Leviticus-Chapter-22
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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 22”
With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Leviticus
Chapter 22 extends the laws of holiness from the person of the Priest to the
“holy things” themselves, the offerings and sacrifices brought by the children
of Israel.
This chapter establishes the rigorous standards required for handling and
consuming the sacred food of the Tabernacle. It teaches that the sanctity of an
offering is not only in the animal itself but in the state of the one who
handles it. By regulating who may eat of the holy things and what constitutes a
fit sacrifice, the Torah ensures that the altar of the Almighty is never
treated with commonality or indifference.
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Let us read Leviticus
Chapter 22, verses 1 to 33: (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 ‘Speak
unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things
of the children of Israel,
which they hallow unto Me, and that they profane not
My Holy Name: I am יְהוָה - the LORD. 3 Say unto them: Whosoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approacheth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow
unto יְהוָה - the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut
off from before Me: I am יְהוָה - the LORD. 4 What man so ever of the
seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue, he shall not eat of the holy
things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any one
that is unclean by the dead; or from whomsoever the flow of seed goeth
out; 5 or whosoever toucheth
any swarming thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may
take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath; 6 the
soul that toucheth any such shall be unclean until
the even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his flesh in
water. 7 And when the sun is down, he shall be
clean; and afterward he may eat of the holy things, because it is his
bread. 8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn
of beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am יְהוָה - the LORD. 9 They shall therefore keep
My charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die therein,
if they profane it: I am יְהוָה - the LORD who sanctify them. 10 There
shall no common man eat of the holy thing; a tenant of a priest, or a hired
servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if a priest buy any soul, the purchase of his money, he may eat
of it; and such as are born in his house, they may eat of his bread. 12 And if a priest’s daughter be married unto a common
man, she shall not eat of that which is set apart from the holy things. 13 But if a priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced,
and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth,
she may eat of her father’s bread; but there shall no common man eat
thereof. 14 And if a man eat of the holy thing
through error, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give
unto the priest the holy thing. 15 And they
shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they set
apart unto the LORD; 16 and so cause them to
bear the iniquity that bringeth guilt, when they eat
their holy things; for I am יְהוָה - the LORD who sanctify them’. 17 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 18 ‘Speak
unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto
them: Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that
bringeth his offering, whether it be any of their
vows, or any of their free-will-offerings, which are brought unto יְהוָה - the LORD for a burnt-offering; 19 that
ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the beeves, of
the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But whatsoever hath a
blemish, that shall ye not bring; for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 And whosoever bringeth a
sacrifice of peace-offerings unto יְהוָה - the LORD in fulfilment of a vow clearly uttered, or for a
freewill-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be
accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. 22 Blind,
or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scabbed, or
scurvy, ye shall not offer these unto יְהוָה - the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 23 Either a bullock or a
lamb that hath any thing too long or too short, that mayest
thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be
accepted. 24 That which hath its stones
bruised, or crushed, or torn, or cut, ye shall not offer unto יְהוָה - the LORD; neither shall ye do thus in your land. 25 Neither
from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) of any of these, because their corruption is in them, there
is a blemish in them; they shall not be accepted for you’. 26 And
יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 27 ‘When
a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days
under the dam; but from the eighth day and thenceforth it may be accepted for
an offering made by fire unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 28 And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in
one day. 29 And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice
of thanksgiving unto יְהוָה - the LORD, ye shall sacrifice it that ye may be accepted. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten; ye shall leave
none of it until the morning: I am יְהוָה - the LORD. 31 And ye shall keep My commandments, and do them: I am יְהוָה - the LORD. 32 And ye shall not
profane My Holy Name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am
יְהוָה - the LORD who hallow you, 33 that
brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: I am יְהוָה - the LORD’”.
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Commentary on Leviticus Chapter 22:
Verses
1-9:
(The Requirement of Ritual Purity). The opening verses address the Priests directly,
warning them against approaching the holy offerings while in a state of
uncleanness. Whether through a bodily discharge, a skin affliction, or contact
with the dead, a Priest who is ritually impure is strictly forbidden from
touching the sacred food. This section reinforces the principle that those who
serve in the presence of the Infinite must maintain a state of physical and
ritual readiness. To ignore these boundaries is to profane the Divine Name and
risk the severe consequence of being “cut off”.
Verses
10-16: (The Boundaries of the Priestly Household). The Torah defines exactly
who within the Priest’s circle is permitted to eat of the holy gifts. While a
“stranger” (meaning anyone not of the Priestly family), a sojourner, or a hired
servant is excluded, the Priest’s purchased servants and his children are
included. A daughter of a Priest who marries outside the lineage loses this
right, unless she returns to her father’s house as a widow or divorcee without
children. These laws protect the “holy things” from being treated as ordinary
provisions, maintaining their status as a dedicated portion from יְהוָה - the LORD.
Verses
17-25: (The Standard of Perfection for Sacrifices). This section shifts focus
to the animals brought for sacrifice. Whether a burnt-offering or a peace-offering,
the animal must be “perfect to be accepted”. Any blemish, be it blindness, a
broken limb, a wound, or a growth renders the animal unfit for the altar. This
requirement teaches that one cannot offer the Creator that which is defective
or of lesser value. A sacrifice must represent the best of the flock, reflecting
the sincerity and reverence of the one bringing the offering.
Verses
26-30: (Compassion and Timeliness in Offerings). Specific rules are given regarding
the age of the animal and the timing of the meal. A young animal must remain
with its dam for seven days before it can be offered, and a mother and its
young must not be slaughtered on the same day. Additionally, sacrifices of
thanksgiving must be eaten on the day they are offered, with nothing left until
morning. these laws instil a
sense of order and a subtle respect for the natural bonds of the animal kingdom
even within the sacrificial system.
Verses
31-33: (The Goal of Sanctification). The chapter concludes with a powerful summary of
the motive behind these laws. The keeping of the commandments is the means by
which the Israelites “do not profane My Holy Name”. The Creator identifies
Himself as the One who hallows Israel
and the One who brought them out of the land of Egypt
to be their אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God). The strict
adherence to these details is the practical expression of acknowledging that
Divine relationship.
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My Closing Message:
Leviticus
22 serves as a reminder that holiness requires a constant awareness of
boundaries. It teaches that our offerings to the Almighty whether they be
physical sacrifices in ancient times or the “fruit of our lips” today must be
brought with integrity and purity. By distinguishing between the ‘Holy’ and the
‘common’, and the ‘perfect’ and the ‘blemished’, the Torah trains us to give
our best to the Creator. It elevates the act of worship from a mere ritual to a
profound exercise in mindfulness and respect for the Divine Presence.
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עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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