Leviticus 4

Laws of the manner of sacrifices which were to be offered for the sins committed out of the Error, v. 1. Etc. either by the high Priest, 3. Or by the whole Congregation, 13. Or by a Prince and Ruler, 22. Or by a private and ordinary man, 27.

1. Moreover the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: When a soul [i.e. a man, a person. See above chapter 2. On verse 1. And so frequently in the sequel] shall have sinned, by straying [i.e. through ignorance, when a body transpasseth, not knowing that to be sin, which he unawares, in haste, heat and passion, not being sensible of the fullness of it, till after the trespass committed] from any Commandments of the LORD, [viz. whereby anything is forbidden; and so 1 Kings 2:43. And thus commanding is used for forbidding, Deut. 2. 38. And 4. 23. Heb. From all some, i.e. from one or any of all; as it is explained in the end of this verse] which should not have been done, [so below verse 13. And 22. See Gen. 20. On verse 9.] and shall have done (against) any one of them. [understand, that then such a transgressor shall offer the sacrifices here prescribed.]

3. If the Priest that is anointed, [Understand hereby the high Priest; who in after-times of Priests was alone anointed, below ch. 21. 10. Exodus 29:10. And 30. 30. Also Numbers 3:3. Leviticus 10:7. At this time the common Priests were likewise anointed indeed, but only once for all, this their anointing serving both for them and their posterity, Exodus 29:29. And 40. 15.] shall have sinned [viz. in any manner of life or doctrine] to the guilt of the people; [so namely, that by his he brought a guilt upon the people, they either embracing his false doctrine, or following the bad example of his life and conversation. Compare 1 Chronicles 21:3. Oth. According to the guilt of the people might come to sin] then shall he offer a bullock for his sin, which he hath sinned, a perfect young one [Heb. The son of a Bull; so below verse 14. See above chapter 1. On verse 14.] for a sin-offering to the thus the words sin and guilt, are taken, below chapter 6. Verse 17. Ezekiel 45:23. 2 Cor. 5. 21.]

4. and he shall bring that bullock to the door of the tent of the congregation, before the face of the LORD: and he shall lay his hand upon the head of that bullock, and he [viz. by one of the other Priests, serving at the altar: For he is distinguished from the from the Priest, who is called the anointed in the next verse] shall slay that bullock, before the face of the LORD.

5. After that, shall that anointed Priest take of the blood of the bullock: and he shall bring the same to the tent of the congregation.

6. And the Priest shall dip his finger into that blood: and of that blood shall he sprinkle seven times, before the face of the LORD, before the Vail of the holy (place). [Understand that costly and artificial Vail, whereby the holy (place) or the fore-part of the Tabernacle was distinguished and separated from the Holy of Holies, or Most holy part. See Exodus 26:31, 32, 33. And cha. 35. 12. And chapter 40. 3, 21. Numbers 4:5.]

7. Also the Priest shall put [Heb. Give; and so below verse 18. Exodus 29:12.] of that blood upon the horns [See Exodus 27:2. And 38. 2.] of the incense-altar [Heb. Of the altar of the smoking, or perfuming] of the fragrant spices, before the face of the LORD, that [oth. Who] is in the tent of the congregation; [viz. within in the fore-part, right before the Sanctuary, Exodus 30:6. Some refer these words to the LORD himself; see above chapter 1. In the last note on verse 3.] then shall he pour forth all the blood of the bullock on the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, [i.e. on the ground, or lower-most part of the altar: so below verse 18, 25, 30, 34.] which is at the door of the tent of the congregation. [i.e. right before the entry of the fore-part of the Tabernacle, called the holy (place).]

8. Moreover all the fat of the bullock of the sin-offering, he shall take off from it: the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails;

9. Besides the two 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;

10. According as it is taken off from the bullock of the thank-offering: and the Priest shall kindle the same upon the altar of the burnt-offering.

11. But the skin of that bullock, and all his flesh with his head, and with his legs, and his entrails, and his dung;

12. And that whole bullock he shall carry forth without the camp, to a clean place, where they throw out the ashes [Heb. At the throwing forth of the ashes; i.e. by or upon it. Understand a place without the camp, where the ashes of the burnt-sacrifices, together with other filth and ordure, that came from them, were usually carried and thrown out. This place is to be distinguished from an other on the East-side of the Court of the Tabernacle; whither the ashes were first carried from the altar. See above chapter 1. On verse 16. And of both places together, Lev. 6. Verse 10, 11.] and shall burn him with fire upon the wood: by the ashes thrown out, (there) shall he be burnt.

13. Now if the whole congregation of Israel shall have strayed, [viz. through ignorance, mistake, or unadvisedness, and inconsiderately, as above verse 2.] and the matter is hidden before the eyes of the congregation: and they shall have done ought [Heb. One, i.e. somewhat, something, i.e. committed that trespass] (against) any of all the Commandments [Heb. Against all the Commandments; i.e. against one, or any of them all, see above on verse 2.] of the LORD, which should not be done: and are become guilty. [i.e. are fallen into sin, and are therefore liable to punishment. Compare above verse 3.]

14. And that sin, which they shall have sinned against, [viz. against any of the LORD’s Commandments] is made known: then shall the congregation offer a bullock, a young one for a sin-offering, and bring the same before the tent of the congregation. [Heb. Before the face of the Tent, & c.]

