All Sacrifices Must Be Brought to the Tabernacle
Study note
God required all animal sacrifices to be brought to the Tabernacle rather than offered in the open fields. This was to prevent the Israelites from slipping into idol worship by sacrificing to goat-demons or false gods in secret places. By centralizing worship at one location, God ensured that proper rituals were followed and that the priests could supervise every sacrifice. Anyone who disobeyed this rule would be cut off from the community.
1 Then the Lord gave Moses these instructions: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 "Pass along this message to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites: Here is what the Lord commands." Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3 "If any Israelite slaughters a bull, a lamb, or a goat -- whether inside the camp or out in the open --" What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 "But if he does not bring the animal to the Tabernacle entrance as an offering to the Lord, he is guilty of shedding blood the wrong way. That person must be cut off from the community." And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 "This rule has a purpose. The Israelites must stop killing animals out in the open fields. Instead, they must bring them to the priest at the Tabernacle entrance. They must offer them as peace offerings to the Lord." To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6 "The priest must splash the blood against the Lord's altar at the Tabernacle entrance. Then he must burn the fat, making a smell that pleases the Lord." And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
7 "The people must stop giving their offerings to the goat-demons they have been chasing after. This is a lasting rule for every generation." And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8 "Also tell them this. Any Israelite or foreigner living among you might offer a burnt gift or other sacrifice." And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 "They must bring it to the Tabernacle door. They must offer it to the Lord there. If they do not, that person must be cut off from the group." And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
The Sacredness of Blood
Study note
This section contains one of the most important verses in Leviticus: 'The life of the flesh is in the blood.' God explained that blood is special because it contains the life force of the creature. He gave blood a sacred purpose: to be placed on the altar to make things right for people's sins. Because blood was set apart for this holy purpose, eating it was strictly forbidden. Even when hunting, an Israelite had to drain the animal's blood and cover it with dirt. Anyone who ate an animal that died naturally had to wash and wait until evening.
10 "If any Israelite or any foreigner living among you eats blood of any kind, I will turn against that person myself. I will send them away from the community." And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11 "Here is the reason: the life of every creature is carried in its blood. I have specifically given you the blood for use on the altar to make payment for your lives. Blood makes this payment possible precisely because life is in the blood." For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12 "Therefore I have told the Israelites: Not one of you may eat blood. No foreigner living among you may eat blood either." Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13 "An Israelite or foreigner living among you might go hunting. They catch a wild animal or bird that is allowed to be eaten. The blood must be drained out and covered with dirt." And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14 "The life of every creature is in its blood. Therefore I told the people of Israel: Do not eat the blood of any creature. The life of every creature is its blood. Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from the community." For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15 "If anyone, whether Israelite or foreigner, eats an animal that died on its own or was killed by a wild animal, that person must wash their clothes and bathe in water. They will be unclean until sunset. After that, they will be clean." And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16 "If they skip the washing and bathing, they must accept the consequences of their guilt." But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.