Leviticus 11 - Laws about Animals for Food

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"God tells Moses and Aaron what the Israelites can and can not eat.  God tells specifically tells them the clean and unclean land animals, the clean and unclean aquatic animals, the unclean birds, the clean and unclean flying insects, and the unclean swarming creatures.  God also tells Aaron and Moses how to purify themselves and other things after touching unclean dead animals."

 http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/05/leviticus-11.html?spref=pi

Leviticus 11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Laws about Animals for Food

https://www.biblegateway.com

11 The Lord spoke again to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Among all the animals which are on the earth, these are the animals which you may eat. 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof [that is, a hoof split into two parts especially at its distal extremity] and chews the cud. 4 Nevertheless, you are not to eat these, among those which chew the cud or divide the hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is [ceremonially] unclean to you. 5 And the [a]shaphan, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you. 7 And the swine, because it divides the hoof and makes a split hoof, but does not chew the cud; it is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat their meat nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
9 ‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, these you may eat; 10 but whatever does not have fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all the teeming life in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are [to be considered] detestable to you. 11 They shall be [b]hated things to you. You may not eat their meat; you shall detest their carcasses. 12 Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.
Avoid the Unclean
13 ‘These you shall detest among the birds; they are not to be eaten, for they are [c]hated things: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, 14 the kite, every kind of falcon, 15 every kind of raven, 16 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, every species of hawk, 17 the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, 18 the white owl, the pelican, the carrion vulture, 19 the stork, all kinds of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20 ‘All winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you; 21 yet of all winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those which have legs above their feet with which to leap on the ground. 22 Of these you may eat: the whole species of migratory locust, of bald locust, of cricket, and of grasshopper. 23 But all other winged insects which are four footed are detestable to you.
24 ‘By [contact with] these you will become unclean; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until the evening (dusk), 25 and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. 26 Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof, but do not have a split hoof, or which do not chew the cud, they are unclean to you; whoever touches them becomes unclean. 27 Also all animals that walk on their paws, among all kinds of animals that walk on four legs, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until the evening, 28 and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.
29 ‘These also are unclean to you among the swarming things that crawl around on the ground [and multiply profusely]: the mole, the mouse, and any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, the crocodile, the lizard, the sand reptile, and the chameleon. 31 These [creatures] are unclean to you among all that swarm; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening. 32 Also anything on which one of them falls after dying becomes unclean, whether it is an article of wood or clothing, or a skin, or a sack—any article that is used—it must be put in water, and will be unclean until the evening; then it becomes clean. 33 As for any earthenware container into which any of these [crawling things] falls, whatever is in it becomes unclean, and you shall break the container. 34 Any of the food which may be eaten, but on which [unclean] water falls, shall become unclean, and any liquid that may be drunk in every container shall become unclean. 35 Everything that part of their carcass falls on becomes unclean; an oven, or a small stove shall be smashed; they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern (reservoir) collecting water shall be clean; but whoever touches one of these carcasses shall be unclean. 37 If a part of their carcass falls on any seed for sowing which is to be sown, it is clean; 38 but if water is put on the seed and a part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.
39 ‘If one of the animals that you may eat dies [of natural causes], whoever touches its carcass becomes unclean until the evening. 40 And whoever eats some of its meat shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening; also whoever picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.
41 ‘Now everything that swarms on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten. 42 Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, and whatever has many feet among all things that swarm on the ground, you shall not eat; for they are detestable. 43 Do not make yourselves loathsome (impure, repulsive) by [eating] any swarming thing; you shall not make yourselves unclean by them so as to defile yourselves. 44 For I am the Lord your God; so consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm or crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; therefore you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
46 This is the law regarding the animal and the bird and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, 47 to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] unclean and the [ceremonially] clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.
Footnotes: Leviticus 11:5 A small, shy fury animal (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and the region around the Dead Sea; kjv coney, original NASB rock badger.
Leviticus 11:11 Lit detestable things.
Leviticus 11:13 Lit detestable things.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/385409680610245182/ 

• HEALTH AND WELLNESS. God cared for the health and lifestyle of all the Israelite's that He also established clear commandments about their 'eating habits'. Again, this was a time of limited knowledge and information about what is clean or 'appropriate to eat' and what was not. Who knows better than the Creator who created everything?

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
 

"Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." Genesis 1:29 (NLT) 

  

"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." Genesis 1:29 (NLT)

"You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)

 

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

 

"But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king." Daniel 1: 8, 15 (NLT)

• FISH WITHOUT FINS AND SCALES. I have learned from watching health videos before, that fishes without fins and scales absorbs mercury and other harmful chemicals in the ocean, that is why it was not good or recommended by some doctors for eating. Scales and fins serves as protection to the fishes. Even though the earth was cleaner and not that polluted before, I believe that is God's reason and purpose as well. In a more polluted world in the present time, this is still a great commandment to adhere to.

• SUBMISSION TO GOD. Here, God reminded the Israelites again how He rescued them from the slavery of Egypt. They are now God's people, they belong to Him and His Kingdom. When I think about it-- compared to the number of acceptable foods to eat, there were really a 'few' restrictions. This made me remember God's command to Adam and Eve, wherein God allowed them to eat from ANY trees except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17

 

 

 

After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 i. "It is now known that the pig is the intermediate host for several parasitic organisms, some of which can result in tapeworm infestation. One of these worms, the Taenia solium, grows to about 2.5 m in length, and is found in poorly cooked pork." (Harrison)

 i. God was not making up new rules for Israel. Noah knew about clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2, 8:20). God simply codified what was already in the traditions of Israel.

 b. The eagle, the vulture, the buzzard …: The common thread through most of these birds is that they are either predators or scavengers; these were considered unclean.

