Bible Commentary: Exodus 33 - Leviticus 12

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BIBLE COMMENTARY - EXODUS 33 THRU LEVITICUS 12

Exodus Chapter 33

Jehovah told Moses to “Leave this place, you and the people that you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” In spite of the rebellion of the nation, Jehovah is still going to honor his oath to their forefathers to give them the land of Canaan. Jehovah states that He is not going with them otherwise He would have to exterminate them, as they are a stiff-necked people. They were to be like those in mourning so they were told to remove all of their ornaments. They must show themselves to be repentant, wearing ‘sackcloth’ as it were. (Psalms 69:10, 11) It was not an occasion for rejoicing as Israel’s relationship with Jehovah is now strained.

Because of this strained relationship Moses has moved the tent where Jehovah meets with him outside the camp. He called it the ‘tent of meeting.’ This is the first case of disfellowshipping; Moses disfellowshipped the nation of Israel. At Exodus 27:21, the tabernacle is referred to as the ‘Tent of Meeting’ but this is a different tent as the tabernacle has not yet been set up. Jehovah spoke with Moses ‘face to face’ as a man would speak with his friend. The ‘pillar of cloud’ would remain at the entrance of the tent while Jehovah spoke to Moses. Any individual Israelite who wanted to inquire of Jehovah would have to go outside the camp to this tent. After Jehovah finished speaking with him, Moses would return to the camp. Joshua however did not leave the tent.

IMPORTANT POINT: This situation typifies what we see among Jehovah’s witnesses in our modern times. In times of National Apostasy, Jehovah dutifully will without a doubt, “abandon” the House of Israel, as Jesus clearly stated. (Leviticus 4:1-21; Matthew 23:38) And so for these reasons, Jehovah’s representative, thus, would have to leave the ‘apostate nation’ and organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses and go out into the wilderness where appropriately he would receive instruction from Jehovah, in imitation of such faithful prophets of old like Elijah and John the Baptist. (Isaiah 10:6; 1 Kings 17:1-5; Matthew 3:1-6) Thereafter, anyone from the nation of Israel, who wishes to “inquire of Jehovah,” must go to the wilderness since God Himself had left the land; Jehovah would no longer agree to be a resident or dweller in this now “polluted land” Himself. Therefore, simply put, God’s Name People have “polluted the land” by wickedly engaging in idolatry and will be in the same position as the nation of Israel was at that time. – Numbers 35:34; Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Deuteronomy 23:14; Jeremiah 3:1-3; John 8:29; Hebrews 13:13, 14

Moses knows that he has been especially chosen by Jehovah to lead this people. He recognizes that if he is to continue to have Jehovah’s favor, he needs to know more about Him as he is leading God’s people. If Jehovah does not accompany them on this journey, they will have many problems. The surrounding nations will know that Jehovah is not pleased with them. Jehovah told Moses that He was pleased with his request and that He will go with them. Moses now asks to see Jehovah’s glory. Jehovah sends him to a nearby rock where He will shield him as His glory passes by. Moses will only be allowed to see Jehovah’s back, not His face. Jehovah will show Moses His goodness and will proclaim His name.

Exodus Chapter 34

Jehovah now tells Moses to chisel out two stone tablets and bring them into the mountain on the next day. No person or animal is to be anywhere near the mountain on that day. Moses complies. When he ascends the mountain, Jehovah comes down in a cloud and He proclaims or “declares” his Glorious Name before Moses. In so doing, He then describes His glorious qualities to Moses. He is a compassionate and gracious God in that He is slow to anger, He abounds in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin though the guilty are punished even to the third and fourth generations. Moses is overawed and prostrates himself before Jehovah. He then requests that Jehovah would go with them even though they are a stiff-necked people, forgiving their sin and accepting them as his inheritance, that is, if Moses has found favor with Him. Moses’ prayer is in accordance with the qualities of God that He has described to him.

Jehovah now reaffirms the covenant with Moses and states that He will ‘do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world’ and the people will see His awesome work. But they must obey His commands in order to see His works. When they are in the land of Canaan, they must not make a treaty with the inhabitants. They must destroy their altars, their sacred stones and the Asherah poles. They are not to make an idol for purposes of worship. There is to be no intermarriage with these inhabitants or they would be enticed to worship these other gods as Jehovah their God is a jealous God.

