Leviticus 1-3

What I Noticed Today (Leviticus 1-3)

Leviticus means “relating to the Levites.” The book deals with the duties of the priests, service in the tabernacle, and laws regarding worship, ceremonial cleansing, moral laws, and holy days. Because of the extent of these regulations, Leviticus is often referred to as the book of the law.

There is a lot of important imagery here that often gets lost in the details of the sacrifices themselves.

Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 deals with the first of five offerings to the Lord; the burnt offering. The burnt offering was a voluntary offering, always a male from the livestock (bull, sheep, or goat) or a bird (usually a dove).

In verses 1-2, the Lord spoke to Moses from inside the tent of meeting, giving him instructions to the Israelites who bring offerings.

In verses 3-9, instructions regarding an offering from a herd.

• An individual would bring the unblemished animal to the priest and lay their hand on the animal’s head as the animal was slaughtered. The lifeblood of an animal was required to make atonement for the individual. The laying on of the hand was symbolically transferring the individual’s sin to the animal. This is a picture of Christ’s blood shed on the cross, making atonement for our sins.
• If an individual didn’t have a bull, a sheep, or a goat from a flock, was an acceptable sacrifice.
• If the individual was poor, a turtledove or pigeon could be used as a sacrifice.

Leviticus 2

Leviticus 2 deals with the grain offering, which was also voluntary. It was offered in recognition of God as being the source of their provision. The grain could be offered whole, ground into fine flour, or baked. A portion would be dedicated as holy to God, and the remainder given to the priest.

• If the grain offering were fine flour, the priest would pour oil and frankincense on it and take a portion and burn it on the fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The remainder would be the priests.
• If the grain offering was baked, it must be made with fine flour and oil and must be unleavened. A portion will be broken off and burned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, and the remainder will belong to the priest.
• No leaven may be used in a grain offering, and all grain offerings must be seasoned with salt.
• If the grain offering is of firstfruits, it must be freshly crushed heads of grain, roasted on a fire. It will have oil and frankincense poured on it and burned as a fire offering to the Lord.

Leviticus 3

Leviticus 3 deals with the fellowship (sometimes called peace) offering, which was voluntary. There were three kinds of fellowship offerings; thanksgiving, vow, and fellowship (more in chapter 7). The fellowship offering signified communion between the individual and God. It was the only offering in which the individual ate the offering with the priests. Livestock in the form of a bull, lamb, or goat was used for fellowship offerings.

• An individual would bring the unblemished animal to the priest and lay their hand on the animal’s head as the animal was slaughtered. Blood was sprinkled on all sides of the altar. The fat and the entrails will be burned on the altar along with the liver and kidneys as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
• If an individual didn’t have a bull, a lamb from a flock was an acceptable fellowship.
• If the individual offered a goat, it could be used as a fellowship offering.
• All of the fat belongs to the Lord. You are not to eat the fat or the blood.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• How much better might we be today if we dealt with our sin in prayer, recognized God as the great provider, and spent time in fellowship with Him?!

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 4-6