 a. Whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening: Unclean animals, when dead, couldn't just be left in the community to rot; they had to be disposed of. But the people who disposed of the unclean animals had to remedy their uncleanness by washing and a brief (until evening) quarantine.
i. This means that if a dead rat was found in an Israelite village, it would be carefully and promptly disposed of, and the one disposing of it would wash afterward. This would help prevent disease in a significant way; after all, the Black Death - bubonic plague - killed one quarter of Europe's population around 1350, but Jewish communities were largely spared because they followed these hygienic regulations. Sadly, because they were often largely preserved, they were often accused and punished for being "masterminds" behind the plague.

 b. Everything on which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean: These laws also promoted a general state of cleanliness inside the Hebrew home. This certainly promoted the health and the welfare of the family.

 a. For I am the LORD your God: God claims the right to speak to every area of our life, including what we eat. He had the right to tell Israel what to eat and what not to eat.
b. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves: One great purpose of the dietary laws of Israel was to sanctify - to set them apart - from other nations. It made fellowship with those who did not serve God far more difficult.

 c. Neither shall you defile yourselves: Not only did unclean animals defile one spiritually, but there was also a hygienic defilement, and Israel was spared many diseases and plagues because of their kosher diet.

i. Among the animals, most considered unclean fell into one of three categories: Predators (unclean because they ate both the flesh and the blood of animals), scavengers (unclean because they were carriers of disease, and they regularly contacted dead bodies), or potentially poisonous or dangerous foods such as shellfish and the like. Eliminating these from the diet of Israel no doubt had a healthy effect!

  Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-11.cfm © 2004 David Guzik

Leviticus 10 - The Sin of Nadab and Abihu

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, present unauthorized fire before the Lord.  God did not command them to do this, so God burned them to death.  They disobeyed God, and God killed them.  Moses told Aaron that God had said, "I will show My holiness to those who are near me, and I will reveal My glory before all people."  Aaron remained silent.  Mishael and Elzaphan, Nadab and Abihu's cousins, buried them.  Then, the Lord speaks to Aaron and gives him regulations priests are to live by."

http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/05/leviticus-10.html 

Leviticus 10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
https://www.biblegateway.com

10 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered [a]strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the Lord, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord said:
‘I will be treated as holy by those who approach Me,
And before all the people I will be honored.’”
So Aaron, therefore, said nothing.
4 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel who was Aaron’s uncle, and said to them, “Come here, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary and take them outside the camp.” 5 So they came forward and carried them, still in their undertunics, outside the camp, as Moses had said. 6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his [younger] sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not [b]uncover your heads nor let your hair hang loose nor tear your clothes [as expressions of mourning], so that you will not die [also] and so that He will not express His wrath and anger toward all the congregation. But your relatives, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning which the Lord has brought about. 7 You shall not even go out of the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, or you will die; for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.” So they did [everything] according to the word of Moses.
8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “[c]Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the Tent of Meeting, so that you will not die—it is a permanent statute throughout your generations— 10 and to make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy (sacred) and the common (profane), and between the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean; 11 and you are to teach the Israelites all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them [d]through Moses.”
12 Then Moses said to Aaron, and to his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the offerings by fire to the Lord, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion and your sons’ portion, from the offerings by fire to the Lord; for so I have been commanded. 14 But the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you may eat in a clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you; for the breast and the thigh are your portion and your sons’ portion, given out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the Israelites. 15 They shall bring the thigh presented by lifting up and the breast presented by waving, along with the offerings by fire of the fat, to present as a wave offering before the Lord. This shall be yours and your sons’ with you, as your perpetual portion, just as the Lord has commanded.”
16 But Moses diligently tried to find the goat [that had been offered] as the sin offering, and discovered that it had been burned up [as waste, not eaten]! So he was angry with Aaron’s surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying, 17 “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; and God gave it to you to remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord. 18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the Holy Place; you certainly should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary, just as I commanded.” 19 Then Aaron said to Moses, “This very day they have [obediently] presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but [such terrible things] as these have happened to me [and to them]; if I [and my sons] had eaten a sin offering today would it have been acceptable and pleasing in the sight of the Lord?” 20 When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.
Footnotes: Leviticus 10:1 What made the fire “strange” cannot be determined. They may have taken the fire from an unauthorized source, or used incense that did not meet the divine specifications. In any case, God’s laws and requirements are not subject to modification by man.
Leviticus 10:6 Lit unbind.
Leviticus 10:9 This prohibition may imply that intoxication precipitated the irreverent behavior that resulted in the death of Aaron’s two older sons.
Leviticus 10:11 Lit by the hand of.

https://st-takla.org/bible/commentary/en/ot/matthew-henry/leviticus/ch10.html

• THE COST OF DISOBEDIENCE. After a glorious experience with God, something unexpected or sad happened as Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu have carelessly disobeyed God's commandments.

Whether it was done intentionally or unintentionally, we don't know, but they went below God's standards and commandments and it caused death. The wages of sin is death, and if not for the ultimate sacrifice and offering of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would all die with a physical and spiritual death. Eternal damnation. Bound to hell.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

It is not God who caused the death, it is the disobedience and unholiness of the people (specifically in Nadab and Abihu's case).. God is truthful and faithful to His words-- He is holy, He is to be honored.

What happened to Nadab and Abihu served an example of what will happen if the people will not obey as God commanded..

• DO NOT BE INTOXICATED. To be intoxicated means to 'cause (someone) to lose control of their faculties or behavior'; or "A state in which a person's normal capacity to act or reason is inhibited by alcohol or drugs. Generally, an intoxicated person is incapable of acting as an ordinary prudent and cautious person would act under similar conditions." (https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Intoxication) As a called and anointed priest for God and the Israelites, they have a great responsibility to keep themselves sober or abstaining from any intoxicating drink.