A condensed version of the laws that Jehovah originally gave Moses as recorded in Exodus 20-23:19 are restated here and Moses is told to write these down as these are the words of the covenant Jehovah has made with Israel. Jehovah however wrote the ‘ten words’ on the stone tablets. (Deuteronomy 10:4)

Moses’ face is now radiant when he comes back to the people. This is the second time that he spent forty days and nights on the mountain with Jehovah. (Deuteronomy 10:10) The people were afraid to come near him. But he was able to convince Aaron and the leaders of the people to come near him and later the people also came. He then repeated to them all of Jehovah’s commands that he had been given on Mount Sinai.

This situation reminds us of the appearance of the enlightened “face” of the Modern Day “Servant” which seems to radiate like the “sun” to certain Jehovah’s witnesses (reformers) who encounter him after the YORWW Congregation is fully established. Indeed, the “face” of the Modern Day “Servant” will seem to radiate like the “sun” to the “Two Witnesses” reformer group, when they finally have a face-to-face meeting with the “Chieftain” of the YORWW Temple. – Ezekiel 44:3; Daniel 10:5, 6; Daniel 12:5-7; Matthew 17:2; Revelation 10:1, 2; Revelation 11:3

Moses now began to wear a veil over his face as the radiance of his face began to dull and he would remove it only when he appeared before Jehovah. Paul likens the veil Moses wore to the dullness of the hearts of those Israelites in his day who refused to seek Jehovah. He says at 2 Corinthians 3:15, 16 this: “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord [Jehovah], the veil is taken away.” (NIV)

Jehovah Witnesses today are experiencing this same dullness of heart when they read the Bible as they are not seeking Jehovah but are more interested in pleasing their leadership. So their hearts and minds remain unresponsive.

Exodus Chapters 35-39

Moses assembles the people and reminds them of Jehovah’s sabbath regulations. Even though the Israelites would be doing a sacred work, they would still need to observe the sabbath as a day holy to Jehovah. Moses then asks ‘everyone who was willing’ to make contributions of materials that will be needed for building the tabernacle and its furnishings, the courtyard, the altar and its furnishings, the basin, and the priestly garments. He also invited those who were skilled in making these items to come and help. The community withdrew and those ‘whose hearts moved him’ brought the offerings necessary to carry out the work.

Moses then told the people that Jehovah had given Bezalel and Oholiab the skill, ability and knowledge to do the work and also the ability to teach others. He then commanded them along with other skilled person to come and do the work. Moses turned the materials that had been donated by the nation over to these skilled workers. The people continued bringing offerings until the craftsman went to Moses and told him that the people were bringing too much. So Moses gave the order restraining them from bringing any more.

The tabernacle and its furnishing, the altar of burnt offering, the basin and the courtyard were completed first. The amount of materials used was 29 talents, 730 shekels of gold, some what more than one ton; 100 talents, 1775 shekels of silver, about 3 and ¾ tons; and 24 talents, 2400 shekels of bronze, about 2 and ½ tons. At Moses’ instruction Ithamar, Aaron’s son, recorded the inventory of the materials used. The priestly garments were then made. Six times in verses 1-31 of chapter 39 we are told that these garments were made exactly as Jehovah had commanded.

After the completion of the work, everything was brought to Moses who inspected it and saw that the Israelites had done just as Jehovah had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Exodus Chapter 40

On the first day of the first month, Nisan, in the second year, Jehovah instructed Moses to erect the tabernacle, the tent of meeting with its frames, crossbars, posts and tent coverings. He was then told to put the two tablets or testimony in the ark, to put the atonement cover over it, and put these into the Most Holy compartment. Then he was to hang the curtain to shield the ark. He would then put the table with the showbread and its utensils, the lampstand and its lights and the altar of incense in the Holy compartment of the tabernacle. Then he was to put the curtain for the entrance to the tabernacle in place. Next he would put the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the basin between the tabernacle and the altar of burnt offering filled with water, then erect the courtyard.

