Leviticus 1:10-17:
10 ‘But if his offering is from the flock, of the sheep or of the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall offer it a male without defect.
11 He shall slay it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
12 He shall then cut it into its pieces with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.
13 The entrails, however, and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it, and offer it up in smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.
14 ‘But if his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering from the turtledoves or from young pigeons.
15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head and offer it up in smoke on the altar; and its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar.
16 He shall also take away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar eastward, to the place of the ashes.
17 Then he shall tear it by its wings, but shall not sever it. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.
Thoughts on the Passage
This passage seems to be repetitive, but on close examination, we notice some interesting differences. You will note that in verse two, the offerer had a choice of bringing an offering of animals from the herd or from the flock. Verses 5 to 9 of this chapter describe what is to be done when the offering is a young bull or an animal from the herd. Verses 10 to 13 describe the process when the animal is from the flock of the sheep or goats. And verses 14 to 17 describe the process for an offering of birds.
David Guzik says, offering animals from the flock of sheep or goats, “was essentially the same as that for offering a bull, except that a sheep or a goat was not skinned. Since the entire animal was to be burned, only the impurities of the entrails had to be washed before the sacrifice was burnt. A bull presented as a burnt offering had to be skinned. . ..”
Robert Jamieson suggests that one reason for the difference may have been that some Israelites were not able to afford a sacrifice of a bull and could only offer a ram. I assume that those who were poorer still and could not afford a ram could offer a bird. The procedures were basically the same.
David Guzik points out that it was not any kind of bird that God would accept. It had to be a turtledove or a young pigeon. The key thing is that God had a range of animals – bulls, sheep, goats, birds – that He accept as a sacrifice. The point is that God is interested in the heart of man than in the actual ability of man to afford a particular way of sacrificing to Him. But still, even the less costly sacrifices had to follow God’s prescribed manner. Guzik, with Jamieson’s support, even suggests that it was wrong for a rich man to offer a bird. Matthew Henry says what is important is that we note that “God, in His law and in His gospel, as well as in His providence, considers the poor.”
Robert Jamieson tells us the fowls were always offered in pairs although it is not clear to me from this passage as to where he got that idea. He goes to point out, and correctly, that while the turtledoves had no age restriction, the doves did. The reasoning behind this was that turtledoves were favored by man for eating at any age, while older pigeons would be rejected for consumption. God did not an offering of an animal that was first rejected by man.
Matthew Henry, reflecting on verses 15 to 17:
“’This sacrifice of birds,' the Jews say, ‘was one of the most difficult services the priests had to do,' to teach those that minister in holy things to be as solicitous for the salvation of the poor as for that of the rich, and that the services of the poor are as acceptable to God, if they come from an upright heart, as the services of the rich, for he accepts according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not, [2 Corinthians 8:12]. The poor man's turtle-doves, or young pigeons, are here said to be an offering of a sweet-smelling savor, as much as that of an ox or bullock that hath horns or hoofs. Yet, after all, to love God with all our heart, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, is better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices [Mark 12:33]."
Two takeaways. First, are we sacrificing in accordance with our economic ability? Second, to we have as much respect and consideration for the poor among us in our services and worship as God does?
It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.
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