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13
 
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
 
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18


After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

a. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it: In the afterglow of the consecration experience (which Nadab and Abihu were part of), these two sons of Aaron sought out their own relationship with God, apart from the revelation granted through Moses.
 
i. We don't know what their motivation was. Perhaps it was pride, perhaps it was ambition, perhaps it was jealousy, perhaps it was impatience that motivated them. Whatever their exact motivation, it wasn't holiness unto the LORD.
ii. Nadab and Abihu had a legacy of great spiritual experiences. They saw first-hand:
    - All the miracles God did in bringing the nation out of Egypt.
    - The voice of God and saw the fire, lightning, smoke, and felt the thunder and the earthquake with the rest of the nation at Mount Sinai.
    - They went up with Moses, Aaron, and the seventy elders for a special meeting with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1-2), where they saw the God of Israel … so they say God, and they ate and drank (Exodus 24:9-11).
iii. This shows that even a legacy of great spiritual experiences can't keep us right with God - only an abiding relationship grounded in the truth of God's word can.

 b. Which He had not commanded them: They came in an unauthorized way, coming to God, but demanding to come their own way. Therefore God considered this a profane fire before the LORD.
i. This was a misuse of special incense. This incense was regarded as holy for the LORD (Exodus 30:35-37). It wasn't to be used in someone's experiment with God.
ii. Profane fire was a fire not kindled from the altar of burnt offering; it was fire not associated with the atoning and redeeming work of sacrifice.

 a. So Aaron held his peace: Aaron just saw two of his sons struck down before the LORD. It was natural for him to question or even to lament - but God would not allow it. More important than Aaron's right to grieve was the respect of God's holiness.

b. By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy: Many think they can come their own way before God and do their own thing in His presence. But God demands to be regarded as holy by all those who come near to Him.
i. Make no mistake: We can come to God just as we are, but we may not come to Him our own way. We must come the way He has provided, the way made in Jesus Christ.

c. And before all the people I must be glorified: This reminds us that God must be glorified in the meetings of His people. The focus must not be on man, on his cleverness, on his insight, or on his ingenuity. Those who fail to glorify God will not be rewarded.

 a. Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people: This perhaps was the hardest day of Aaron's life. Two of his sons were dead before him, and he could not mourn them. To mourn might have implied - even in the slightest way - that God was wrong in bringing this fire upon Nadab and Abihu, and Aaron or Moses could not communicate this.

b. You shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die: Aaron must also have thought, "I did worse than this at the golden calf incident; why did God take them?" But Aaron did that before his consecration as a priest. After his consecration, he and his sons had a greater accountability (for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you).

 a. Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die: This commandment to the priests of Israel came right after the judgment of Nadab and Abihu. This causes us to believe they may have been drunk when they were so foolish as to offer their profane fire before the LORD.

b. That you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean: God did not want the hearts and minds of his servants clouded with alcohol when they came to serve Him. Since alcohol is a depressant, it takes away the ability to completely give one's self to God.

 ii. Jesus had this kind of heart, even though He had no sin! He still identified with His people in his humble birth, simple life, baptism, and death. Moses said the sin offering was given to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD. That's why he was upset when Aaron didn't eat it. But Jesus did "eat" the sin offering when He stood as a sinner in our place and received the judgment we deserved.  

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-10.cfm © 2004 David Guzik

Leviticus 9 - Aaron Offers Sacrifices

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"After the seventh day, on the eighth day, Moses summons Aaron and his sons out of the tent of meeting along with the elders of Israel.  Moses tells them to make sin offerings and burnt offerings to the Lord.  All the Israelites are to make various offerings to the Lord as well.  Aaron sacrifices all the offerings to the Lord.  This is the priests duty from here on out until the New Testament.  After the sacrifices, Moses and Aaron come out of the tent of meeting, and they bless all the Israelites.  The glory of the Lord appears to all the people in the form of fire.  The people of Israel bow down facedown on the ground."

http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/04/leviticus-9.html?spref=pi

Leviticus 9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Aaron Offers Sacrifices
https://www.biblegateway.com

9 And it happened on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel; 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, [each] without blemish, and offer both before the Lord. 3 Then say to the Israelites, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without blemish, as a burnt offering, 4 and a bull and a ram as peace offerings to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with [olive] oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’” 5 So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and all the congregation approached and stood before the Lord. 6 Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” 7 Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and present your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and present the offering of the people and make atonement for them, just as the Lord has commanded.”
8 So Aaron approached the altar and killed the calf as the sin offering, which was designated for himself. 9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; he dipped his finger in the blood and put some of it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the rest of the blood at the altar’s base; 10 but the fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver from the sin offering he offered up in smoke on the altar, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 11 And Aaron burned the meat and the hide in the fire outside the camp.
12 Then he killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar. 13 They brought the burnt offering to him piece by piece, with the head, and Aaron offered them up in smoke on the altar. 14 He also washed the entrails and the legs, and offered them up in smoke with the burnt offering on the altar.
15 Then Aaron presented the people’s offering. He took the goat for the sin offering of the people, and killed it and offered it for sin, as he did the first. 16 He also presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance. 17 Next Aaron presented the grain offering and took a handful of it and offered it up in smoke on the altar in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.
18 He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar, 19 As for the portions of fat from the bull and from the ram—the fat tail, and the fat covering the internal organs, and the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver— 20 they now put the portions of fat on the breasts; and Aaron offered the fat up in smoke on the altar. 21 But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron presented as a wave offering before the Lord, just as Moses had commanded.
22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them, and came down [from the altar of burnt offering] after presenting the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. 23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory and brilliance of the Lord [the Shekinah cloud] appeared to all the people [as promised]. 24 Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward [in awe and worship].

 https://www.alittleperspective.com/leviticus-91-1147-shemini-eighth-chiastic-structure/

• THE PRESENCE AND GLORY OF GOD. Just as God promised-- when Moses, Aaron and sons followed all of God's commandments, the Lord appeared to them, and He showed His glory. 