He was then to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishing, the altar of burnt offering and its utensils, then the basin and its stand with the anointing oil so that they would be holy. He was then told to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tabernacle, wash them and dress them in their official garments, then anoint them to be a holy priesthood forever. Moses did exactly as Jehovah told him to do.

After Moses completed this work, the cloud covered the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tabernacle because Jehovah’ s glory filled it. This cloud would lift from the tabernacle whenever the people were to set out, but if it did not lift, they would remain in place. At night, there was fire in the cloud so that it could be easily seen by all of the Israelites.

THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS

Leviticus Chapter 1

The book of Leviticus is mainly concerned with the service of worship at the tabernacle, its laws and regulations. This name comes from the Septuagint and means “relating to the Levites.”

The burnt offering is discussed first. It is a voluntary offering, one that is brought as a gift to Jehovah. It could be from the herd or the flock and it was to be a male without defect. It could also be a dove or a young pigeon, usually offered by the poor. The one bringing the offering would put his hand on its head indicating that he recognized that the animal was offered in his stead as atonement for him. He would then slaughter the animal and the priest would sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. The animal is skinned and then cut in pieces. The inner parts and the legs are washed with water. All of it, including the fat and the head, is then arranged on the altar and completely burned as an aroma pleasing to Jehovah

If the offering is to be a bird, the priest would bring it to the altar and wring off the head, letting the blood drain out on all sides of the altar. The crop was removed and thrown on the east side of the altar where the ashes were put. The bird is then torn open by its wings, partially severing it, then put on the fire to be consumed.

The NIV Study Bible makes this comment concerning the burnt offering: “The burnt offering may have been the usual sacrifice offered by the patriarchs. It was the most comprehensive in its meaning. Its Hebrew name means “going up,” perhaps symbolizing worship and prayer as its aroma ascended to the Lord. The completeness of its burning also speaks of dedication on the part of the worshiper.”

Leviticus Chapter 2

The grain offering is discussed next. It also was a voluntary offering, a portion of which is offered on the altar of burnt offering. It was to be made of fine flour with oil and incense. It could be uncooked, baked in an oven, or cooked on a griddle or in a pan. If it is to be uncooked, the person would simply pour oil on the flour, mix incense in it and take it to the priest. The priest would burn a handful of it on the altar along with all the incense as a ‘memorial portion.’ If the grain offering is baked in an oven or cooked on a griddle as cakes or wafers, no yeast or honey is to be added. Yeast and honey were not to be burned on the altar of burnt offering. These grain offerings are crumbled and oil is to be spread on them. The priest takes out the memorial portion that is to be burned on the altar. The remainder of the grain offering would belong to the priest who offered it, a ‘most holy portion made to Jehovah by fire.’ The grain offering was to be eaten by a descendant of Aaron only and was to be eaten in the courtyard, a holy place. (Leviticus 6:14-18)

All offerings made by fire to Jehovah were to be seasoned with salt. Ezekiel 44:24 states that the priest would add salt to animal sacrifices that were offered as burnt offerings. This salt is referred to in verse 13 as the “salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering.” Salt was regarded as something permanent because of it not being consumed by the fire. 2 Chronicles 13:5 says that the ‘kingship of Israel was given to David and his descendants forever by a ‘covenant of salt,’ a permanent arrangement. Salt was used by Elisha to purify a spring of water. (2 Kings 2:19-22) Salt was also used as a preservative and as seasoning.

The Israelites could also bring a grain offering of firstfruits that would consist of ‘crushed heads of grain roasted in the fire’ on which they would put oil and incense. The priest would burn the memorial portion as an offering made by fire to Jehovah. Honey and yeast could only be offered to Jehovah as firstfruits.

Leviticus Chapters 3

The fellowship or peace offering is voluntary and a portion of this offering is to be burned on the altar of burnt offering. This offering could be an expression of thanksgiving, the result of a vow or a freewill offering. A male as well as a female animal, whether from the herd or the flock, without defect, could be used in this offering. The person is to lay his hand on the head of the animal and slaughter it at the entrance to the tabernacle, on the north side. The priest sprinkles the blood around the altar. He then takes all the fat that covers the inner parts, both kidneys with the fat on and around them and the covering of the liver and burns this on the altar as an aroma pleasing to Jehovah. If the offering is a sheep, the priest is to offer the fatty tail also.

