The Third Book of Moses, called Leviticus
Leviticus 4
Chapter IV · Vol. I, pp. 367–369
1 The sin-offering of ignorance for the priest, 13 for the congregation, 22 for a ruler, 27 for any of the people.
1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin a through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD, concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
a ver. 13,22,27; ch. 5.15,17. Nu. 15.24. De. 19.4. He. 9.7; 5.2. 1 Ti. 1.13.
3 If the b priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring, for his sin which he hath sinned, a c young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin-offering.
b ch. 21.10; 8.12. Ex. 29.21. He. 5.3; 9.7. 1 Jn. 2.1,2.
c ver. 14; ch. 1.3; 3.1; 9.2; 16.6,11. Tit. 2.14. 2 Co. 5.21.
4 And he shall d bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
d ch. 1.3-5. Is. 53.2-12. Re. 5.9. 1 Pe. 1.18,19; 2.24; 3.18. 1 Jn. 1.7; 2.2; 4.9,10. Mat. 20.28; 26.28.
5 And the priest that is anointed shall e take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation.
e ver. 16,17; 16.14,19. Nu. 19.4. Ro. 5.10,11,15-21. 1 Jn. 1.7. He. 9.14; 10.14,19,20. 2 Co. 5.21.
6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times beforef the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490.
f ver. 17; ch. 16.14, 15. Is. 42.21; 53.10. Zec. 13.1. Jn. 8.29. Ep. 5.2. Ro. 3.24-26. 2 Co. 5.19-21.
7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upong the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall h pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
g ch. 16.18. Ex. 30.10. He. 2.10; 7.25.
h ver. 18, 30, 34; ch. 5.9. Is. 42.21. 2 Co. 5.19. Ep. 2.13-18. Re. 5.9. Col. 1.14.
8 And he shall take off from it all the i fat of the bullock for the sin-offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall k he take away,
k Ex. 29.14. ch. 5.30; 16.27. Nu. 19.5. He. 13.11-13. Ps. 104, 12.
10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace-offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt-offering.
11 Andk the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
12 Even the whole bullock shall he 1 carry forth l without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out2 shall he be burnt.
1 Thus the guilt was typically conveyed away from the whole congregation, who were otherwise liable to suffer for it. Christ, who was made sin, or a sin-offering, for us, suffered without the gate of Jerusalem, as bearing away the sin of his people; that when it is sought for, it may nowhere be found, He. 13.9-14. This was also expressive of the nature of true repentance, which expels sin with abhorrence, drives it to a distance out of the camp, and refuses to have anything more to do with it.—Scott.
l Heb. to without the camp, ver. 21; ch. 6.11; 16.27.
2 Heb. at the pouring out of the ashes.
13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin m through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD, concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;3
m See ver. 2; ch. 5.2, 3. Nu. 15.24. He. 5.2; 9.7. 1 Ti. 1.13, with He. 10.26-29. As the whole congregation offered the same offering as one priest, so their offering was presented in the same manner.
3 Were it not a well-known form of human error, it would scarcely be believed that there is what may be called a private and public conscience, distinct from each other. This arises partly from that sympathetic influence that leads men to surrender their own better judgment, and 'follow a multitude to do evil;' and partly from the facility with which an individual may remove the accusation of guilt from himself, and lay it to the charge of others whom he could not control. The law of Moses provides against this prolific source of public evil, by indicting, as it were, the whole nation at the bar of God, and demanding public acknowledgment of sin, and evidence of repentance.—C.
14 When the sin which they have sinned against it is known, then the congregation shall offer a n young bullock for the sin, and bringo him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
n See ver. 3.
o See ver. 4.
15 And p the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD; and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
p ver. 4, 24, 29, 33; ch. 8.14, 18, 22; 1.4; 3.2, 8, 13; 16.21. He. 7.22. Is. 53.6, 11, 12. 2 Co. 5.21. 1 Pe. 2.18, 19, 24; 3.18.
16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation.
17 Andq the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven 4 times before the LORD, even before the vail.
q See ver. 6, 7.
4 Seven is the number of perfection, and this denoted the perfect satisfaction which Christ hath made, and the complete sanctification of believers by it, He. 10.14.—I.
18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar r which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
r The altar of incense, ver. 7.