What exactly is "glory"? And what is "shekinah" cloud? According to https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-the-meaning-of-shekinah-glory.html:

"Shekinah Glory is a visible manifestation of God on earth, whose presence is portrayed through a natural occurrence. The word shekinah is a Hebrew name meaning “dwelling” or “one who dwells.” Shekinah Glory means “He caused to dwell,” referring to the divine presence of God.
 
The word Shekinah is not in the Bible, but the description is.

In the classical Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments, the word shekinah is actually not found. It was first introduced by Jewish rabbis through targums and literature in the period between the completion of the Old Testament and the onset of the New Testament.

The etymology of “Shekinah” is from the Hebrew word shākan, which means“to reside or permanently stay.”

•  JESUS IS THE GREATEST MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S GLORY.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
 
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

• FIRE.🔥 How awesome, and at the same time frightening was it to witness fire coming from God, from the heavens to burn all the offerings? The same thing happened when the prophet Elijah was challenged by Baal-worshipers (1 Kings 18). God is indeed faithful to His word and to His promises. When we obey His commandments, He will show us His glory. When we obey, He will fulfill His great plans and glorious purposes through us.

"And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:36-39

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 



After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 a. It came to pass on the eighth day: The whole ceremony of consecration lasted more than a week. It was not a quick and easy process. The call to the priesthood came on the eighth day, the day of new beginnings. After seven days of patient fellowship with the LORD in His tabernacle, God was ready to do a new work in and through the priests.

 i. Through the repetition of sacrifice, God also wanted to show that as useful as the animal sacrifices were, they were not complete and could not make and end of sins. Only the perfect sacrifice of the Messiah could do that.

 a. Offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people: Aaron had to first deal with his own sin, and then he could truly function as a priest, ready to serve others.

 b. Make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded: Aaron's priesthood existed for the glory of God and for the benefit of the people - not for his own personal benefit. The office of high priest was one of great authority, but of even great responsibility.

 a. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them: Aaron's heart was turned towards the people. He longed to bless them, and so he lifted his hand toward the people [and] blessed them. His washing, sanctification, justification, consecration, waiting with and for the LORD, his identification with the people, and humility each made him desire a blessing for the people - more than for himself.

 b. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the LORD: God proved His presence by sending the fire. The priests were there, the offering was there, the Tabernacle was there, and the nation was there, but it was  all incomplete the fire from God.

i. The Bible gives us seven examples of where God showed acceptance of a sacrifice with fire from heaven:

    - Abel (Genesis 4:4)
    - Aaron (Leviticus 9:24)
    - Gideon (Judges 6:21)
    - Manoah (Judges 13:19-23)
    - David (1 Chronicles 21:28)
    - Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1)
    - Elijah (1 Kings 18:38).

ii. Fire was often associated with God's presence and work. Deuteronomy 4:24 tells us, the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. John the Baptist promised Jesus would come with a baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). The Holy Spirit manifested His presence on the day of Pentecost by tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). Jesus said: I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! (Luke 12:49)
iii. Though this consecration ceremony has a spiritual application to us, we obviously were not literally consecrated to the priesthood through this ceremony. Yet our priesthood is real and after the pattern of the priesthood of Jesus, who never went through such a ceremony. The priesthood of Jesus was based on an oath, as in Hebrews 7:21-22: For they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: The Lord has sworn and will not relent, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. We are also made priests not by a ceremony, but by the oath - the promise of God - just like Jesus. 

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-9.cfm © 2004 David Guzik      

Leviticus 8 - The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"Moses ordains Aaron and his sons as the priests of the tent of meeting.  The ordination took place in order to atone for their sins before becoming priests.  During the ceremony, one bull and two rams were sacrificed.  After the ordination, Aaron and his sons remained in the tent of meeting for seven days.  They were to keep the Lord's charge or else they would die."

http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/04/leviticus-8.html?spref=pi 

Leviticus 8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

https://www.biblegateway.com

8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments [which are symbols of their office], and the anointing oil, and the bull for the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble the entire congregation at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.” 4 Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 5 Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the Lord has commanded us to do.”
6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 He put the undertunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him in the robe, and put the [a]ephod (an upper vestment) on him. He tied the [skillfully woven] band of the ephod around him, with which he secured it to Aaron. 8 Moses then put the breastpiece on Aaron, and he put in the breastpiece the Urim and the Thummim [the sacred articles the high priest used when seeking God’s will concerning the nation]. 9 He also put the turban on Aaron’s head, and on it, in the front, Moses placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded him.

• AMAZING GRACE OF GOD TO AARON AND SONS. I can't help but remember the golden calf incident wherein the people got impatient and worshiped the 'physical' representation of God. Yet despite of everything, God still chose and anointed Aaron, and his sons to be priests. It makes me think of who I am as well-- despite of all my sins and failures, God still chose to save and love me through His Son Lord Jesus Christ.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 

• ALL ACCORDING TO GOD'S COMMANDS. So far, Moses and all the Israelites have been able to obey and follow everything according to God's will. It's all hard work, but it's all for God's glory and honor. Everything is going to point for the coming Savior, the Promised One, the High Priest Himself and the offering/sacrifice Himself, who was Jesus.