Leviticus Chapter 4

National Sin and Individual Sin Contrasted

The sin offering is now considered. It is for those who sin unintentionally and does what is forbidden. A difference is made between unintentional sin and high-handed sin or sin "defiantly" done, wherein the person shows that he despises God’s word. (See Numbers 15:30, 31 NASV) The sin offering is not voluntary, it is mandatory.

An interesting definition for unintentional sin is given in the book Leviticus by George A. F. Knight, page 27. He writes: “This chapter of Leviticus introduces us to a new word for sin. It is hattath, one of the many words for sin that we find in the Old Testament. It means to miss the mark. You pick up your bow, pull it tight, release the arrow - and miss! You have missed not because you are wicked, but because you are stupid, silly, careless, inattentive, perhaps lazy, or more probably because you do not possess the proper aim in life.”

The sin-atoning procedure outlined in Leviticus 4:1-21 and the understanding of such, proves to be very important for all of God's Name People today. This portion of scripture shows the atonement procedure to be used when either (a) the high priest sins or the (b) entire nation sins before Jehovah. In the case where the High Priest sins, it is made it clear, his sin not only makes him guilty, but also "BRINGS GUILT ON" the entire nation of Israel itself. This is a very serious matter. (Lev. 4:3 NASV)

Therefore, when the "anointed priest" or high priest sins, he must bring a young bull as a sin offering. At the entrance to the tabernacle, he is to lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter it. He is then to take some of the blood inside the tabernacle and sprinkle some of it seven times before Jehovah in front of the curtain. He is then to put some of it on the 4 horns of the Golden Altar of Incense, which is situated right in front of the "Holy Curtain" that separates the Holy Compartment from the Most Holy Compartment of the Tabernacle, where the "Ark of the Covenant" and the miraculous "Shekinah Light" exists. Afterwards, the high priest pours out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering outside the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle of God. The fat that covers the inner parts, the kidneys and the fat upon them and the covering of the liver are removed and burned on the altar of burnt offering. The rest of the animal, its flesh, its hide, its inner parts are taken outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place where the ashes are placed and it is to be burned on the ash heap. None of its flesh is to be eaten because its blood was taken into the tabernacle to make atonement. (Leviticus 6:30) This is a special procedure that God prescribes for the nation of Israel to atone for National Sin caused by the high priest himself.

Atonement for National Sin is required also when the entire community of Israel has sinned and are made aware of that sin. In this case, they must bring a bull to the entrance to the tabernacle. The elders of the people are to lay their hands on its head and they are to slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. The priest is to carry out the same procedure as with the offering for the "anointed priest" or high priest who sins. None of the flesh of this offering is to be eaten because atonement had to be made by taking some of the blood of the offering into the tent of meeting. (Lev. 6:30)

Atonement for Cases Where National Sin Was Not Involved

When a leader of the community sins, he is to bring a male goat to the entrance to the tent of meeting where he will lay his hand on it and then slaughter it. The priest will take some of its blood and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour the remainder of it out at the base of this altar. The fat will be burned as with the fellowship offering. The priest who makes the offering or any male member of his family may eat the flesh in a holy place.

When an individual member of the community sins, he must bring either a female goat or a female lamb on which he will lay his hand. The atonement procedure is the same as when a leader of the community sins.

Leviticus Chapter 5

Other offences that require a sin offering be made for atonement are as follows: 1) when a person refuses to come forward when he is summoned to testify concerning something he has learned; 2) when a person touches the carcass of an unclean animal; 3) when a person touches any human uncleanness or 4) when a person makes a rash oath.

A person must confess in which of these four ways he is guilty. Then he must bring a female lamb or goat and the priest must make atonement for him as already described above. If he cannot afford a lamb then he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest. One will be for a sin offering and the other to be used as a burnt offering. The priest will offer these in the prescribed way. If he cannot afford to bring the birds, then he can bring an offering of fine flour. He must not put oil or incense on it. The priest will take the memorial portion and burn it on the altar as a burnt offering to Jehovah. He will keep the remainder of the offering as his portion.

