Lev 7 | HCSB | STEP | “Now this is the law of the restitution offering ; it is especially holy .

‏ Leviticus 7

The Restitution Offering

1 “Now this is the law of the ^{▼▼restitution offering(s): An offering that was a penalty for unintentional sins, primarily in relation to the tabernacle or temple; traditionally trespass or guilt offering}restitution offering; ^b it is especially holy. 2 The restitution offering must be slaughtered at the place where the ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offering ^d is slaughtered, and the priest is to sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. 3 The offerer must present all the fat from it: the fat tail, ^e the fat surrounding the entrails, ^{▼▼LXX, Sam add and all the fat that is on the entrails; Lv 3:3,9,14; 4:8} 4 and the two kidneys with the fat on them at the loins; he will also remove the fatty lobe of the liver ^g with the kidneys. 5 The priest will burn them on the altar as a fire offering ^h to the Lord; it is a restitution offering. 6 Any male among the priests may eat it. ⁱ It is to be eaten in a holy place; ^j it is especially holy. ^k

7 “The restitution offering is like the ^{▼▼sin offering(s): Or purification offering, the sin offering was the most important OT sacrifice for cleansing from impurities. It provided purification from sin and certain forms of ceremonial uncleanness.}sin offering; ^m the law is the same for both. It belongs to the priest ⁿ who makes ^{▼▼atone/ atonement: A theological term for God's provision to deal with human sin. In the OT, it primarily means purification. In some contexts forgiveness, pardon, expiation, propitiation, or reconciliation is included. The basis of atonement is substitutionary sacrifice offered in faith. The OT sacrifices were types and shadows of the great and final sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.}atonement ^p with it. 8 As for the priest who presents someone’s burnt offering, the hide of the burnt offering he has presented belongs to him; it is the priest’s. 9 Any ^{▼▼grain offering(s): An offering given along with animal sacrifices or given by itself. A portion was burnt and the priests and participant ate the remainder.}grain offering ^r that is baked in an oven or prepared in a pan or on a griddle belongs to the priest who presents it; it is his. 10 But any grain offering, whether dry or mixed with oil, belongs equally ^{▼▼Lit oil, will be a man like his brother} to all of Aaron’s sons.

The Fellowship Sacrifice

11 “Now this is the law of the ^{▼▼fellowship sacrifice(s) or offering(s): An animal offering was given to maintain and strengthen a person's relationship with God. It was not required as a remedy for impurity or sin but was an expression of thanksgiving for various blessings. An important function of this sacrifice was to provide meat for the priests and the participants in the sacrifice; it was also called the peace offering or the sacrifice of well-being.}fellowship sacrifice ^u that someone may present to the Lord: 12 If he presents it for thanksgiving, in addition to the thanksgiving sacrifice, ^{▼▼The thanksgiving sacrifice is the first of three kinds of fellowship sacrifices. It was given to express gratitude to God (Jr 33:11) in circumstances such as answered prayer (Ps 50:14-15) or safe travel (Ps 107:22-25).
,} ^w he is to present unleavened cakes ^x mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers ^y coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. 13 He is to present as his offering cakes of leavened bread ^{▼▼Although yeast was prohibited from being burned on the altar (Lv 2:11), leavened bread could still be an offering (Lv 23:17-20) to be eaten by the priests and their families.} with his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship. 14 From the cakes he must present one portion of each offering as a contribution ^aa to the Lord. It will belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offering; it is his. 15 The meat of his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship must be eaten on the day he offers it; ^ab he may not leave any of it until morning. ^ac

16 “If the sacrifice he offers is a vow ^{▼▼The vow offering, the second category of fellowship sacrifice, was brought as an expression of gratitude to fulfill a vow; Gn 28:20; 2Sa 15:7-8; Pr 7:14.
,} ^ae or a freewill offering, ^{▼▼The freewill offering, the third category of fellowship sacrifice, was a voluntary expression of gratitude toward God for any reason; Dt 16:10; Ps 54:6.
,} ^ag it is to be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, and what is left over may be eaten on the next day. 17 But what remains of the sacrificial meat by the third day must be burned up. ^ah 18 If any of the meat of his fellowship sacrifice is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. ^ai It will not be credited to the one who presents it; it is repulsive. ^aj The person who eats any of it will be responsible for his sin. ^{▼▼Or will bear his guilt}

19 “Meat that touches anything ^{▼▼unclean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}unclean must not be eaten; it is to be burned up. Everyone who is ^{▼▼clean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}clean may eat any other meat. 20 But the one who eats meat from the Lord’s fellowship sacrifice while he is unclean, ^{▼▼Lit while his uncleanness is upon him} that person must be cut off from his people. ^ao 21 If someone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, Sam, Syr, Tg read swarming
,} ^aq creature, and eats meat from the Lord’s fellowship sacrifice, that person must be cut off from his people.”

Fat and Blood Prohibited

22 The Lord spoke to Moses: 23 “Tell the Israelites: You are not to eat any fat ^ar of an ox, a sheep, or a goat. 24 The fat of an animal that dies naturally or is mauled by wild beasts ^{▼▼Lit fat of a carcass or the fat of a mauled beast
,} ^at may be used for any purpose, but you must not eat it. ^au 25 If anyone eats animal fat from a fire offering presented to the Lord, the person who eats it must be cut off from his people. 26 Wherever you live, you must not eat the blood ^av of any bird or animal. 27 Whoever eats any blood, that person must be cut off from his people.”

The Portion for the Priests

28 The Lord spoke to Moses: 29 “Tell the Israelites: The one who presents a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord must bring an offering to the Lord from his sacrifice. 30 His own hands will bring the fire offerings to the Lord. He will bring the fat together with the breast. The breast is to be waved as a presentation offering ^aw before the Lord. 31 The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32 You are to give the right thigh ^ax to the priest as a contribution from your fellowship sacrifices. 33 The son of Aaron who presents the blood of the fellowship offering and the fat will have the right thigh as a portion. 34 I have taken from the Israelites the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution from their fellowship sacrifices, and have assigned them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion ^{▼▼Or statute
,} ^az from the Israelites.”

35 This is the portion from the fire offerings to the Lord for Aaron and his sons ^ba since the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. 36 The Lord commanded this to be given to them by the Israelites on the day He anointed them. ^bb It is a permanent portion ^{▼▼Or statute} throughout their generations.

37 This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the restitution offering, the ordination offering, ^bd and the fellowship sacrifice, 38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai ^be on the day He ^{▼▼Or he} commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai. ^bg