Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 is the first chapter of Leviticus. It opens the sacrificial regulations of chapters 1–7 with the burnt offering. In Exodus 40 the tabernacle of the congregation is set up and the glory of the LORD fills it. This chapter continues from that point, with the LORD calling to Moses from the tabernacle.

Outline

• Verses 1–2: The LORD calls to Moses from the tabernacle of the congregation. He instructs that anyone who wishes to bring an offering is to bring it from the livestock, from the herd or from the flock.
• Verses 3–9: The burnt offering from the herd. The offerer brings a male without blemish to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lays his hand on its head, and kills it. Aaron's sons, the priests, sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar. The animal is cut into pieces, its inwards and legs are washed with water, and everything is burned on the altar.
• Verses 10–13: The burnt offering from the flock, of sheep or of goats. A male without blemish is killed on the north side of the altar and wholly burned in the same manner as the offering from the herd.
• Verses 14–17: The burnt offering of birds. The offering is of turtledoves or young pigeons, and the priest handles it himself. The crop and its filth are cast beside the altar on the east side, at the place of the ashes. The bird is torn open at the wings but not divided asunder, and is then burned.

Key Verses

• Leviticus 1:4: "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him" (KJV). The laying on of hands, which links the offerer to the offering, is mentioned together with atonement.
• Leviticus 1:9: "an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD." All three sections, on cattle, sheep or goats, and birds, end with these words, signifying that God is pleased to accept the sacrifice.

People and Places

• The LORD, Moses
• Aaron's sons, the priests: The descendants of Aaron. They are responsible for sprinkling the blood and tending the fire and the wood on the altar. See Priest.
• Tabernacle of the congregation: The tent where God meets with his people. See Tabernacle.
• Altar: The altar of burnt offering in front of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Points for Reflection

• The burnt offering differs from the other sacrifices in that the entire animal, except for the skin, is burned on the altar. Leviticus 7:8 assigns the skin to the priest.
• The provision for offerings of cattle, sheep or goats, and birds is commonly interpreted as allowing even the poor to make an offering. Luke 2:24 records that Jesus' parents offered birds of this kind.
• The laying on of hands is interpreted in two ways. One view holds that the animal stands in place of the offerer; the other holds that the act identifies the animal as belonging to the offerer.
• Most Protestants hold that the Old Testament sacrifices were fulfilled in the sacrifice Christ offered once for all (Hebrews 10), and therefore do not observe these regulations literally. The "sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" of Ephesians 5:2 and the "living sacrifice" of Romans 12:1 are also read in connection with the language of this chapter. Since the destruction of the Temple, Judaism has understood prayer and the study of the Law to take the place of sacrifice.

In the Korean Church

• In public prayers offered on behalf of the congregation and in sermons on dedication, worship and the Christian life are often likened to a "whole burnt offering."