15. And the oldest of the congregation [i.e. Rulers and Governors which were set over the rest, as also the Teachers and Instructors of the people. See Exod. 3. On verse 16. Matth. 26. 57.] shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock, before the face of the LORD: and he [viz. the Priest, whose turn or office it was to do the same; see above chapter 1. On verse 5.] shall slay the bullock, before the face of the LORD.

16. After that, shall that anointed Priest [See above on verse 3.] bring of the blood of the bullock to the tent of the congregation.

17. And the Priest shall dip his finger in, (taking) of that blood: [The Hebrew Verb (here used for dipping) construed with the particle min, i.e. out of, or, from, doth withal include the Verb to take. Compare herewith the Annotations on Gen. 12. On verse 15. Item below chapter 5. 15. These words may likewise be read thus, shall dip in some of that blood] and he shall sprinkle seven times before the face of the LORD, before the Vail: [see above on verse 6.]

18. And of that blood he shall put upon the horns of the altar, which is before the face of the LORD; that (or, who) is in the tent of the congregation: [viz: the LORD, as above chapter 1. 3. And here verse 7.] than shall he pour out all the blood, at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which is before the door of the tent of the congregation.

19. Resides he shall take off all his fat from him, and kindle (it) upon the Altar.

20. And he shall do to this bullock, according as he did to the bullock of the sin-offering; so he shall do unto him; and the Priest shall make Expiation for them, [i.e. signify and denounce unto them the sign and seal of the Expiation to be made by the Mediator Messiah. See above chapter 1. On verse 4. And compare 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20.] and it shall be forgiven them. [viz. of grace, through faith for the split bloods sake of Christ, Romans 3:25. Not that of the beasts, Hebrews 10:4. Whose shedding of blood was but a type of the Sacrifice of Christ, Hebrews 10:1, etc.]

21. After that; shall he carry forth that bullock without the camp, and shall burn him, according as he burnt the first bullock; [See above verse 12] it is a sin-offering of the Congregation.

22. When a chief (man, or, Ruler) shall have sinned, and shall have done against one [Heb. All. See above on verse 13] of the Commandments of the LORD his God, through straying, [See above on verse 2.] which should not be done, so that he is guilty; [understand this verse, of such an error and straying, as is committed through unadvisedness; when a man doth indeed observe and apprehend his own sin, but not ill after the fact or commission: The other sort spoken of in the next verse, proceedeth of mere ignorance, when a man doth not understand, that he hath committed sin, before such time as it is showed him by another.]

23. Or [Oth. When, or, if] his sin, which he hath sinned against it, shall be made known unto him; then shall he bring for his offering, a he goat, [i.e. a young one, a Kid, sucking yet; as below verse 28. A she-goat, for a young one. Item, below ch. 5, 6, & c.] a perfect male.

24. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the he-goat, and he shall slay him [viz. by the Priest] in the place, where they slay the burnt-offering, [to wit, before the door of the Tent of the Congregation. See above chapter 13. Exodus 29:38.] before the face of the LORD, it is a sin offering.

25. Then shall the Priest take of the blood of the sin-offering, with his finger, and put (that) upon the horns of the altar of the burnt-offering: then shall he pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering.

26. He shall likewise kindle all his fat upon the altar: like unto the fat of the thank-offering: thus shall the Priest make Expiation for him [See above on verse 20.] of his sin, and shall he forgiven him.

27. And if any man (homo) [Heb. Soul. See above chapter Verse 1.] of the people of the land, [understand the common people, or vulgar sort, not only of the Israelites themselves, but likewise of the strangers, or Proselytes, incorporated with them by open profession of the same Religion and Circumcision, Exodus 12:49. Numbers 15:16] shall have sinned through straying; [see the meaning hereof, above verse 22.] doing ought (against) one of the Commandments of the LORD, which should not be done, so that he is guilty:

28. Or his sin, which he hath sinned, shall be made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering, a young sucking goat: see above on verse 23.] a perfect female, for the sin he hath sinned.

29. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering; and that sin-offering shall be slain, in the place of the burnt offering. [i.e. there where the burnt offering is wont to be slain, see above chapter 1. On verse 3.]

30. After that, shall the Priest take of her blood with his finger, and do it upon the horns of the altar of the burnt-offering: then he shall pour out all the blood thereof, at the bottom of that altar.

31. And he shall take off all her fat, according as the fat of the thank-offering is taken off, and the Priest shall kindle it upon the altar, for a pleasant smell to the LORD: and the Priest shall make Expiation for him, [See above on verse 20.] and it shall be forgiven him.

32. But if he brings a Lamb for his Sacrifice for sin-offering, it shall be perfect female, that he bringeth.

33. And he shall lay his hand upon the bead of the sin-offering: and he shall slay the same [viz. by the Priest, see above chapter 1. Verse 5.] for a sin-offering, in the place where the burnt-offering is slain.

34. After that shall the Priest take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and shall do it upon the horns of the altar of the burnt-offering: then shall he pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.

35. And all the fat thereof he shall take off, according as the fat of the lamb of the thank-offering is taken off: and the Priest shall kindle them [viz. the fats, or fatnesses, which were of different sorts, as may be gathered, above by verse 8. And 9.] upon the altar, upon the fire-offerings [see above chapter 3. On verse 5.] of the LORD: and the Priest shall make Expiation for him, over his sin, which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.