Vayikra /
He called
Vayikra /
Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 (6:7)
Discussion
portion – parashah #5 (4:1 – 26)
More than a teaching this week, I
believe my writing will lead to a teaching moment. For now, my thoughts have been provoked, and
I will share them with you, the reader.
This portion speaks regarding
unintentional sin, and the first two instances spoken of are if this faux pas
was committed by the high priest (vv. 3b – 12) or by the entire community of
Israel (vv. 13 – 21). Should either of
these instances occur, the high priest must do the following:
1. offer a young bull without defect
as a sin offering,
2. bring the bull to the entrance
of the tent of meeting (vs. 4),
3. lay his hand on the bull’s head
and slaughter the bull
in the presence of Adonai,
4. take some of the bull’s blood and
bring it to the tent of meeting, (is
he not already there?),
5. dip his finger in the blood and
sprinkle some of the blood seven
times in in the presence of Adonai in front of the curtain of the
sanctuary.
6. he is then to put some of the
blood on the horns of the incense
altar, and then
7. he is to take the remaining blood
and to pour it out at the base of the altar used for the burnt offerings.
From
this point #5 on (vv. 8 - 12), the procedure is the same as when an “ordinary”
individual inadvertently sins (vv. 27 - 31
and for a lamb – vv. 32 – 35a).
Therefore, my conundrum is as
follows, why in the first two instances are most of the events taking place in
what I presume is the Holy Place, while an
“ordinary” individual’s inadvertent sin is dealt with at the altar for the
burnt offering?
Here’s hoping that I am enlightened
this evening as we discuss this portion.
Shalom.
I was trying to picture the goings on during this time. Was there one long line as people were waiting with their animals to be sacrificed? Was there a schedule and you were to show up at a specific time? And yet another question posed by you, Tom. I have a feeling that some may not be answered until we are able to ask the individuals that were present. Shalom.
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