Levítico 5
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Levítico 5
The Law of the Guilt Offerings The Trespass Offering The Sin Offering (4:1-5:13) Cases Requiring Sin Offerings Some Cases of Sacrifice for Sin 5:1-6 5:1-10 5:1-6 5:1 5:1 5:2 5:2 5:3 5:3 5:4 5:4 5:5-6 5:5-6 Sins of Private Individuals 5:7-10 5:7-10 5:7-10 5:7-10 5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13 Offerings with Restitution The Guilt Offering (5:14-6:7) Repayment Offerings (5:14-6:7) The Sacrifice of Reparation 5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14 5:15-16 5:17-19 5:17-19 5:17-19 5:17-6:7 5:17-19 Guilt Offering 6:1-7 6:1-7 6:1-7 6:1-7 5:20 5:21 5:22 5:23-26 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Summary of what happened to the offerings. all of the animal burned on the altar, Leviticus 1 small part of the grain/cereal offering burned on the altar; remaining used for priests' food, Leviticus 2 all internal fat and blood given to YHWH but some meat given to priest offerer symbolically to YHWH, Leviticus 3 all internal fat and blood given to YHWH but large portion of meat given to the priests, Leviticus 4-5 Brief outline of this literary unit (i.e., Lev. 5:1-6:7) witness who refuses to testify, Lev. 5:1,5; 6:5 touching an unclean thing, Lev. 5:3,5 rash oath/vow, Lev. 5:4-5 fraud/theft, Lev. 6:2-4 Distinction between intentional and unintentional sin unintentional sins against YHWH, Lev. 4:1-35; 5:14-19 intentional sins against a covenant brother, Lev. 5:1-13; 6:1-7 Since the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 by Titus, it has been impossible to perform the rituals of sacrifice. The rabbis have had to interpret them in symbolic, allegorical, or typological ways. These rituals are simply historical information!
Levítico 5:1-6
5:1 It was crucial in a society which was meant to reflect YHWH's character to an unbelieving world that fairness, honesty, and transparency be demonstrated between covenant partners. Leviticus 5:1, 5 and 6:4 all deal with public, legal testimony. If a person lied in court he/she was held responsible for the crime they lied or were silent about. If it was a death penalty case, then they were put to death (cf. Deut. 19:16-21). If it was a property case, they must make restitution "plus." ▣ NASB, NRSV "a public adjuration" NKJV, LXX "the utterance of an oath" "officially summoned" "the formal adjuration" "a public imprecation" "a solemn adjuration" "a voice of swearingt" a witness heard something (i.e., Pro. 29:24) a judge pronounced a curse on the one who does not come forward and testify (cf. Num. 5:21) the LXX may refer to an idolatrous oath (Targum Neofiti) 5:2 "any unclean thing" In this context it refers to an "unclean" animal (cf. Leviticus 11; Deut. 14:8), but it could refer to a dead human body (cf. Lev. 5:3; Num. 6:6-12; 19:11-16). This was a way to show the pollution caused by "unclean things." The book of Leviticus is about "purity," which was so important in the Mosaic covenant. Their preoccupation with "ceremonial" impurity/uncleanness is surprising to modern, western people. 5:3 "and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty" Notice it is the knowledge (not the unclean thing itself) that makes "guilty" or "unclean." the human conscience is the key (cf. Lev. 5:4)! 5:4 Humans are responsible for what they say! See SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SPEECH. 5:5 "he shall confess" This VERB (BDB 392, KB 389, Hithpael PERFECT; the Hiphil stem means "to praise"; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 405-408) has two primary connotations. confess sin - Lev. 5:5; 16:21; 26:40; Num. 5:7; Ezra 10:1; Neh. 1:6; 9:2-3; Dan. 9:20 thanksgiving - 2 Chr. 30:22; Ezra 10:11 (possibly) 5:6 Notice the offering of the offending Israelite is called both guilt offering (see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 557-565) sin offering (see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 335-338) ▣ "shall make atonement" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT.
Levítico 5:7-10
5:7 Notice again the uniqueness of the Mosaic code in the ANE, which provides for the poor (cf. Lev. 5:12-13) the two birds. They are used for two different rituals. burnt offering to restore "favor" sin offering to cover/forgive the sin 5:9 "sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar" sprinkle - BDB 633 I, KB 683, Hiphil PERFECT with waw; see full note at Lev. 1:5 the blood - see SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD the altar - see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE 5:10 "and it will be forgiven him" This is the goal of the sacrificial system. Fellowship between YHWH and His people is restored. This VERB (BDB 699, KB 757, Niphal PERFECT) is repeated often (cf. Lev. 4:20,26,31,35; 5:10,13,16,18; 6:7).
Levítico 5:11-13
5:11 If the grain/cereal offering is used as a "sin offering" for the very poor, it must not have either oil or incense on it, but a memorial portion is burned and the rest goes to the priest. 5:12 "memorial portion" See full note at Lev. 2:2 and NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 1100-1106. 5:13 "the rest shall become the priest's, like the grain offering" See Leviticus 2.
Levítico 5:14-16
5:15 "acts unfaithfully" This is a VERB and NOUN from the same root (BDB 591, KB 612, cf. Lev. 6:2). ▣ "the Lord's holy things" This is a "catch all" summary statement (cf. Lev. 4:2), which refers to all the commands of the Mosaic covenant (see Lev. 5:17). Notice the violation is characterized by unfaithfully - lit. "commits a breach of faith" (BDB 591, KB 612, Qal IMPERFECT) unintentionally - see full note at Lev. 4:2; see SPECIAL TOPIC: UNINTENTIONAL SINS ▣ "shekels" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. 5:16 "shall make restitution" This VERB (BDB 1022, KB 1521, Piel IMPERFECT) is from the root meaning "be complete" or "be sound." Here, it is used of restoring that which was damaged by paying a price. Forgiveness from YHWH involved the offended covenant brother being compensated. This same root is the source of Shalom. See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT). YHWH wants peace, fairness, and restoration of fellowship among His people. ▣ "shall add" This is a JUSSIVE form. It is repeated in Lev. 6:5. Forgiveness from YHWH involved restoration and added compensation (i.e., a "fifth part").
Levítico 5:17-19
5:17-19 The Jewish Study Bible, p. 217, asserts that "The case is unclear. The circumstances are almost identical to those requiring the 'hata't' in ch. 4, the only difference being the words 'without knowing it' in v. 17, repeated in v. 18." Matt. 5:21-48 Mark 7:18-23 Acts 15:6-29 Galatians 3 The book of Hebrews 5:19 "he was certainly guilty before the Lord" This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB of the same root).