Leviticus 1 - Introduction - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Leviticus 1-7. The Law of Sacrifices: Burnt Offering (1), Meal Offering (2), Peace Offering (3), Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13), Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:14-19), Directions chiefly for Priests (Leviticus 6:8 to Leviticus 7:38).

I. Burnt Offering or Whole Burnt Offering. This is η constant element in the worship of the community; it is too solemn for the victim to be shared by the offerer. In the historical books, we find it practised before some great occasion or enterprise or after a reverse (Genesis 8:20; Judges 6:26; 2 Samuel 24:25). Only domestic and clean animals and birds could be offered (a restriction peculiar to Heb. practice). The part of the worshipper is to lay his hand on the victim, kill, flay, cut it up, and wash it, on the N. side of the altar; the priest does the rest at the altar itself pouring out the blood, bringing the fire, arranging the parts of the victim. For further sacrificial arrangements, see Numbers 15:1-16.