20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin-offering, so shall he do with this: and t the priest shall make an atonement for them, and u it shall be forgiven them.5
t See ver. 26.
u Nu. 15.24-26; ver. 26. 31, 35. Ep. 1.7. Col. 1.14; 2.13. Ro. 3.24; 4.25; 5.15-21. 2 Co. 5.21.
5 The promise of remission is founded on the atonement. It is spoken here of the forgiveness of the whole congregation, that is, the turning away of those national judgments which the sin deserved. 'The saving of churches and kingdoms from ruin is owing to the satisfaction and mediation of Christ.'—Scott.
21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a x sin-offering for the congregation.
22 When a y ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God, concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;6
6 That power furnishes some licence, because it can maintain impunity for sin, and that rank exempts from some religious duties, on the allegation of temporal business, or for the assertion of worldly honour, are errors both notorious and fatal. To guard against these evil principles, there is a striking peculiarity in the law for a ruler; if he sin against any of the commandments of his God, he is guilty. His elevated station, instead of procuring him indulgence for transgression or neglect, is called to a watchfulness against all sin, proportioned to the influence of his example for the good or evil of the people, and for advancing or counteracting the honour and glory of God.—C.
23 Or if his sin wherein he hath sinned come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a z kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
z Nu. 7.16, 22, 28, &c. Ro. 8.3. 2 Co. 5.21. Ga. 4.4, 5; 3.13.
24 And a he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in b the place where they kill the burnt-offering before the LORD: it is a c sin-offering.
a See ver. 15.
b ch. 1.5, 11; 3.2, 8, 13; 4.4, 15, 29, 33; 16.15; 6.25. Ex. 29.38.
c See ver. 21, 31, 35.
25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put it d upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt-offering.
d ver. 30, 34. He. 2.10. Is. 40.21. Ro. 8.3, 4; 10.4; 3.24-26.
26 And he shall burn all his e fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace-offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
e ch. 3.5, 11, 16; ver. 8, 31, 35.
27 And if f any one of the common 7 people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD, concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
f Nu. 5.6; 15.16, 27-29. Ex. 12.49, with ver. 2, 13, 22. Ec. 7.20. Ja. 3.2.
7 People of the land.
28 Or if his sin which he hath sinned come to his knowledge; then he shall bring his offering, a g kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490.
g ver. 23, 32; ch. 5.6. Ge. 3.15. Is. 7.14. Je. 31.22. Ga. 4.4, 5. Ro. 8.3.
29 And he shall h lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, and slay the sin-offering in the place of the burnt-offering.
h See ver. 4, 15, 24, 33.
30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it i upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
i ver. 25, 34. He. 2.10. Is. 42.21. Ro. 8.3, 4; 10.4.
31 Andk he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a l sweet savour unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
k ch. 3.3-5, 9-11, 14-16; ver. 8-10, 19, 26, 35.
l Ex. 29.18. ch. 1.9, 13, 17; 3.5; 8.21. Ep. 5.2. Is. 42.21. He. 1.3; 9.12, 14, 15; 10.10, 12, 14. 1 Jn. 1.7; 4.9, 10. Re. 5.9.
32 And if he bring a m lamb for a sin-offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
m Ex. 12.3, 5. ch. 3.6, 7; 5.6; ver. 28. Jn. 1.29, 36. Re. 5.6, 8, 9. Lu. 1.35. Is. 53.7, 9. He. 7.26. 1 Pe. 2.22, 24; 3.18; 1.18, 19.
33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, and slay it for a sin-offering in the place where they kill the burnt-offering.
34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put it n upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
n ver. 25, 30. He. 2.10; 10.29. Jn. 17.19. Is. 42.21. Ro. 8.1, 3; 10.4. 2 Co. 5.21. 1 Pe. 2.24; 3.18; 1.18, 19.
35 Ando he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, p according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and q the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.8
o See ver. 31.
p ch. i.-vi.
q ver. 20, 30; ch. 5.6, 10, 13; 6.7; 12.8; 14.18, 53; 1.4; 9.7; xvi. Nu. 15.25. He. 7.26; 4.14; 1.3; 9.14. Ep. 1.6, 7; 5.2. Ro. 4.25; 5.6-11, 15-21; 3.24-26; 8.1, 3, 4; 10.4. 2 Co. 5.21. 1 Jn. 1.7; 2.2; 4.9, 10. Re. 1.5, 6; 5.9. 1 Pe. 1.18, 19; 2.22, 24; 3.18. Col. 1.14.
