Leviticus 1-5 – The Laws for the offerings of the Levitical Priesthood – {There are multiple parts to the Old Testament Levitical Atonement ‘Kaphar’ (3722) Covering Sin Offering: 1. The sacrifice has to have a cost to the sinner, a precious useful animal was to be sacrificed. 2. The laying on of hands onto the animal’s head then the confession and transfer of sins from the sinner to the innocent sacrifice. 3. The sacrifice dies with your sins, death of the sins. 4. The blood [life] of the animal is poured out providing a New Life opportunity (for a season, often one year) from the blood of the sacrifice for the sinner.}
1. The Burnt Offering Sacrifice: Giving totally to God, the entire sacrifice is consumed in fire and given to God. [Note: humans can and should concentrate themselves to God for a time, a season or even just an event. Where the animal offering was burnt and given to God it is the human service, fellowship that is consecrate to God. - The pagan practice is to burn a human in the fire but if a Christian person died in a fire that would end their consecration not start it and there is no such alter of God that would ever accept a human offering, a human is never ever to enter a physical fire as a sacrifice in Judaism/Christianity. The pagan practice of human sacrifice is strictly forbidden and prohibited in worshiping the true God of Israel.] 2. The Grain Offering: A sweat smelling (savor) freewill offer given to God. Bread flower covered with oil and sprinkled with Frankincense aroma is burnt in the fire with the smell of baking bread ascending up into heaven. No human induced ingredients are allowed no leaven [sin] and no honey [man's accomplishments] are allowed in the offering. 3. The Peace (Fellowship) Offering: An animal to be roasted as a celebration meal. The animal had to be without spot [inherited birth defect] or blemish [acquired defect]. The animal was to be roasted the fat [worry] was to be removed and burned separately and given to God the people couldn't eat the fat [worry]. The blood [life] was also to be poured out as at no time could they eat any blood [life of the animal]. 4. Sin Offering for Unintentional Sin (weaknesses): A young bull for the sins of individual people. A mature bull for the sins of a Priest. A [goat] that the leader was to lay hands on it for the sins of the nation. 5. Trespass Offering for Intentional Sin: A sin offering plus a grain (flour) offering withholding the oil and the Frankincense aroma. -- Having sacrificed to God and their sins now covered for a year the O.T. Saints could then live in the presence of God to commune and interact with God however the O.T. animal sacrifices did not provide the individual direct access to God. The individual people did not live in the perceivable presence of God, did not have direct access to God and did not experience God the way individual N.T. saints often do. [link]
Leviticus 6-10 – The offerings to God are to restore man’s fellowship with God – The problem of sin [a separator, barrier between us and God] is not on God’s side the problem is on our side therefore a sacrifice had to be made to cover the sin (or remove the sin N.T.) and open the way to God – Aaron and his sons are anointed for their ministry – the people view the anointing and consecration of Aaron and his sons – During the first offerings ‘strange fire’ is offered to God and two of Aaron’s sons die in the process
Strange Fire: 'Leviticus 9:23-10:3 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. Leviticus And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire [not from the alter] therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.' ... 'Leviticus 10:8-9 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine [influences] nor strong drink [delusion], thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations' ... 'Acts 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept [the problem was in the deception not in the keeping] back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost [the only acceptable wine (Holy Spirit), influence that we can be under in our approach God], and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power [they didn't have to give it all]? why hast thou conceived this thing [deception] in thine heart? thou hast not lied [Strange Fire] unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much [deception]. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt [Strange Fire] the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things.' - Ananias and Sapphira encountered the same judgment that befell Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron so many years before and that could befall any servant of God at any time even today. Both pairs of 'Priests' were children of God and are in heaven today however each of their ministries to God was ended suddenly by their own rash actions. It was two different Priesthoods; Nadab and Abihu were a part of the Levitical/Aaronic Priesthood while Ananias and Sapphira were a part of the Melchizedek/Jesus Priesthood. Two Priesthoods; one pair offering strange physical fire the other pair offering strange spiritual fire both to the same God and all received the same results. Note: Ananias and Sapphira both died as believing Christians they did not die in unbelief they died offering an unacceptable [strange fire] sacrifice offering to God.