If a person sins in reference to the holy things, that is, the things that belong to Jehovah such as tithes and offerings, or he is suspected of violating a command of Jehovah, he is required to bring a ram without defect for atonement for his guilt. In addition, he is to bring in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, 20 percent of the value of the ram and give it to the priest. The ram is slaughtered in the usual place, the north side of the altar, and the priest sprinkles the blood against the altar on all sides. The fat tail, the fat that covers the inner parts, both kidneys with the fat on them and the covering of the liver are removed and put on the altar of burnt offering as an offering made to Jehovah by fire.

Leviticus Chapter 6

If a person deceives, cheats, or lies to his neighbor concerning property entrusted to him or he keeps property that he has found, he will be required to make full restitution of the property as well as adding 20 percent of the value of the property to his neighbor. He will also be required to bring a ram for atonement plus the value of the ram in silver shekels and an added 20 percent of its value. The priest will then make atonement for him. These offenses are of the type that cannot be easily proven in a court of law. They would not be considered as outright dishonesty or stealing. The conscience of the guilty party must move him to admit his guilt.

The law of the continual burnt offering is described in verses 8-13. Aaron is commanded that the burnt offering must remain on the altar throughout the night till morning. In the morning, the priest will add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and he will put the fat of the offerings on top of it. The fire must be kept burning continuously, it must not go out. The priest must wear his official garments to remove the ashes of the burnt offering from the altar and place them besides the altar. When he takes the ashes of the burnt offerings outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean he must remove his official garments and put on other ones.

The grain offering presented by the anointed priest each day consisted of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with oil and cooked on a griddle. It is to be broken in pieces and is to be halved. One half will be offered with the morning burnt offering and the other half with the evening burnt offering. All of it is to used up and none of it is to be eaten by the priest. It is to be a whole burnt offering to Jehovah.

The "sin offering" was to be considered "most holy" to Jehovah. (Lev. 6:25 NASV) It was to be eaten in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting by the officiating priest or any male member of his family. Since the priest participated in the procedure of the removal of sin from a fellow Israelite, he was considered "holy" by Jehovah. However, if any of the animal's blood was spilled on his garment, the garment must be washed in a holy place. This was because the sacrificial animal became the VICAR or substitute for the person who offers it. When the sinner "laid his hand" upon the head of the animal offered, he was symbolically transmitting his "sins" from himself to the animal used in the sacrifice. (Lev. 4:29 NASV) In this way, the animal would become a "substitute" or vicar for the sinner and would die to cover the sins of that person, or die in place of that person. (Romans 6:23) Therefore, since the stain of sin or the "pollution" of sin, had been transmitted from the sinner to the sacrificial animal offered, then in essence in God's view, the sin was miraculously transmitted to the animal sacrificed, thereby INFECTING the animal sacrifice, contaminating it, as the new carrier that God must now deal with or punish. Thus, first century christians, when contemplating the true value of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ and how this sacrifice rendered them "spotless" in God's eyes, were always admonished to view "sin" this way, as a form of "pollution" that contaminated the person. (See 2 Peter 3:14 NASV; Jude 23 NASV.)

Therefore, if the now, sin-infected animal sacrifice was cooked in a clay pot, this pot must be broken, to please Jehovah. Or, if the sin-infested sacrificial animal was cooked in a bronze pot, this pot must be scoured and rinsed so that it is thoroughly cleaned. Again, the reason this had to be done is because the stain of sin from the person offering the animal was on the animal sacrifice. And the person who offers the animal that is sacrificed has "laid" sin-stained "hands" upon the head of the animal, thus transferring his sins to the animal who now dies in his stead. Unlike cases of National Sin, in cases where individual sin was being atoned for, the priest would be allowed to eat of the sacrificial sin offering, because he shared in or was a part of the atonement procedure. (James 5:19, 20) However, in cases of National Sin Offering, this was not the case. (Lev. 4:1-21; Lev. 6:30)

Leviticus Chapter 7

The guilt offering and the sin offering are similar in procedure and meaning but the blood of these offerings are treated differently. A sin offering was required when no restitution was possible. A guilt offering was required in situations where restitution could be made. The animal sacrifice for a guilt offering was always a ram.

