Offerings (2 of 2)

In context

Leviticus 5–7 finish the laws of the offerings that the Lord gave Moses from the Tent of Meeting, at Mount Sinai (Leviticus 1:1; 7:37–38). Chapter 5 names wrongs such as keeping quiet as a witness, or touching something unclean or making a careless oath without realizing it. Whoever was guilty was to confess and bring a sin offering (Leviticus 5:5–6). The price was set by what a person could afford: a lamb or a goat; two turtledoves or two young pigeons; or a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, a little over two quarts (Leviticus 5:6–7, 11).

When someone had wronged a neighbor, the trespass offering came with repayment. Whoever had cheated or robbed, or lied about something he found, was to give it back in full, add a fifth, and then bring his ram (Leviticus 6:1–7).

Then come rules for the priests: the fire on the altar was to be kept burning and never go out, and most offerings had a share set aside for the priests who served (Leviticus 6:13; 7:7–10, 34–36). The meat of a peace offering was eaten by those who were clean: a thanksgiving offering on the day it was offered, a vow or freewill offering that day or the next (Leviticus 7:15–19).