Leviticus 11-15 – The clean and unclean laws of God – Clean and unclean animals – child bearing – daily activities – health codes, diagnoses and leprosy
'Leviticus 11:45-47 For I Am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy (clean), for I am holy (clean). ... To make a difference between the unclean (unholy) and the clean (holy), and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten' - The clean and unclean Levitical laws for the entire Nation of Israel to know and observe relate to the cleanliness (holiness) and uncleanliness (unholiness) among mankind. God has brought Israel out of the world (Egypt) and into the Promise Land (Israel). The Promise Land is a Biblical type of heaven and in heaven there will only be clean (holy) items unholy (unclean) items will not be permitted into the Kingdom of God. It is just that simple, clean items are allowed within the Kingdom of God while unclean, mixed and corrupt items remain outside of the Kingdom of God. Israel as a Nation is set apart to God and is to illustrate through their laws, lives, customs and conduct to the entire world the differences between a holy (clean) Nation and an unholy (unclean) world.
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wikipedia.org: Rabbit – (Levitically unclean) Leviticus 11:6 And the hare (rabbit), because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you – Rabbits re-ingest their own droppings [Rabbits don’t have two stomachs like a cow does so a rabbit eats the grass then re-eats its own droppings so the grass (cud) is eaten a second time just like a cow]
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are seven different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus; 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, endangered species on Amami Oshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit, and these, along with pikas and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha. ... Cecal pellets: Rabbits are hindgut digesters. This means that most of their digestion takes place in their large intestine and cecum. In rabbits, the cecum is about 10 times bigger than the stomach, and it, along with the large intestine, makes up roughly 40% of the rabbit's digestive tract. Cecotropes, sometimes called "night feces", come from the cecum and are high in minerals, vitamins and proteins that are necessary to the rabbit's health. Rabbits eat these to meet their nutritional requirements. This process allows rabbits to extract the necessary nutrients from their food. Rabbits have two sets of incisor teeth, one behind the other. Therefore they are often mistaken to be rodents. ... Diet and eating habits: Rabbits are herbivores who feed by grazing on grass, forbs, and leafy weeds. In consequence, their diet contains large amounts of cellulose, which is hard to digest. Rabbits solve this problem by passing two distinct types of feces: hard droppings and soft black viscous pellets, the latter of which are immediately eaten. Rabbits re-ingest their own droppings (rather than chewing the cud as do cows and many other herbivores) to digest their food further and extract sufficient nutrients. [link]
Leviticus 16-20 – The giving of the Law continues – The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the most Holy Day in the Jewish Calendar – Atonement comes only through the shedding of the blood – Offerings to God are to be freewill from our own desire to give to God – You shall love your neighbor as yourself – [In 2009 Yom Kippur (the 5769th) Jewish Day of Atonement begins at sundown on Sunday September 27 and ends at nightfall on Monday September 28 – about.com]
Now that Israel has a Tabernacle [meeting place with God] the practice of the head of each family acting as the priest of the family and sacrificing an animal out in a field on his own has been brought to an end. The individual animal sacrifices are no longer accepted by God. With the Levitical Priesthood established then God required that all of the offerings of all types were to be brought to the Tabernacle where the Priests would administer them accordingly. 'Leviticus 17:1-7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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, 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, 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: 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. 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. And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations.' -- The Day of Atonement: 'Leviticus 17:11 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.' - Atonement comes only through the shedding of blood because blood is life and it takes life to atone for death, sin is death. The death is in the sin - the body of sin dies - the life is in the blood - the blood is poured out [exposing and confirming that the body is dead, the body without blood is dead] but the blood has life, the life [strength] of the Covenant is in the Life of the Blood. The life [strength] of the Atonement is in the Life of Blood and blood is then sprinkled upon the alter to make atonement for the alter then blood is sprinkled seven times upon the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat to make atonement for the Nation. The life of blood covers the death of the sin, with sin and death covered life [a relationship with God] continues on. - Jesus quoted from Leviticus - 'Leviticus 19:17-19 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD. Ye shall keep My statutes...' Jesus has summarized ALL of the Laws and ALL of the Prophets 'Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him (Pharisee), Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang *all the *law and the *prophets.'
