| The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron, his sons and all the children of Israel the following commands. First, whatever man of the house of Israel who kills an ox, lamb or goat inside or outside the camp and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer it to the Lord before His tabernacle, is guilty of bloodshed. Because he has shed blood, he would be cut off from among his people. This is so that the Israelites would bring their sacrifices offered in the open field to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They would be given to the priest and offered as peace offerings to the Lord. The priest should sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting and burn the fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord. They should no longer offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. Ellicott’s Commentary states that the Egyptians worshiped hairy or shaggy goats, thus goat-like deities. This idolatrous worship was brought with the Israelites out of Egypt. According to Biblehub, the word “demon” or “devil”, meant an idol, a no-god, made with their own hands of wood, gold etc. Do you have anything or anyone that you worship in your life other than God? This should be a statute forever for the Israelites throughout their generations. Second, whatever man of the house of Israel or strangers who dwell among them, who has a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer it to the Lord, that man should be cut off from among his people. The strangers were, more than likely, the mixed multitude that left with the Israelites in Exodus 12:38. Third, whatever man of the house of Israel, or the strangers who dwell among them, who eats any blood, God said that He would set His face against that person and cut him off from among his people. The Lord said that the life of flesh is in the blood and He had given it to them upon the altar to make atonement for their souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Let’s never forget that it was the shedding of Jesus’ blood that makes atonement for us. Therefore, the Lord said to the children of Israel that no one among them should eat blood, including the strangers dwelling with them. Fourth, whatever man of the children of Israel or the strangers dwelling among them who hunts and catches any animal or bird they are allowed to eat, should pour out its blood and cover it with dust for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore, God said to the childrenof Israel that they should not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever ate blood should be cut off from the people. Every person who ate anything that died naturally or was torn by beasts, whether that person was a native of their country or a stranger, he should wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. Then he would be clean. If he doesn’t wash his clothes or his body, then he should bear his guilt. |
| We’re off to Leviticus 18 next week. To God Be The Glory! Click “Be Encouraged” for Spiritual, Encouraging and Inspirational Uplifting. Be Encouraged Click here to visit Bible Reading Made Different. |