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him. 13 Next Moses brought Aaron’s sons forward, put undertunics on them, belted them with sashes, and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
14 Then he brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull. 15 Next Moses killed it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified it [from sin]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses offered them up in smoke on the altar. 17 But the bull (the sin offering) and its hide, its meat, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

• ANOINTING OIL. I'd like to think that the anointing oil-- that was used to the priests and even sprinkled to the altar, the Tabernacle-- is the physical representation of the Holy Spirit, whom Lord Jesus sent and gifted to those who believes in Him, after He ascended to heaven. Without God's Spirit and anointing, it will just be all about our 'works' or our efforts. But there is something supernatural and miraculous when the Spirit of God is at work.

 https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-is-anointing-oil-important-in-the-bible.html

"God used an important cultural symbol and practice to foreshadow the work of the Holy Spirit. Although the Israelites consecrated priests and holy objects, setting them apart for God’s work, that was only the beginning.

The Holy Spirit consecrates saints; He anoints them. He sets us apart to do the work of God.

We can also see God’s provision at work through the multiple uses of oil. In the same way, we can picture how God can use us in multiple ways. Sometimes He’ll ordain ordinary tasks such as our day-to-day tasks in the workplace.

In other instances, He’ll give us spiritual gifts to use to encourage other believers and present a light to unbelievers.

We see the importance of oil through the word “anointed” and its associations with Jesus. Anointing oil was used on priests and kings for important purposes. In the same way, Jesus is our High Priest and our King.

This practice used in Israel and throughout the Ancient World foreshadowed God’s work through his Son."

18 He brought the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 Moses killed it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 When he had cut the ram into pieces, Moses offered up the head, the pieces, and the fat in smoke. 21 After he had washed the entrails and the legs in water, Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
22 Then he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration (ordination), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 Moses killed it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 He also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, and the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet; and Moses sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh; 26 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer and put them on the fat and on the right thigh; 27 and he put all these things in Aaron’s hands and his sons’ hands and presented them as a wave offering before the Lord. 28 Then Moses took these things from their hands and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. They were a consecration (ordination) offering for a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord. 29 Moses also took the breast and presented it as a wave offering before the Lord; it was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration (ordination), just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and their garments with him; so Moses consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.
31 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting and eat it there together with the bread that is in the basket of the consecration (ordination) offering, just as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 And what remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn in the fire. 33 You shall not go outside the doorway of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration (ordination) are ended; for it will take seven days to consecrate you. 34 As has been done this day, so the Lord has commanded to do for your atonement. 35 You shall remain day and night for seven days at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, doing what the Lord has required you to do, so that you will not die; for so I (Moses) have been commanded.” 36 So Aaron and his sons did all the things which the Lord had commanded through Moses.
Footnotes: Leviticus 8:7 See Ex 28:6-8.

• EVERYTHING NEEDS CONSECRATION. If something is to be used for the service and for the glory of God, then it should be consecrated, or made sacred. No if's and no but's. God is holy and sacred, and everyone and everything shall be 'symbolically' sacred as well.

After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 a. Take Aaron and his sons with him: Exodus 29 records the command God gave to Moses to carry out this consecration ceremony with Aaron and his sons. Now that the tabernacle was built it was time to perform the ceremony.
i. Exodus 29:1 stated the purpose for the ceremony: To hallow them for ministering to Me as priests. That is, it was to set the priests aside for God's purpose and will.
ii. Since in Jesus we are a holy priesthood … a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), there is much for us to learn by analogy in this consecration ceremony. God wants us set apart for His purpose and will, and He uses these principles to accomplish that goal.

 b. And washed them with water: The process of consecration began with cleansing. All priestly ministries began with cleansing, and a cleansing that was received: you shall wash them. Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves; they received a washing.
i. This was humbling, because it took place publicly at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. We cannot be cleansed from our sin without being humbled first.
 iv. Like these ancient priests, every Christian is washed by the work of God's word (Ephesians 5:26), by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This cleansing work was accomplished by the death of Jesus for us (Revelation 1:5) and appropriated by faith.

 a. And he put the tunic on him: After being cleansed, the priest had to be clothed - but not in his own clothes. He had to put on garments given by God.
i. Like these ancient priests, every believer is clothed in Jesus Christ and in his righteousness (Revelation 3:5). These are clothes that are given freely by Jesus, but received and "worn" by faith.
ii. "Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love." (Spurgeon)

 b. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him: Priests also had to be anointed. The oil (a picture of the Holy Spirit) was poured over their heads, indicating that it was given in great measure, not in small measure (Psalm 133:2). Things were sprinkled, but upon people the oil was out-poured.
i. To consecrate him: This means that the anointing oil set Aaron apart. If something is consecrated, it is then set apart for God's service. Once sprinkled with oil, then the tabernacle wasn't just a tent anymore; the altar was no longer just a fire-pit; and Aaron was no longer just a man.

 c. Tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot: These consecrated priests were stained with the blood of sacrifice. They should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their thumb. They should walk differently because the blood was on their toe.
i. Specifically, it was applied to the right ear, hand, and foot. This isn't because God felt they could do whatever they wanted to with their left ear, hand, and foot. It is because the right side was considered superior, with more strength and skill (because most people are right-handed). God wanted their best to be dedicated to Him.
 b. You shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days: For seven days they lived at the tabernacle and ate the ram of the consecration and the bread of consecration. The consecration ceremony wasn't quick and easy. It took time, reflection, and a constant awareness of sacrifice and atonement.

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-8.cfm © 2004 David Guzik      

Leviticus 7 - The Priest’s Part in the Offerings

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"This chapter provides more information on the restitution offering, the fellowship sacrifice, fat and blood prohibited from the Israelite diet, and the portion of the offerings for the priests."

http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/04/leviticus-7.html

Leviticus 7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Priest’s Part in the Offerings
https://www.biblegateway.com

7 ‘This is the law of the guilt offering; it is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they are to kill the guilt offering, and he shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 3 Then he shall offer all its fat, the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to the Lord; it is a guilt offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat it; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. 7 The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for [both of] them: the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it for himself. 8 The priest who presents any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the hide of the burnt offering which he has presented. 9 Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who presents it. 10 Every grain offering, mixed with [olive] oil or dry, all the sons of Aaron may have, one as well as another.

