Levítico 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Levítico 4
The Law of Sin Offerings The Sin Offerings The Sin Offering (4:1-5:13) Offerings for Unintentional Sin The Sacrifice for Sin: a. of the High Priest 4:1-12 4:1-12 4:1-2 4:1-2 4:1 4:2-7 4:3-12 4:3-12 4:8-10 4:11-12 b. of the Community of Israel 4:13-21 4:13-21 4:13-21 4:13-21 4:13-15 4:16-18 4:19-20 4:21 c. of a Leader of the Community 4:22-26 4:22-26 4:22-26 4:22-26 4:22-26 d. of a Private Individual 4:27-31 4:27-31 4:27-31 4:27-31 4:27-31 4:32-35 4:32-35 4:32-35 4:32-35 4:32-35 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS As for atonement theology, the sin offering is crucial to a NT understanding of the work of Christ (cf. Isaiah 53; Rom. 5:12-21; 2 Cor. 5:21). Notice how the chapter deals with a sin offering for different levels of people in Israeli society. the High Priest, Lev. 4:3-12 the nation as a whole, Lev. 4:13-21 (cf. Leviticus 16) the tribal leaders, Lev. 4:23-26 (i.e., "elders," see SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDER.) individual Israelites, Lev. 4:27-35 This sin offering denotes the major purpose of the sacrificial system, which was to restore fellowship between a sinful human being and his/her Maker. All humans have sinned (cf. Genesis 3; 6:5,11-12,13; Rom. 3:9-18,23; 5:12-14,17,18,19,21; Gal. 3:22), therefore, all need to be restored and forgiven! Notice that the introductory phrase, "then the Lord spoke to Moses" (see note at Lev. 1:1) is repeated: Lev. 1:1 (Lev. 1:1-3:17 is a literary unit) Lev. 4:1 (Lev. 4:1-5:13 is a literary unit) Lev. 6:1 (Lev. 6:1-7:38) types of offerings responsibilities for the ritual shared by offerer and priest Leviticus 4:1-5:13 forms a literary unit dealing with atonement for sins. A good outline is found in Wenham's Leviticus Commentary (NICOT), p. 87. Lev. 4:1-35 - inadvertent sins Lev. 5:1-13 - sins of omission Lev. 5:14-19 - inadvertent sins Lev. 6:1-7 - deliberate sin
Levítico 4:1-12
4:2 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NIV "sins unintentionally" "without intending to" NJB, REB "inadvertently" JPSOA, ASV "unwittingly" Peshitta, KJV "unwillingly" Targum Onkelos "by neglect" ▣ "a person" This is the term nephesh (BDB 659, cf. Lev. 4:2,27; 5:1,2,4,15,17,21), which denotes a person or living animal. See full note online at Ezek. 18:4. ▣ "commanded" This term (BDB 846) is one of several words used to describe YHWH's covenant requirements. See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. ▣ "commits any of them" This broad statement is repeated in Deut. 27:26 and Gal. 3:10. Perfect obedience is required but is impossible for fallen humanity (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL and SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP). 4:3-35 The best way to discuss this section is to see a brief outline. for the sins of the High Priest, Lev. 4:3-12 for the sins of the nation, Lev. 4:13-21 for the sins of a tribal leader, Lev. 4:22-26 for the sins of an individual, Lev. 4:27-35 4:3 "the anointed priests" This refers to the officiating priest at the tabernacle at the time of the sin offering here, specifically to the High Priest ▣ "so as to bring guilt on the people" The actions of leaders affect everyone in the society. 4:4 "the bull" Not only is there delineation between the different types of leaders in the community, but also the expense of the sacrificial animal involved. It moves from a bull for the High Priest of the congregation to a goat, a ram, or a lamb. ▣ "lay his hand on the head" See full note at Lev. 1:4. ▣ "before the Lord" See full note at Lev. 1:5. ▣ The NASB Study Bible, p. 138, has a good comment here. "Three principles of atonement are found in this verse: (1) substitution ('bring the bull'); (2) identification ('lay his hand on the head'); and (3) the death of the substitute ('slay the bull')." 4:5 "the tent of meeting" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS (chart). 