UNROLL
First light over the wilderness camp: beyond a few black goat-hair tents, the long white linen wall of the tabernacle court and the low dark roof of the tent, with one thin column of pale smoke rising from the altar inside.

The Book of

Leviticus 1

Moses could not enter the tent. Now God calls to him from it: this is how you may come near.

17 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–7The offeringsHow sinners draw nearChapter 1
  2. 8–10The priestsOrdained, and a warning
  3. 11–15Clean and uncleanLife before a holy God
  4. 16The Day of AtonementSins carried away
  5. 17–27A holy peopleBe holy, for I am holy

Laws for Burnt Offerings

Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.

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Morning in a pen of piled stones and thornbrush at the edge of the camp: a man in plain wool rests his hand on the back of a young bull as he chooses it from among his family’s cattle, sheep and goats.

If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.

He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 1:4

God

Reflect

Accepted on his behalf

Before any priest touched the altar, the worshiper did one thing himself: he laid his hand on the animal’s head. Then God said it would be “accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.” Another life stood in his place. Write down what it means to you that Jesus stood in yours. Then pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for taking my place, so that I am accepted. Amen.

Dawn between the tents of the camp: a herdsman seen from behind leads a young ram with curled horns and a black male goat on two short ropes toward the distant white linen court, a thread of smoke rising beyond it.

If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male. He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to splatter its blood against the altar on all sides. He is to cut the animal into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and fat, atop the burning wood that is on the altar. The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

0:37

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.

The law

A bird for the altar

  1. The priest offers it at the altar

    Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.

  2. The crop to the ashes, on the east

    And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes.

  3. Torn open, not divided

    He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely.

  4. Burned whole: a pleasing aroma

    And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Courtyard · 100 × 50 cubitsNGate · EastTent of MeetingBronze altarBasinThe tent, enlarged · 30 × 10 cubitsArkTableLampstandIncense altarVeilScreenMost Holy PlaceHoly Place

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

The tabernacle

At the altar

The worshiper brought his animal into the court, “to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” The bronze altar stood in the court before the tent’s door. Sheep and goats were offered “on the north side of the altar,” and the bird’s crop was thrown “to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes,” toward the gate. Every burnt offering ended on this one altar, the only place God gave for it.

Question

Quick question

Before the priests did anything, the one who brought the burnt offering had one thing to do himself.

Where did the worshiper lay his hand?

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Leviticus 1

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A verse to carry with you

He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 1:4

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