• MOST HOLY. Holy has been repeatedly mentioned about the guilt offering, and about the priest eating it in the holy place (v.1,6). God is a holy, and righteous God, and everything shall be done according to His will and according to His ways. How could a holy God be reconciled to unholy people? Through an atonement, and the ultimate atonement that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

"And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3   

"because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 1 Peter 1:16   

"Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?" Psalm 77:13   

11 ‘Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord: 12 If one offers it as a sacrificial meal of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of this he shall present one [cake] from each offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.
15 ‘The meat of the sacrifice of thanksgiving presented as a peace offering shall be eaten on the day that it is offered; none of it shall be left until morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day that which remains of it may be eaten; 17 but what is left over from the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be [completely] burned in the fire. 18 If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is ever eaten on the third day, then it will not be accepted, and the one who brought it will not be credited with it. It shall be an abhorred (offensive) thing; the one who eats it shall bear his own guilt.

• GOD CARING FOR THE PRIESTS. How hard was it to do the calling of being a priest during Moses' time? Their lives are literally 'offered' and surrendered to the Lord. As a Mediator, High Priest for all the people, they are responsible to keep a right standing with the Lord-- or else they will die, if there were hidden transgressions in their hearts. God cares for them by allowing them to partake in the offering, and have a part to eat from it. The Levites cannot work (for a living, like being a shepherd, farmer)-- they are a priestly tribe that serves God.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10

19 ‘The meat that comes in contact with anything that is unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned in the fire. As for other meat, everyone who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it. 20 But the one who eats meat from the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, in his uncleanness, that person shall be [a]cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them]. 21 When anyone touches any unclean thing—human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean [b]detestable thing—and then eats the meat of the sacrifice of the Lord’s peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’”
22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep, or a goat. 24 The fat of an animal which dies [of natural causes] and the fat of one which is torn [to pieces by a predator] may be put to any other use, but under no circumstances are you to eat it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is presented to the Lord, that person who eats shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them]. 26 Moreover, you are not to eat any blood [of any kind], whether of bird or animal, in any of your dwelling places. 27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

• BEING CUT OFF FROM THE PEOPLE. I believe God not only has practical or hygienic purposes, but also has spiritual purposes-- regarding laws that has to do with touching the unclean. This was a time wherein the people was not yet able to study science, medicine, etc. To me, the laws speak of God's love, care and protection over the Israelites.

"Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the LORD." Isaiah 52:11    


"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

28 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 With his own hands he is to bring offerings by fire to the Lord; he shall bring the fat with the breast, so that the breast may be presented as a wave offering before the Lord. 31 The priest shall offer up the fat in smoke on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 You shall give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh as his portion. 34 For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering from the Israelites, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their perpetual portion from the Israelites.

• WITH HIS OWN HAND. This means the offering has to come from the heart-- the people shall bring it out of the abundance and willingness of their hearts.

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

35 ‘This is the consecrated portion from the offerings by fire to the Lord that was designated for Aaron and his sons on the day he presented them to serve as priests to the Lord. 36 The Lord commanded this to be given to the priests by the Israelites on the day that He anointed them. It is their portion perpetually throughout their generations.’”
37 This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the consecration (ordination) offering, and the sacrifice of peace offerings, 38 which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the Lord, in the Wilderness of Sinai.
Footnotes: Leviticus 7:20 This may involve banishment or execution.
Leviticus 7:21 Some mss read swarming thing.

• PERPETUALLY AND THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS. It's amazing how God ordained and sealed this commandment, for the sake of the His anointed priests. It shall be forever, just like what Jesus has done for us in the cross-- it has forever perfected our salvation and redemption. This finished work, this free gift of eternal life will be perpetually available throughout all the generations. 

After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!): 

d. Whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people: This principle is again. The fat (speaking of the good and the abundance) and the blood (speaking of the life) belonged to God, and had to be given to Him.

 e. The breast may be waved as a wave offering to the LORD: This was a specific waving of the portion of meat or bread dedicated to the LORD, waving it before the LORD in a specific pattern. In this way, even though the priest kept the portion, he had still dedicated it unto God.
i. The late chief Rabbi Hertz described the wave offering as thus: First, the portion was laid upon the hands of the donor. Then the officiating priest placed his own hands beneath those of the person offering the sacrifice, and moved the portion first forward and backward, then upward and downward. These motions make a sign of a cross! 

Jesus Christ and The Sacrificial System
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,
sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12)

JESUS FULFILLED THE BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1)

As Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma (Ephesians 5:2)

JESUS FULFILLED THE GRAIN AND FIRSTFRUITS OFFERING (Leviticus 2)

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

JESUS FULFILLED THE PEACE OFFERING (Leviticus 3)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God though our Lord, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

JESUS FULFILLED THE SIN OFFERING (Leviticus 4)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)

JESUS FULFILLED THE GUILT OFFERING (Leviticus 5)

Who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification (Romans 4:25)

You have made His soul an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10)

JESUS FULFILLED EVERY SACRIFICE FOR US!

