Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 5

Verses 1-19

The Sin Offering and the Guilt Ofeering (continued)

1-6. Special cases in which it is proper to offer a Sin Offering. Such are the withholding of testimony (Leviticus 5:1), touching a carcase or unclean person or thing (Leviticus 5:2-3), making rash oaths (Leviticus 5:4).

1. Sin, and hear] RV ’sin, in that he heareth’: cp. Proverbs 29:24; Judges 17:2.

2. See Leviticus 11:27-28, Leviticus 11:31-40; Leviticus 15:7. If it be hidden from him] Vulgate renders, ’if he forgetteth his uncleauness,’ i.e. omits to make the prescribed ablutions.

7-13. Substitutes for the goat or lamb of the Sin Offering in cases of poverty. The Mosaic Law is always considerate of the poor, and makes special provision for such in sacrifices of atonement and purification, so that a man’s poverty may be no excuse for his remaining under sin or disability connected with ceremonial impurity, or any bar to his obtaining forgiveness: see also Leviticus 1:14-17; Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 14:21.

11. Ephah] about a bushel.

The Guilt (or Trespass) Offering. Two cases are mentioned in which it is proper to bring a guilt offering. The first (Leviticus 5:15) is that of a person who occasions loss to the sanctuary by either consuming or keeping back some ’holy thing’ (see on Leviticus 2:3). He is required to restore the value of the thing plus one fifth by way of a penalty (Leviticus 5:16), and to present a guilt offering. The second case is that of a person who causes loss to his neighbour. The same is required of him (Leviticus 6:4-7), see Numbers 5:5-10.

15. Shekel of the sanctuary] a standard weight of silver, equal to rather more than half-a-crown in value: see Exodus 30:13.

16. The fifth part] the usual proportion in cases of restitution: see Exodus 26:13-31.