יְהוָה - the LORD, in front of the altar. 8 And
he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine
flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense
which is upon the meal-offering, and shall make the memorial-part thereof smoke
upon the altar for a sweet savour unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 9 And that which is left
thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat; it shall be eaten without leaven in a
holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it. 10 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it
as their portion of My offerings made by fire; it is
most holy, as the sin-offering, and as the guilt-offering. 11 Every
male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as a due for ever throughout
your generations, from the offerings of יְהוָה - the LORD made by fire; whatsoever toucheth
them shall be holy. 12 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 13 This
is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto יְהוָה - the LORD in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half
of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening. 14 On
a griddle it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in;
in broken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savour unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 15 And the anointed priest
that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it,
it is a due for ever; it shall be wholly made to smoke unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 16 And every meal-offering
of the priest shall be wholly made to smoke; it shall not be eaten. 17 And
יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 18 Speak
unto Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is the law of the sin-offering: in the
place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed
before יְהוָה - the LORD; it is most holy. 19 The priest
that offereth it for sin shall eat it; in a holy
place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting. 20 Whatsoever
shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the
blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled
in a holy place. 21 But the earthen vessel
wherein it is sodden shall be broken; and if it be sodden in a brazen vessel,
it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water. 22 Every
male among the priests may eat thereof; it is most holy. 23 And
no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting
to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten; it shall be burnt with
fire”.
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Commentary re Chapter 6: (The Perpetual Fire and the Priest’s Path).
Verses 1-6: The Law of the Burnt-Offering, The Esh Tamid. The first section details the Olah (Burnt-offering), which is unique because it is entirely consumed by fire nothing is eaten by man.
The Symbolism of Ashes: The Kohen must first remove the ashes in his fine linen garments and then change into “other garments” to take them outside the camp. This teaches a profound lesson in humility: the same leader who performs the most exalted service must also attend to the “waste” of that service. Holiness does not exempt one from the mundane; rather, it sanctifies it.
The Eternal Flame - Esh Tamid. The command is repeated three times: “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not go out”. This represents the Hebrew heart. Just as the altar fire had to be tended every morning with fresh wood, our own spiritual passion requires daily renewal. Even when the Sanctuary is in “spiritual darkness” (night), the fire must remain prepared to receive the morning light.
Verses 7-11: The Law of the Meal-Offering. The Portion of the Servant. The Minchah (Meal-offering) consists of fine flour and oil. Only a handful is burned; the rest belongs to the Kohanim.
Eating in Holiness: The Torah specifies it must be eaten as Matzot (unleavened bread) in a “holy place”. By eating the remains of the offering, the Kohen completes the act of atonement. It suggests that when we serve the community, our own sustenance becomes part of that holy work. The restriction to eat it in the courtyard reminds us that the “benefits” of spiritual leadership must always remain within the boundaries of sanctity.
Verses 12-16: The High Priest’s Daily Offering. The Minchat Chavitin. On the day of his anointing and every day thereafter, the High Priest brings a special meal-offering, half in the morning and half in the evening.
Total Consumption: Unlike the meal-offerings of the people, the priest’s offering is “wholly made to smoke; it shall not be eaten”. This is a safeguard against self-interest. A person cannot “eat” of their own sacrifice; when the leader offers to the Divine, it must be a total gift, ensuring that his service is never about personal gain or “feeding himself” through his position.
Verses 17-23: The Law of the Sin-Offering. Purity and Restoration. The chapter concludes with the laws of the Chattat (Sin-offering).
Sanctifying the Vessels: The Torah mentions that a clay pot used for cooking the offering must be broken, while a bronze pot can be scoured. This highlights the “absorptive” nature of our environment. Clay, which is porous, “takes in” the flavour of the holy meat and cannot be fully purged, whereas metal can be renewed. It serves as a metaphor for the soul: we must be mindful of what we absorb from our surroundings, striving to be like the metal that can be purified and reused for sacred purposes.
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My Closing Message:
The message of these 23 verses is one of
consistency and responsibility. We learn that the “Perpetual Fire” (Esh Tamid) was not a
miracle from heaven that required no effort; it was a fire that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
(God) started, but which man was commanded to maintain. We are
the guardians of our own inner altars. By attending to the daily “ashes” of our
past mistakes and constantly adding the “fresh wood” of new deeds and Torah
study, we ensure that the light of our heritage continues to burn brightly for
the generations to come.
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