"He is the Burnt-offering, the Meat-offering, the Peace-offering, the Sin-offering, and the Trespass-offering for His people. By His one oblation of Himself once offered, He has stood in all these different relations" (Jukes)

We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10) 

 

Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-7.cfm © 2004 David Guzik  

 

Leviticus 6 - Guilt Offerings

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"This chapter contains more information concerning the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the sin offering."

 http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/04/leviticus-6.html?spref=pi

Leviticus 6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Guilt Offerings
https://www.biblegateway.com

6 [a]Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “When anyone sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor (companion, associate) in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, 3 or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do— 4 then if he has sinned and is guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall not only restore it in full, but shall add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day of his guilt offering. 6 Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, as valued by you, as a guilt offering. 7 The priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt.”
The Priest’s Part in the Offerings
8 [b]Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall remain on the hearth that is on the altar all night until morning and the fire is to be kept burning on the altar. 10 The priest is to put on his linen robe, with his linen undergarments next to his body. Then he shall take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar and put them beside the altar. 11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on something else, and take the ashes outside the camp to a (ceremonially) clean place. 12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not [be allowed to] go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat portions of the peace offerings up in smoke on it. 13 The fire shall be burning continually on the altar; it shall not [be allowed to] go out.
14 ‘Now this is the law of the grain offering: the sons of Aaron shall present it before the Lord in front of the altar. 15 One of them shall take up from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering with its oil and all the incense that is on the grain offering, and he shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, a sweet and soothing aroma, as the memorial offering to the Lord. 16 What is left of it Aaron and his sons are to eat. It shall be eaten as unleavened bread in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. 17 It shall not be baked with leaven [which represents corruption or sin]. I have given it as their share of My offerings by fire; it is [c]most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. 18 Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it [as his share]; it is a permanent ordinance throughout your generations, from offerings by fire to the Lord. [d]Whatever touches them will become consecrated (ceremonially clean).’”
19 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 20 “This is the offering which Aaron and his sons are to present to the Lord on the day when he is anointed: the tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening. 21 It shall be prepared with oil on a griddle. When it is well stirred, you shall bring it. You shall present the grain offering in baked pieces as a sweet and soothing aroma to the Lord. 22 The priest from among the sons of Aaron who is anointed in his place shall offer it. By a permanent statute it shall be entirely offered up in smoke to the Lord. 23 So every grain offering of the priest shall be burned entirely. It shall not be eaten.”
24 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 25 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: the sin offering shall be killed before the Lord in the [same] place where the burnt offering is killed; it is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. 27 [e]Whatever touches its meat will become consecrated (ceremonially clean). When any of its blood splashes on a garment, you shall wash what was splashed on in a holy place. 28 Also the earthenware vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; and if it was boiled in a bronze vessel, then that vessel shall be scoured and rinsed in water. 29 Every male among the priests may eat this offering; it is most holy. 30 But no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place shall be eaten; it shall be [completely] burned in the fire.
Footnotes: Leviticus 6:1 In Hebrew, ch 5 numbering continues on through v 7.
Leviticus 6:8 In Hebrew, this is v 1 of ch 6.
Leviticus 6:17 Lit holy of holies, a common way to express the superlative “most holy.”
Leviticus 6:18 Or Anyone who.
Leviticus 6:27 Or Anyone who.

• GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF OUR LIFE. The Lord indeed cares for His people. He authored the laws so that people will realize the proper and respectful way of living, before God and before others. It also points us to God, how badly we need Him, His guidance and forgiveness whenever we commit sin, intentionally or unintentionally.

The "ashes" here reminds of the worship song  
"Beauty for Ashes" by Mid-Cities Worship..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqbjHOfwKwE 

No longer ashamed, no longer afraid
You have washed me white as snow
No longer bound, now I am crowned
Once in darkness now I know

You save, You save

And You give me beauty for ashes
And You pull me close to Your heart
You have turned my mourning to dancing
That's what You do, that's who You are

Brand new eyes, brand new hands
You have wiped away my past
Brand new day, brand new life
You have pulled me from the lies

You save, You save

And You give me beauty for ashes
And You pull me close to Your heart
You have turned my mourning to dancing
That's what You do, that's who You are
And You give me beauty for ashes
And You pull me close to Your heart
You have turned my mourning to dancing
That's what You do, that's who You are, oh!

I'm no longer what I used to be
I am stronger because You live in me
The old is gone, the new has come
I'm alive!
I'm no longer what I used to be
I am stronger because You live in me
The old is gone, the new has come
I'm alive!

https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/leviticus-6-13

• THE HEART OF GOD. In the midst of all these overwhelming laws being taught to all the people, I can sense and feel the heart of the matter, which is the heart of God towards His chosen people (Israelites). God wants the best for His people. He desires for them to be near Him, to draw nearer to Him. For the people to be in the right standing before God. The laws helped, although partially. But the laws are the picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be the one to fulfill all these things-- He is the ultimate offering, the ultimate sacrifice, the Bread of Life, the perfect Lamb of God.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
 
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1

"How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Hebrews 9:14

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ..." Deuteronomy 28:1-68



After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 a. He shall restore what he has stolen: If a person was guilty of fraud or theft, it wasn't enough that sacrifices cover the guilt of the sin before God. Restitution had to settle the account with the victim of the fraud.
 i. Restitution and its accompanying penalty had to be made the same day of his trespass offering. This powerfully demonstrated that one could not get right with God without also making his wrong right with men.
 a. So the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD: This was marvelous assurance for a guilty conscience. The sinner could depend upon this promise and know their sin was covered before the LORD.

i. The New Testament makes a similar statement in light of the New Covenant, found in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
b. For any one of these things that he may have done: The emphasis is that any sin can be cleansed through atoning sacrifice. Before the perfect work of Jesus on the cross the cleansing was not perfect, but it could be extended to any sin.

 b. And the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it: The long-burning character of the burnt offering is an appropriate illustration of the work of giving ourselves completely to God. Coming to God as a living sacrifice is not a quick work and we may feel that we are roasted on the fire for a long time.

Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-6.cfm ©2013 David Guzik     

Leviticus 5 - The Law of Guilt Offerings

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2020/02/leviticus.html
"This chapter lists four different cases requiring a sin offering.  If someone incurs guilt in one of these cases he is to confess he has committed that sin, and bring a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering.  If he can't afford an animal from the flock he may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons as restitution for his sin.  If he can't afford the turtledoves or pigeons, he may bring two quarts of fine flour as an offering for his sin.  Next in this chapter, the restitution offering is described.  If someone sins unintentionally and violates any of the Lord's commands concerning anything prohibited, he bears the consequences of his guilt.  As a result, he must sacrifice an unblemished ram to the Lord to atone for his sin.  This is a restitution offering to the Lord."

http://www.doodlethroughthebible.com/2015/04/leviticus-5.html?spref=pi

Leviticus 5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Law of Guilt Offerings

 https://www.biblegateway.com

5 ‘If anyone sins after he hears a [a]public adjuration (solemn command to testify) when he is a witness, whether he has seen or [otherwise] known [something]—if he fails to report it, then he will bear his guilt and be held responsible. 2 Or if someone touches any [ceremonially] unclean thing—whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal or the carcass of an unclean domestic animal or the carcass of unclean creeping things—even if he is unaware of it, he has become unclean, and he will be guilty. 3 Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever kind it may be—and he becomes unclean, but he is unaware of it, when he recognizes it, he will be guilty. 4 Or if anyone swears [an oath] thoughtlessly or impulsively [b]aloud that he will do either evil or good, in whatever manner a person may speak thoughtlessly or impulsively with an oath, but he is unaware of it, when he recognizes it, he will be guilty in one of these. 5 So it shall be when a person is guilty in one of these, that he shall confess the sin he has committed. 6 He shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin.
 7 ‘But if he [c]cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons as his guilt offering for his sin to the Lord, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. 8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering, and shall nip its head at the front of its neck, but shall not sever it [completely]. 9 He shall also sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. 10 The second [bird] he shall prepare as a burnt offering, according to the ordinance. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for the sin which he has committed, and it will be forgiven him.
11 ‘But if he cannot afford to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for his sin the tenth part of an [d]ephah of fine flour as a sin offering; he shall not put [olive] oil or incense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 He shall bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, with the offerings by fire to the Lord; it is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in one of these things, and it will be forgiven him; then the rest shall be for the priest, like the grain offering.’”
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 15 “If a person commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally against the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, valued by you in shekels of silver, that is, the shekel of the sanctuary, as a guilt offering. 16 He shall make restitution for the sin which he has committed against the holy thing, and shall add a fifth [of the ram’s value] to it, and give it to the priest. The priest shall then make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
17 “Now if anyone sins and does any of the things which the Lord has forbidden, though he was not aware of it, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. 18 He is then to bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. In this way the priest shall make atonement for him regarding the error which he committed unintentionally and did not know it, and he shall be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the Lord.”
Footnotes: Leviticus 5:1 Lit voice of an oath. This refers to a public announcement calling for witnesses to testify.
Leviticus 5:4 Lit with his lips.
Leviticus 5:7 Lit if his hand cannot reach enough for.
Leviticus 5:11 Approximately one bushel.

• INNATE GUILT. It's interesting how there are a lot specific laws for very specific situations during Moses' time. The reality is, even if we are not yet doing anything, our stand is that we are already guilty before God because of the sin nature that we have inherited since Adam and Eve's disobedience. All the chosen, godly people that He used, Noah, Abraham, etc.-- they are also sinners that received God's mercy and grace.   
• ONLY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. Every offering in Moses time is a prelude or foreshadowing of what Lord Jesus will do for all mankind someday. Especially the guilt offering. Who's the only one who can purchase and redeem us from all our guilt? Only the blood of Jesus.

Nothing but the Blood - Hillsong United

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei_c2yIUY6U 

"Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus"

• SINFULNESS. This Chapter reminded me how desperately and badly I need Lord Jesus for all the guilt and sin I have. There may be unconfessed sins, or sins unchecked and unknown to me, yet I am committing them. That's why it is important to pray and ask forgiveness everyday. To receive His fresh grace and mercy everyday. That way we can continually walk victoriously in the Lord.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:20-23

After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!): 

b. If he does not tell it, he bears guilt: Therefore it was the duty of someone who was a witness to come forward and tell the truth about the matter. "In Israel all the people were to be involved in seeing that justice was done. Not to witness was a sin." (Harris)

i. We can say that the same principle applies to our witness of Jesus Christ. It isn't enough that we refrain from actively denying Jesus or lying about our relationship with Him. We must also take every opportunity to tell the truth about Jesus.

 b. When he realizes it, then he shall be guilty: When we are aware of our broken vows we must repent of them. It is common to make vows and promises in the Christian that are not kept, and when we see this we must repent and trust in the atoning, covering blood of Jesus to bring forgiveness.

i. Think of these common examples of broken vows:
    - More time in prayer
    - More intercession for others
    - More devotional reading
    - More intense Bible study
    - More personal witness
    - More faithful tithing
    - Better example to others
    - More patience with the children
    - A vow to personal purity in sexual matters 

 ii. It may not be wrong to make such vows. They may be the legitimate expression of a move of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. Yet if the vow is not kept, it must be confessed as sin and repented of.

 a. When he is guilty: This really has the idea of "when he realizes his guilt." Though a person is guilty of sin the moment he commits it, he has no idea he needs to get it right until he realizes his sin.

 b. He shall confess: This was an important part of the sin offering; to confess meant one would agree with God that the sin was wrong. Confession of sin is still an important principle for clearing away sin that hinders our fellowship with God.

Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-5.cfm ©2013 David Guzik