Definition: And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaronâs sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 1:5. It's a really important part of Jewish law and describes a crucial ritual process. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse says that when offering sacrifices at the Tabernacle (a special building for God’s people), the priests are required to do exactly this: 1. Kill the Animal: The priest must kill a bullock (a young male bovine animal – like a cow or sheep). 2. Collect the Blood: The priest must collect all the blood from that animal. 3. Sprinkle the Blood: They then have to sprinkle this collected blood around the altar of the Tabernacle. Let’s unpack it further: “He shall kill…” : This is a command – it's something God tells them to do. “…the bullock before the LORD…” : This means the animal must be offered to God before it gets to the Tabernacle. It’s a sign of reverence and respect. "...and the priests, Aaron's sons..." : This refers to specific priests who are responsible for this task. “…bring the blood…” : They have to collect the blood. "...and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar...” : This is the key part! They must sprinkle the blood everywhere around the altar, covering it completely. This is a symbolic act – it’s like a cleansing and offering of atonement for the sins of the people. Why was this done? The verse describes this ritual as a way to make an apology to God for humanity's sinfulness. By offering blood, the priests were symbolically washing away the stain of sin and demonstrating their commitment to being a righteous people under God’s protection. It was a very important part of keeping the covenant (agreement) between God and his people. In short, this verse is about purification and atonement – a ritual that demonstrates faith and repentance. --- Do you want me to: Explain another passage from Leviticus? Discuss the significance of this ritual in Jewish tradition? Give you a bit more context about the Tabernacle itself?