As with the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest who makes the atonement with it as does all the grain offerings. Any male in the priest’s family may eat it but it must be eaten in a holy place.

The regulations for the fellowship offering are considered next. If the fellowship offering was to be an expression of thanksgiving, the person is to bring in addition to his sacrifice cakes of bread, wafers, and cakes of fine flour, all made without yeast and mixed with oil. He is also to bring these items made with yeast. Both kinds will be a contribution to Jehovah and so will belong to the priest. The meat of this fellowship offering is to be eaten on the day it is offered. None is to be left over till the next day.

If his fellowship offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, and some of the meat is left over, it may be eaten on the second day. None of it was be eaten on the third day, it was to be burned up in the fire. If it is eaten on the third day, the entire offering will be invalidated for the one who makes the offering. All who partook of it on the third day will be held responsible. He would be guilty with respect to Jehovah’s holy things. He is to be put to death. (Deuteronomy 19:8)

The meat of the fellowship offering was holy to Jehovah. If it touched anything unclean, it could not be eaten, it had to be burned up. If anyone who was himself unclean or had touched anything unclean, whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal, and who partook of this offering, he would be put to death.

Fat as with blood is something holy to Jehovah. Just as with blood, the fat was not to eaten, it was to be offered upon the altar of burnt offering. Anyone eating the fat of an animal that should have been offered to Jehovah was to be put to death. The fat of an animal found dead could be used for some other purpose, excluding eating it. Eating the blood of any animal was expressly prohibited. The person doing so was to be put to death.

As with the grain offering, the priests are to have a portion of this offering as their regular share from the Israelites. The breast is to be waved before Jehovah as a wave offering. It belongs to Aaron and his sons. The right thigh is given to the priest who offers the blood and the fat of this sacrifice. (Leviticus 7:28-36)


Leviticus Chapter 8

Aaron and his sons are consecrated for the service at the Tent of Meeting as prescribed by Jehovah to Moses. The procedure is recorded in Exodus chapter 29. One detail given here in Leviticus that is not mentioned in Exodus is that when Moses consecrated the altar of burnt offering, he sprinkled some of the anointing oil on the altar seven times to consecrate it and its utensils.

Leviticus Chapter 9

On the eighth day, the day after the seven-day consecration ceremony, Aaron and his sons were told by Moses to begin his priestly duties by first offering sacrifices for himself and then for the people.

Aaron was to first make an offering for himself. He brought a bull calf for his sin offering and a ram for his burnt offering. He was then to have the assembly bring a male goat for their sin offering, a calf and a lamb, both one-year-old, for their burnt offering, and an ox and a ram and a grain offering for their fellowship offering.

The priests brought the things that Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting and Moses said to them: “This is what the LORD [Jehovah] has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD [Jehovah] may appear to you.” (NIV) Aaron proceeded to make the sacrificial offerings as Jehovah had commanded to be done.

Afterwards, Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. The blessing or benediction is recorded at Number 6:23-26. (NIV) It reads: “The LORD [Jehovah] said to Moses, tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites, Say to them “The LORD [Jehovah] bless you and keep you; the LORD [Jehovah] make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD [Jehovah] turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. Scholars believe that this may have been done in order to identify Aaron in the eyes of the people as the one who is to serve in the sanctuary. When they came out of the Tent of Meeting, “fire came from the presence of Jehovah and consumed the burnt offerings, and the fat portions on the altar.” In this manner, the glory of Jehovah appeared to the people. The people in their turn ‘shouted for joy and fell face down.’

A comment from The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, page 188, says this regarding this occasion: “Thus the designed purpose of sacrificial approach to God was accomplished. This visible and glorious manifestation of the Lord’s presence, along with the supernatural fire that fully consumed the already partially burned sacrifices on the altar, indicated His approval of the sacrifices.”

Leviticus Chapter 10

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them, added incense and, as verse one says, “they offered unauthorized fire” before Jehovah. The account says that ‘fire came out from the presence of Jehovah’ and they died. Incense was to be offered on the altar of incense twice daily, in the morning when the lamps were tended to and in the evening when the lamps were lit. (Exodus 30:7-9) This was usually done by one of the priest. The account does not state if this was what the two priests were attempting to do. Based on what Moses said to Aaron at this time, Aaron’s sons had failed to honor Jehovah.