4:6 This is a new ritual act, at a new place (the inner veil). Since the sin of the High Priest affected the covenantal system at its core, blood atonement had to be made close to the ark. There are several curtains in the tabernacle. the outer rim of the larger enclosure the covering of the inner shrine tent the divider of the inner shrine tent into the holy place (i.e., the outer rectangle) the Holy of Holies (where the ark rested, cf. Exod. 26:31-35; 40:21,26; see SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS) ▣ "sprinkle" See note at Lev. 1:5 on the procedure, but this is a different VERB (BDB 633, KB 683, Hiphil PERFECT with waw, cf. Exod. 29:21; Lev. 4:6,17; 5:9; 6:27; 16:14,15,19). 4:7 "the altar of fragrant incense" This was the altar in the Holy Place before the veil (cf. Lev. 4:18). It is described in detail in Exod. 30:1-10. There is some confusion of which "horns" on which "altar" the blood was placed by the finger of the High Priest. the incense altar, Lev. 4:7,18 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF INCENSE.) the altar of sacrifice, Lev. 4:25,30,34 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE.) 4:12 "a clean place outside the camp" There are two ritual aspects here. The ashes of the sin offering, holy to God (Lev. 4:11), are to be burned in a "clean place" because they are holy. "Outside the camp" reflects the concept of the offering bearing sin away (i.e., one of the goats of Leviticus 16 driven out into the desert to die).
Levítico 4:13-21
4:13 "the matter escapes the notice of the assembly" Because of this unusual phrase many believe that Lev. 4:13-21 possibly refers to some sin by an elected or representative body, such as elders of Israel, or later, the Sanhedrin. This may be the best understanding of this clause. It is interesting to note that one leader affected the whole community. The rituals of Lev. 4:13-21 are separate and distinct from Leviticus 16. 4:15 "the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head" This is similar to what the High Priest did for the whole congregation on the Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16. Here, though, it is a specific sin of a leader(s) who needs to be atoned. See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAYING ON OF HANDS. 4:18 Notice the blood (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD) is put both on the veil before the ark on the horns of the altar of sacrifice, which was the symbol of its power to atone 4:20 "shall make atonement" This VERB appears at Lev. 4:20,26,31,35. See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT.
Levítico 4:22-26
4:22 "sins and unintentionally does any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done" See note at Lev. 4:1. 4:23 "if his sin which he has committed is made known to him" Faithful covenant followers are responsible only for what the Law, the Spirit, and other faithful followers make them aware of (cf. Lev. 4:14,28; Ps. 19:7-11,12-14). The MT starts Lev. 4:23 with a CONJUNCTION (BDB 14) "or." The NET Bible, p. 221, assumes this denotes two possible scenarios. a leader sins unintentionally, Lev. 4:22 a leader's sin becomes known publically, Lev. 4:23 4:26 "make atonement" This VERB (BDB 497, KB 493, Piel PERFECT with waw) appears in Lev. 4:20, 26,31,35. It is assumed in the previous sin ritual but not stated (see Jewish Study Bible, p. 214). For a full word study on this crucial sacrificial term, see SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT.
Levítico 4:27-31
4:27-31,32-35 The ritual is repeated for all the sin offerings, except for where the blood is placed. See notes at Lev. 4:1-2. 4:27 "the common people" This is literally "the people of the land" (BDB 766 I CONSTRUCT BDB 75). This can refer to (see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 70-72) common people wealthy landowners 4:31 "a soothing aroma" This is the only occurrence of this phrase (see SPECIAL TOPIC: A SOOTHING AROMA) in connection with the sin offerings. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 214, says it "is indeed out of place; many scholars believe it to be a scribal error." See SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM.
Levítico 4:32-35
4:35 Notice how the text states that the ritual procedure for offering the "sin offering" is the same as the "peace offering."