Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 1

Verse 1

AND. This connects Leviticus very closely with Exodus, as Exodus is linked with Genesis.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. Whose glory filled the tabernacle, Exodus 40:35 . No other book contains so many words of Jehovah: "Jehovah spake", thirty-six times (see note on Leviticus 5:14 ); "I am Jehovah", twenty-one times; "I am Jehovah your God", twenty-one times; "I (Jehovah) am", three times; "I, Jehovah, do", twice.

called. The last letter of this word (in Hebrew) is minuscular, i.e. smaller than the others. This callingis in contrast with the thunders from Sinai.

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

out of the tabernacle of the congregation. Hebrew out of the tent of assembly: Hebrew. 'ohel. See App-40 , not mishkan, therefore before 1491. There are four such calls: (1) from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4 ); (2) and (3) from Sinai (Exodus 19:3 , Exodus 19:20 ); and here.

Verse 2

children = sons.

say. Compare note on Jeremiah 7:22 , Jeremiah 7:23 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam ( App-14 ), i.e. a descendant of Adam, not the priests.

offering. Hebrew. korban, admittance, entrance, or access offering. See App-43 . All the offerings were what God had first given to man; only such can be accepted by Him.

Verse 3

Jehovah begins with the burnt offering and ends with the sin offering: we, in our approach, begin with the sin offering and end with the burnt offering.

burnt sacrifice. Hebrew. 'olah. See App-43 .

male. A female permitted in some other offerings, but not here, because of the type. Christ not the sinbearer here, as in Leviticus 4:0 .

without blemish. Hebrew. tamim, said of all sacrifices, and the same of Noah, Genesis 6:9 .

his own voluntary will. Not the same as a freewill offering. This not a freewill offering. Hebrew here = "to be accepted for him", i.e. in his stead. Compare Leviticus 1:4 . Compare Exodus 28:38 . Exodus 19:5 ; Exodus 22:19 , Exodus 22:20 , Exodus 22:29 ; Exodus 23:11 , There was a double transfer: the unworthiness of the offerer was transferred to the victim; and the acceptableness of the offering was transferred to the offerer. This is confined to the burnt offerings and peace offerings; never with the sin offerings.

Verse 4

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: Leviticus 1:4-9 .

put. Hebrew lean, place, or press. It could not be done by proxy. This was all that the sinner could do. It was for God to accept.

make atonement. Hebrew. kaphar, to cover the sinner and his sin, so that neither is seen. See note on Exodus 29:33 . No such thing as progress in justification.

Verse 5

he. The sacrificer himself killed: the priest received the blood.

the priests, Aaron's sons. Hebrew = the sons of Aaron, the priests. Occurs seven times: Leviticus 1:5 , Leviticus 1:8 , Leviticus 1:11 ; Leviticus 2:2 ; Leviticus 3:2 .Numbers 10:8 . Joshua 21:19 .

sprinkle = dash. Hebrew throw or jerk.

door = entrance.

Verse 6

flay = have it flayed. Skin not offered with burnt offering, only with the sin offering.

cut it . . . pieces. To show that all was without blemish.

Verse 7

priest. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Septuagint, and Syriac, read plural, "priests".

wood = logs. No other fuel might be used.

Verse 8

in order. Because with the future Antitype all was to be in order.

Verse 9

he. Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Vulg, read "they".

wash. To render the sacrifice like the Antitype. Compare Eph 6:26 , all in order of God's word.

burn. Hebrew. katar. See App-43 .

offering. Hebrew. 'ishsheh. App-43 .

sweet savour = a savour of satisfaction. Compare Genesis 8:21 .

Verse 15

the priest. To make up for the humble offering, the priest did this instead of the offerer.

Verse 16

feathers, or filth.