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Please read the Introductory Notes to this commentary.

Maps, when used, are are from BibleAtlas.org. Created using BibleMapper 3.0.
Additional data from OpenBible.info. Source of Dates Used

וַיִּקְרָא • V'yikra
(“And He Called”)
The Third Book of Moses,
Commonly Called
Leviticus

~ 1 ~

[Listen to Vayikra read from the CJB]

1. The Five Major Offerings (1:1–7:38)

a. Laws for the People (1:1–6:7)

i. The Burnt Offering (1:1–17)

(i) 1 Y^ehovah[GN] called to Moshe,[1] and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Isra'el, and tell them, ‘When any of you brings an offering to Y^ehovah, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or from the flock.

3 “‘If one’s offering is a burnt offering[3] from the herd, he is offer a male without defect. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, to be accepted before Y^ehovah. 4 He is to lay his hand[4] on the head of the burnt offering, so it may be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5 He is to kill the bull before Y^ehovah.[5] Aharon’s sons, the cohenimpriests, are to present the blood and splash it on all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6 Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aharon the cohenpriest are to prepare a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.[7] 8 Then Aharon’s sons, the cohenim, are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood that is on the the altar. 9 The entrails and the legs are to be washed with water, and the cohen is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Y^ehovah.

10 “‘If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he is to offer a male without defect. 11 He is to slaughter it on the north side of the altar before Y^ehovah, then Aharon’s sons, the cohenim, are to splash its blood against all sides of the altar. 12 He is to cut the animal into pieces, incuding its head and fat, and the cohen is to arrange the pieces on the burning wood that is on the altar; 13 but the entrails and legs are to be washed with water. Then the cohen is to offer the whole animal and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Y^ehovah.

[TO PARASHAH TOP]
 

(ii) 14 “‘If one’s offering to Y^ehovah is a burnt offering of birds, he is to make his offering of turtledoves or young pigeons. 15 The cohen is to bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 Then [the cohen] is to remove its crop and feathers,[16] and throw them down ono the east side of the altar, in the ash heap. 17 He shall tear it open by its wings without tearing it apart, and burn it on the altar, atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Y^ehovah.

Chapter 2

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  1. The latter chapters of Exodus relate that the Tabernacle had been built and become a fitting place for the Shechinah, God’s Presence, and for the sacrificial service. So great and awesome was the glory of God that covered the Tabernacle that even Moshe was afraid to enter. Consequently, God “called” to Moshe to reassure him that the Tabernacle had been built to benefit him and his people, not to exclude them (Rambam, et. al.) The Sages expound that this summon to Moshe is mentioned to teach that whenever God wished to impart a new command to him, He first summoned him lovingly, saying “Moshe, Moshe.” In reply, Moshe would say “הִנֶּ֣נִּֽי, here I am at your service.” As this verse implies, the call came exclusively to Moshe. God’s voice is powerful enough to shatter trees and be heard throughout the world, but it was the Divine will that it be heard onlyh by Moshe. (Rashi; Sifra) [R' Moshe Feinstein, The Chumash] [BACK]

 3. See “The Five Major Offerings” [BACK]

 4. Throughout the Scriptures, the “laying on of hands” is shown to be very important. It indicates an identification with the recipient, or a transferrance of one kind of another. In this instance, it indicates the transferrance of guilt from the offerer to the offering. In the days of the Apostles it often signified the transferrance of power (as in healing or in the anointing of Ruach HaKodeshthe Holy Spirit) or of authority (as in the ordination of elders and deacons). [BACK]

 5. Note that it is the individual, not the cohen, that is to actually slaughter the animal. It is to be done under the supervision of the cohen. The cohen would provide an extremely sharp knife to reduce the suffering of the sacrificial animal as much as possible, and hold a bowl to catch the animal’s blood. Likewise verse 11. [BACK]

 7. The fire of the alter was to be kept perpetually burning (Lev. 6:5). [BACK]

16. or crop with its contents [BACK]

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Other commentaries on Leviticus 1
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Page originally posted on Shabbat, 18 February 2023

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