DebbieSchlussel.com: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 9/28/2009 – Yom Kippur is one of the holiest Jewish holidays – The Yom Kippur Fast – The idea is that you are removing yourself from worldly concerns and focusing on spiritual ones, most importantly repentance for your sins {The day of Atonement is a national day of mourning for Israel [Leviticus 23:27-32]. This is the one day a year that the Jewish High Priest would enter the Temple Holy of Holies first with the blood of a bull then with the blood of a goat to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat located on top of the Ark of the Covenant initiating atonement [blood of the bull] for the Priest and his Levitical family and [blood of the goat] for rest of the Nation of Israel.}
Yom Kippur is one of the holiest Jewish holidays, at the end of which we believe our fate for the next year is "sealed" by G-d*. We believe that on Rosh HaShanah, that fate is written by Him, and on Yom Kippur, he issues his final Judgment. This is Judgment Day. On Yom Kippur, we fast and pray for about 25 hours to ask G-d for a good year. Before the fast, we eat a big, sumptuous meal, which expands the stomach and makes the fast more difficult. During the holiday, there are strict prohibitions: no food, drink, shower, TV/radio, phone, etc. the whole day, which is mostly spent at synagogue. The idea is that you are removing yourself from worldly concerns and focusing on spiritual ones, most importantly repentance for your sins. We also don't wear leather shoes, as back in the day, those were a luxury of the wealthy, and the holiday is not about ostentatious displays, but about humble requests before G-d. It starts just before sundown [9/27/2009], tonight, and ends after dark tomorrow (Monday) night [9/28/2009], with one sound of the shofar (ram's horn-see explanation of shofar here). I will put up a some other stuff, today, though I'm rushing to do other stuff before the big meal. And, G-d-willing, I will be back on Monday Night or Tuesday Morning with even more new stuff. To my Jewish friends and readers, have an easy fast and a great year. Gmar Chatimah Tovah [May you be finally sealed for good.] To everyone, see you very, very soon. And thank you for your continued patronage of this site. I very much appreciate my readers, their continued support of this site, and, of course, their tips and comments always. Thanks to the many readers who sent me i- and e-cards wishing me an easy fast and a good year. Right back at ya! *Religious Jews use dashes in the word "G-d" and do not write it out completely out of respect for Him and the wish not to write the name in vain. [link]
Leviticus 21-25 – The giving of the Law continues – The eight Festivals (feasts) Holy Days are appointed by God to be observed in all their generations as a memorial forever — ‘Leviticus 23:1-44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the [eight] feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My feasts. … These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim [fulfill in their given order] in their seasons. … it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. … I am the LORD your God. And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.’
The Feast of Firstfruits - observed only in the Promise Land: 'Leviticus 23:9-14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the [Promise] Land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the [High] Priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath [on Sunday] the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day [Sunday] when ye wave the sheaf ... it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.' - While wandering in the desert there was no Feast of Firstfruits (even the children remained uncircumcised) and when Joshua and the people finally did cross the Jordan River and once in the Promise Land they kept the Passover on the 14th but on the next day (probably not a Sunday) they ate 'old corn' from off the land and once in the land and eating grain from the land the Manna stopped as the next day there was no Manna. Although in the Land and celebrating the Passover they still couldn't celebrate the Feast of the Firstfruits because they didn't yet have a harvest of the land to offer the Firstfruits of to God. - But Jesus Christ on the day of His resurrection, the actual [Sunday] day of the Feast of Firstfruits being observed in Jerusalem, Jesus Himself ascended into Heaven the real Promise Land and entering into Heaven and stepping into the real Promise Land Jesus became the Firstfruit [first of the resurrection] of the harvest of God. The rest of the harvest His disciples are to follow after Him in our own order likewise stepping into Heaven as a part of the same precious harvest of God. {Note: All of the eight appointed Feasts of God like the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant of God have their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ and in heaven. The Hebrews, although they observed the feats they did not fulfill the feasts [any more than the rest of the law and the 10 Commandments have been kept and fulfilled] either physically or Spiritually.}
Leviticus 26-27 – The giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai concludes – The children of God are admonished of the blessings of God in the obedience of God – ‘Leviticus 26:12 And I (God) will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people’
It has now been about two years and two months since the children of Israel have been delivered from their bondage in Egypt. The children of God are now wrapping up their two year stay at the base of Mt. Sinai the Mountain of God. Soon they will bundle up their possessions and the implements of God and continue on their journey to their own land the Promise Land. - 'Leviticus 27:34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.'