Leviticus - not everyone's favourite part of the Bible

If you're following the Read Scripture plan, then today we're entering one of the more challenging sections of the Old Testament. Leviticus contains the detail of many of Israel's laws which will often seem alien and irrelevant to us. I would encourage you to watch the Bible Project's book video (which I've included below) and just to keep on reading. The video starts with the line - 'the book of Leviticus - we know you've been avoiding it because it's ... weird - so let's fix that'.

Those of you who are a part of CBC will remember that last term our teaching series was 'From Sinai to the Promised Land' looking at the story of Israel from Exodus 24 to the end of Deuteronomy. And along the way there were various resources. The home group notes for that series are still available in the archive section of our website.

But just to help you get your head round the offerings that are mentioned in today's reading, and again in a few chapters' time, here's a table that outlines the what, the how and the why of Israel's offerings.

1. All offerings were to be ‘without defect’ in the case of animals, and the ‘finest’ in terms of flour etc. Only the best is acceptable.
2. The person bringing the sacrifice was to slaughter it just outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting - that is, in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle.
3. The altar was the Altar of Burnt Offerings mentioned in Exodus 27. Mention of the Alter above always refers to the Altar of Burnt Offerings. When the Altar of Incense is intended this is mentioned in full. There was a horn on each corner of the altar. This altar was in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Not to be confused with the Altar of Incense which was inside the Holy Place (not to be confused with the Holy of Holies.)) 
4. Slaughtering, skinning, cutting up were usually roles for the individual bringing the sacrifice.
5. Arranging meat on the altar, handling the blood and burning was the role of the priest.
6. This was the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
7. Regulations about the who, where, what and when of the Fellowship Meal are given in Leviticus 7

Offering	Read	Sacrifice	Ritual	Elements	Instructions	Purpose/additional notes
Burnt Offering	Lev. 1:1-17; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24	Bull or ram (a)	Present at entrance to Tent of Meeting (b)  Lay hands on head and slaughter (d) Ram - slaughtered at N side of altar. Skin & cut into pieces. Wash internal organs and legs	Blood	Priest: Splash against sides of altar (c)	Voluntary offering; atonement for sin.
				Skin	Kept by priest
				Head, fat, meat	Burn on the altar (e)
				Washed organs, legs	Burn on the altar
		Dove, pigeon (for the poor)	P: Bring to altar and wring off the head	Blood	Drain on side of altar
			Remove crop and feathers	Crop and feathers	Throw with the ashes, E of altar
			Tear open		Burn on the altar
Grain Offering	Lev. 2:1-16; 6:14-23	Finest flour, olive oil, incense. Without yeast or honey. Always add salt.	P: Take handful of flour, oil and all incense		Burn on the altar	Voluntary offering
				Rest	Belongs to the priests. Eat without yeast in the sanctuary area
Fellowship Offering	Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-36	Male or female cow, sheep, goat	Lay hands on head and slaughter at entrance to Tent of Meeting.	Blood	P: Splash against sides of altar	Voluntary offering; thanksgiving; communal meal
				Internal organs with fat, kidneys, liver. (Lamb’s tail)	Burn on the altar
				Breast, right thigh	Priest’s share
				Rest of the meat	Eaten by the people (ceremonially clean) as fellowship meal (g)
Sin Offering Lev. 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22	Priest	Young bull	Lay hands on head and slaughter at entrance to Tent of Meeting.	Blood	Dip finger and sprinkle seven times in front of curtain of sanctuary (f)	Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin
					Put some on horns of Altar of Incense
					Pour rest at base of Altar of Burnt Offering
				Fat, kidney, liver	Burn on the altar
				Skin, flesh, head, legs, organs, intestines	Burn outside camp in ceremonially clean place
	Whole Community	Young bull	Elders lay hands on head and slaughter	Priest performs as above
	Leader	Male goat	Lay hands on head and slaughter	Blood	Priest - put on horns of altar, rest poured out as above
				Fat	Burn on altar
				Meat	Eaten by priests, in sanctuary area
	Individual	Female goat/lamb	Lay hands on head and slaughter	Priest performs as for leader
		2 doves/pigeons (for the poor)	First bird (sin offering): P: Wring its neck	Blood	Splash on side of altar
					Drained at base of altar
			Second bird: burnt offering
		Finest flour, no oil or incense (for the very poor)	As grain offering
Guilt Offering	Lev. 5:14-6:7; 7:1-10	Ram		Blood	Splashed against sid of altar	Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution. Make restitution + 1/5 and give to priest. Make atonement.
				Fat, kidney, liver	Burn on altar
				Meat	Eaten by priests, in sanctuary area

If you've not already watched the Leviticus video - here it is - (see below first)

Updated on 30 January: the following video is slightly longer and updated for the Read Scripture series.