Leviticus 3

Laws touching the manner of offering thank-offerings; of Bullocks, v. 1, etc. of sheep and goats, 12. Forbidding to eat the blood and the fat thereof, 17.

1. And if his sacrifice be a thank-offering, [The word in the Hebrew signifies welfare, and prosperity, or requital; implying such a sacrifice whereby men requite God with thanksgiving for all the welfare and prosperity, peace, and blessing, he bestows upon them: in which regard it might likewise well be termed, a requite-offering] if he offer it of Bullocks, male or female, he shall offer the same perfect [See above, chapter 1. On verse 3.] before the face of the LORD.

2. And he shall [He, viz. that brings them to be offered] lay his hand [See above chapter 1. On verse 4.] upon the head of the Sacrifice; and shall slay them [viz. by the Priest as above chapter 1. Verse 5.] before the door of the tent of the congregation, and the sons of Aaron, the Priests, shall sprinkle the blood about the altar.

3. After that shall he offer of that Thank-offering a fire-offering unto the LORD; [See above chapter 1. On verse 9.] the fat that covereth the entrails, and all the fat that is at the entrails. [oth. Over, or upon the entrails.]

4. Then both the kidneys and the fat that is thereon, that is on the flank (or small) guts, [understand the guts which lie in the flank of the belly, called Ilia by the Latines] and the cawl over the liver, with the Kidneys, [Heb. Above, as before, chapter 2. Verse 2. & c. i.e. together with the Kidneys, which he was not only to sever for this oblation; but likewise for the same end, to take off the fat thereof, & c. and the cawl of the liver] the same he shall take off [or put off, pull off]

5. And the sons of Aaron shall kindle the same upon the altar, upon the burnt-offering, [which was to be offered there every morning and evening: or, upon, that is to say, after the same; or, upon, that is, according to the manner and use of the burnt-offering. So below chapter 4. 35. And 5. 12.] which shall be upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a fire-offering of pleasant smell to the LORD.

6. And if his sacrifice be of small cattle, [i.e. of sheep, or goats, as appears by verse 7. And 22. See above chapter 1. On verse 2.] for a thank-offering to the LORD, be it male or female, he shall offer the same perfect.

7. If he offer a lamb for his sacrifice, he shall offer it before the face of the LORD. [See above chapter 1. On verse 3.]

8. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his sacrifice: and he [i.e. the Priest for him; see above cha. 1. Verse 5.] shall slay the same before the tent of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about the altar.

9. After that shall he offer of that thank-offering unto the LORD, his fat, the whole rump, which he shall take off close by the back-bone, [understand hereby the uttermost part of the chine, ending in the holy bone; Os sacrum] (or chine) and the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails.

10. Also both the kidneys, and the fat that is thereon, that is the flank-guts: and the cawl over the liver with the kidneys, the same he shall take off.

11. And the Priests shall kindle the same upon the altar: it is a meat of the fire-offering of the LORD. [Heb. Bread of the, etc. understand the flesh of the sacrifices, which was to be consumed by fire, for the honour of God, even as bread or meat is by the mouth of man: or, which in part belonged unto the Priests, for to be eaten by them. See the places, Leviticus 21:6, 8, 17, 21, 22. And chapter 22. 25. Ezekiel 44:7. Malachi 1:12.]

12. Now if his sacrifice be a goat, he shall offer the same before the face of the LORD.

13. And he shall lay his hand upon her head, and he shall slay it before the tent of the congregation, and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood upon the altar, round about.

14. Then shall he offer thereof his sacrifice, a fire-offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails:

15. Together with both the kidneys, and the fat that is thereon, that is on the flank guts; and the cawl over the liver, with the kidneys, the same he shall takeoff.

16. And the Priest shall kindle the same upon the altar: it is a meat of fire-offering for a pleasant smell: [See Gen. 8. On verse 21.] All fat shall be the LORD’s. [accordingly no fat of any beast fit for the sacrifice, was to be eaten by either Priest or owner, but it must be hallowed, and burned to the LORD, see below chapter 7. 23, & c.]

17. (Let this) be an everlasting institution, [Heb. Institution of eternity: See Gen. 13. On verse 15.] for your generations in all your habitations: [They were forbidden to eat the fat of the beasts, not only that which was offered to God in the tent of the congregation, but likewise that which they killed at home for their own use. Yet, understand not all the fat indifferently, but peculiarly the grease, suet, and tallow-fat, growing and hanging on the end and of the films of muscles, and by cold becoming lumpish, hard and brittle, called adeps by the Latines. Understand here especially that of the three sorts of beasts expressed, chapter 7. Verse 23, 24.] Neither fat nor blood shall ye eat. [See Gen. 9. On verse 4. Leviticus 7:13, 26. And 17. 10, 4.]