Leviticus-Chapter-7
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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:
In Leviticus Chapter 7 we reach the conclusion of the “Manual of Offerings”. While the previous chapters focused on the procedures for the Priests (the Kohanim), this section delves into the specific laws regarding the distribution of the meat and the internal logic of the various sacrifices. This chapter serves as a vital bridge between the act of ‘sacrifice’ and the maintenance of communal holiness. It reminds us that once an offering is brought, its remains must be handled with the highest level of integrity and reverence, ensuring that nothing sacred is treated as mundane.
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Let us read Leviticus Chapter 7, verses 1 to 38: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you
will find my commentary on same.
1. And this is
the law of the guilt-offering: it is most holy. 2. In
the place where they kill the burnt-offering shall they kill the
guilt-offering: and the blood thereof shall be dashed against the altar round about. 3. And he shall offer
of it all the fat thereof: the fat tail, and the fat that covereth
the inwards, 4. and the two kidneys, and the fat
that is on them, which is by the loins, and the lobe above the liver, which he
shall take away by the kidneys. 5. And the priest
shall make them smoke upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto יְהוָה - the LORD; it is a guilt-offering. 6. Every
male among the priests may eat thereof; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it
is most holy. 7. As is the sin-offering, so is
the guilt-offering; there is one law for them; the priest that maketh atonement therewith, he shall have it. 8. And the priest that offereth
any man's burnt-offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the
burnt-offering which he hath offered. 9. And
every meal-offering that is baked in the oven, and all
that is dressed in the stewing-pan, and on the griddle, shall be the priest's
that offereth it. 10. And
every meal-offering, mingled with oil, or dry, shall all the sons of Aaron
have, one as well as another. 11. And this is the
law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which one may offer unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 12. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the
sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened
wafers spread with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour soaked. 13. With cakes of leavened bread he shall present his
offering with the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving. 14. And of it he shall present one out of each offering
for a gift unto יְהוָה - the LORD; it shall be the priest’s that dasheth
the blood of the peace-offerings against the altar. 15. And
the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten
on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it until the
morning. 16. But if the sacrifice of his
offering be a vow, or a freewill-offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he
offereth his sacrifice; and on the morrow that which remaineth of it may be eaten. 17. But
that which remaineth of the flesh of the sacrifice on
the third day shall be burnt with fire. 18. And
if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be at all eaten on
the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him
that offereth it; it shall be an abhorred thing, and the soul that eateth of it
shall bear his iniquity. 19. And the flesh that
toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it
shall be burnt with fire. And as for the flesh, every one that is clean may eat
thereof. 20. But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto יְהוָה - the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut
off from his people. 21. And when any one shall
touch any unclean thing, whether it be the uncleanness
of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean detestable thing, and eat of the
flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which pertain unto יְהוָה - the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people. 22. And
יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 23. ‘Speak
unto the children of
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Commentary re Chapter 7:
Verses 1-10: (The Guilt Offering (Asham). The chapter begins with the Asham, designated as “most holy”. Unlike the peace offering, which is shared with the owner, the Asham is strictly for the Priests. The blood must be dashed against the altar, and the choice fats, representing the “best” of the animal are burned for the Almighty. This teaches us that for specific transgressions, the path to restoration involves both a physical return to the Divine and the support of the spiritual leadership.
Verses
11-21: The Peace Offering (Shelamim)
and its Subsets). This section is unique because
it discusses the only offering that the common Israelite eats. It is divided
into three categories: Thanksgiving (Todah), Vow (Neder), and Freewill (Nedavah).
The Thanksgiving offering must be eaten within one day, encouraging the
individual to share their gratitude with a large group of people immediately,
rather than hoarding the experience. This transforms a meal into a communal
celebration of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s goodness!
Verses
22-27: (The Prohibition of Fat and Blood). The Torah interrupts the sacrificial details to issue a universal
prohibition for all Israelites. The fat (chelev)
of specific domesticated animals and the blood of any creature are forbidden.
Fat represents the “unearned” excess, and blood represents the “life force”. By
refraining from these, we acknowledge that life and the ultimate essence of the
animal belong to the Creator alone.
Verses
28-36: (The Priestly Portions). The breast (tenufah) and
the thigh (terumah) are
designated as the eternal due for Aaron and his sons. This is not a “tax” but a recognition of their service. By waving these portions
before יְהוָה - the LORD, the owner acknowledges that while he eats part of the
sacrifice, he does so at a table shared with the Divine and His
representatives.
Verses
37-38: (The Summary Statement). The chapter concludes by summarizing all the offerings discussed
since Chapter 1. It explicitly ties these laws to the revelation at
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My Closing Message:
Leviticus 7 teaches us the profound lesson of
“Sacred Boundaries”. Whether it is the time limit on eating the meat, the
prohibition of blood, or the specific portions given to the Priests, the Torah
is training us to exercise self-restraint in the midst of abundance. We learn
that even when we are permitted to enjoy the physical world, we must do so
within a framework of law and mindfulness. True freedom is not the absence of
boundaries, but the ability to live meaningfully within them.
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