8 The forgiveness was what may be termed 'ceremonial.' The offender was released from the secular penalty annexed to his sin. The soul was not thereby freed from guilt in the sight of God; but the sinner was directed typically to that one great sacrifice offered up by Christ, and by which 'he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'—P.
Notes
Ver. 1. To mark the sins of priests and of congregations as greater than those of rulers or of private persons, (1) The offering must be more valuable, a bullock; (2) The blood must be sprinkled on the altar of incense; (3) The whole flesh of the bullock must be burned; whereas a lamb or kid is only required from rulers or private persons; the blood is but sprinkled on the altar of the burnt-offering, and the fat only is burned, and the flesh reserved for the officiating priests.
Ver. 3. [Flattery is an object of God's deepest abhorrence. The Lord 'shall cut off all flattering lips,' Ps. 12.3. But flattery, whether of self or others, is yet one of the most extensive and destructive diseases in society, Ps. 26.2; Pr. 26.28, claimed as a right inherent in certain ranks and offices. Accordingly, all false religions and wicked tyrannies are founded upon it. Priesthoods have been flattered as incapable of error, and kings have been flattered as descendants, not of men, but of gods. This chapter furnishes a wonderful contrast to these blasphemous sacrifices of flattery, and thereby affords us another of these incidental evidences of divine origin with which the Mosaic law abounds. In this law it is taken for granted that the anointed priest may be ignorant, and sin as the people, or rather cause the people to sin by his error or example, and his sacrifice is the most public and exemplary acknowledgment. At the door of the tabernacle he offers. He sprinkles the blood seven times—the emblem of a perfect expiation; and the whole sacrifice—the acknowledgment and evidence of his ignorance and sin—he carries forth without the camp, and publicly burns it with fire. No false religion could ever be founded on such admission of possible imperfection in its priesthood, nor subsist when it was discovered or acknowledged. C.]
Ver. 27. [The sin-offering for the priest or for the whole congregation must be a young bullock, without blemish; for a ruler, a kid, a male without blemish; that for one of the common people, a female, whether a lamb or a kid. Why this distinction? The priest was the ruler in matters ecclesiastical; the congregation, in their corporate capacity, were the rulers by virtue of the election they had made, De. 1.9-15, and the persons so elected were political rulers in virtue of the office they had accepted. Each is therefore required to sacrifice a male, as the leader and ruler of his flock. By this he is reminded of the dignity and duty of the ruler, and of the aggravated guilt he incurs by sin, whilst he is led to remember 'he has a master in heaven,' and to look to the sacrifice of the great ruler, who 'laid down his life for the sheep,' Jn. 10.15. When one of the common people offers a female, he offers a creature not inferior to the male in nature, but subordinate in office. This distinction holds good amongst Christians, 'the husband is head over the wife, even as Christ is head of the church,' Ep. 5.23; and on this holy subordination of office, without any unholy assumption of superiority of nature, much of domestic happiness depends. Equally necessary to national happiness is a well-ordered arrangement of privileges, and subordination to authority; and of this the sacrifices of the common people significantly reminded them; while they led their faith to him who was to come, not as a ruler, but as 'made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that they might receive the adoption of sons,' Ga. 4.4. Now, as power sometimes sets itself above law, so humble rank sometimes attempts to get below it. The same rule therefore applies to both, and the poor is not tolerated in disobeying any law of his God; while he is permitted to choose his sacrifice, either from the sheep or the goats, according to the nature of his own flock, or his means of purchase. Note, The Saviour who records the widow's mite requires for his service but such things as Providence and grace provide. C.]
Reflections.—In these offerings Jesus is yet represented as the strong and patient fatling; as the Lamb of God, and yet in the likeness of sinful flesh; laden with my awful transgressions, and suffering because thereof in his whole man, but chiefly in his soul, that I through him may obtain forgiveness. While I here discover how sin is aggravated, according to the station or number of the offenders, let me especially reflect how criminal and odious that must be which cannot be remitted without shedding of blood—the blood of God! how tremendous the justice of God that can by no means clear the guilty! Let me, with the priests, never attempt to gain pleasure or profit by my sins, but whenever I find myself guilty of evil, let there be an immediate application to Jesus, as made sin for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in him.