Burnt Offerings from the Herd
Study note
The burnt offering was the oldest and most common type of sacrifice. The entire animal was burned on the altar, which showed complete dedication to God. The person bringing the offering would place their hand on the animal's head, symbolically transferring their sins to it. The animal had to be perfect, with no injuries or defects. This offering could be made to ask for forgiveness, to give thanks, or simply to worship God. The priests, who were Aaron's sons, handled the blood and the fire.
1 The Lord called out to Moses from inside the Tabernacle. This was the special tent where God met with his people. God gave him these orders. And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2 "Give these orders to Israel. Someone might want to bring a gift to the Lord. The animal can come from the cattle herd. It can come from the sheep and goat flocks." Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3 "If a person wants to bring a burnt offering from the cattle, it must be a male animal that is healthy and has no flaws. The person must bring it by choice to the entrance of the Tabernacle so the Lord will accept it." If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
4 "The person must lay a hand on the animal's head. This connects the offering to the person, and God will accept it to restore the relationship between them." And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 "The person must slaughter the young bull there in the Lord's presence. After that, Aaron's sons, the priests, must collect the blood and throw it against every side of the altar that stands at the Tabernacle entrance." And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
6 "Next, the person must skin the animal and cut the body into sections." And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
7 "Aaron's sons who serve as priests must stack wood on the altar and light a fire." And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8 "The priests must then lay out all the pieces of meat on the burning wood, including the head and the fat." And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
9 "The legs and the internal organs must first be rinsed with water. Then the priest must burn the entire animal on the altar as a burnt offering -- a gift given by fire. The aroma from this offering brings pleasure to the Lord." But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Burnt Offerings from the Flock
Study note
If a person could not afford a bull, they could bring a sheep or goat instead. God made the same rules apply to smaller animals. This showed that God cared more about the heart behind the offering than the cost. The process was the same: the animal had to be a male without any defects, and it was completely burned on the altar.
10 "The burnt gift may come from the flock. It may be a sheep or a goat. It must be a male. It must be healthy with nothing wrong." And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
11 "The animal must be slaughtered on the north side of the altar, in the Lord's presence. Then the priests, Aaron's sons, must throw the blood against every side of the altar." And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
12 "The person must cut the animal into sections, including the head and the fat. The priest must lay all these pieces on the burning wood on the altar." And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13 "The internal organs and legs must first be rinsed with water. Then the priest must burn the whole animal on the altar as a burnt offering -- a gift given by fire. The aroma brings pleasure to the Lord." But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Burnt Offerings of Birds
Study note
For the poorest people who could not afford even a sheep, God allowed an offering of doves or young pigeons. This showed God's care for people of every income level. No one was too poor to worship. When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple years later, they offered two birds, showing they were a poor family.
14 "Someone might want to bring birds as a burnt gift. They must bring a turtledove. A young pigeon works too." And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
15 "The priest must carry the bird to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. The blood must be drained out against the side of the altar." And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
16 "The priest must pull out the crop and the feathers and toss them onto the ash pile on the east side of the altar." And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
17 "The priest must tear the bird open by pulling its wings apart, but not rip it completely in two. Then he must burn it on the altar on top of the wood and fire. This is a burnt offering, a gift given by fire, and its aroma brings pleasure to the Lord." And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.