After the bodies of Abihu and Nadab, still in their tunics, had been removed from the courtyard, Moses told Aaron this: “Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community.” (Verse 6) Aaron was not allowed to mourn his sons. He was not to leave off his duties to attend to the burial of them. His relatives could do this. Jehovah said to Aaron: “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean.” (Verses 8-10)

Moses reminded Aaron and his sons about the food that was given to them from the fellowship or peace offerings made by the people. Those offerings made by fire and prepared without leaven were holy and were to be eaten in a holy place by the priests. The families of the priest could share in the eating of the breast and thigh that had been waved as part of the fellowship offering. This food was to be eaten in a ceremonially clean place. Leviticus 7:36, (NRSV) where a discussion of the priest’s share in the peace offerings is given, tells us this: “These the LORD [Jehovah] commanded to be given them, when he anointed them, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel throughout their generations.”

Moses was angry with Aaron because he had treated the sin offering of an individual the same as he would have treated a sin offering for the nation although the blood had not been brought into the Tent of Meeting. It was an offering in which the priests were supposed to partake, but Aaron had had the entire carcass burned up. Aaron did not believe that it would be appropriate to eat the sin offering because of what had happened to his sons.

Leviticus Chapter 11

Regulations concerning animals that Israel could eat are given in this chapter. Land animals that had a split hoof and that chewed the cud were considered clean. Deuteronomy 14:4 lists these as: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the roebuck, the gazelle, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. Any animal that chewed the cud but did not have a split hoof was unclean as well as one that had a split hoof but did not chew the cud. Animals from the sea that were clean were those that had both fins and scales. Those sea creatures that don’t have fins and scales usually live on the bottom of the sea and are scavengers and are more likely to carry diseases. The clean birds were those that were not scavengers nor ate fish. All flying insects that walked on four legs were unclean except those that also had jointed back legs for hopping on the ground. Included in these were the locusts, katydid, cricket and grasshoppers. Any animals that moved upon the ground whether on its belly or moves about on feet such as the lizard, or weasel are unclean.

If an Israelite touched the carcass of one of these unclean animals, he would be unclean and must wash his garments. If the carcass of one of these unclean animal or insects falls on an article of wood or cloth, hide or sackcloth, these were to be put into water until the evening then these items would be clean. It a carcass fell on a clay pot or an oven, these were to be broken up. If a clean animal died of natural causes and a person touched its carcass, they would be unclean. Israel is reminded that they are a people holy to Jehovah and they must not make themselves unclean by any of these unclean animals.

Even Gentiles or those who were not Israelites were considered unclean just as were these animals. At Isaiah 43: 19, 20 Jehovah says: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackal and the ostriches; for I will give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.” The jackal and the ostriches were unclean for an Israelite to eat, but here Jehovah has reference to people, Gentiles. Also at Acts 10:11-15, (NRSV) Peter is given a vision where he sees all kinds of animals in a sheet being lowered to the ground and he is told to get up and eat. Peter refuses because these are all unclean animals for him. A voice says to Peter “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” We know, of course, that these animals represented Gentiles whom Jehovah was about to bring into the Christians congregation and hence were not to be considered unclean any longer.

Leviticus Chapter 12

A woman who had just given birth to a child was considered ceremonially unclean. If she gave birth to a son she would be unclean for seven days. The child would be circumcised on the eighth day. Her days of purification from her bleeding would last for thirty-three days before she would be considered clean and she could touch something sacred or go to the sanctuary. If she gave birth to a daughter, she would be unclean for fourteen days and her days of purification from her bleeding would last for sixty-six days.

After her days of purification were over, she was to bring a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. If she could not afford a lamb, she could bring two pigeons or two doves for the burnt offering and the sin offering. The priest would make atonement for her and she would be considered ceremonially clean. (Luke 2:22-24)


NOTE: Translations used in this commentary

NRSV – New Revised Standard Version
NIV – New International Version
NASV - New American Standard Version

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