Definition: This [is] the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 6:20. It's a really important passage about how to cleanse something ritually impure and offer it to God. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it’s saying: “When Aaron and his sons are offering a special kind of food (a meat offering) to the Lord, they need to give away half of it – about ten-thirds – as a permanent, continuous gift. Here's a breakdown of each part: “This [is] the offering…” - This is clearly stating that this is a specific ritual sacrifice. “…of Aaron and of his sons…” - This refers to the priests in Israel, specifically Aaron and his descendants. "...which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed..." - The priests are offering this food as a sign of devotion and to show their respect to God. It’s like a special offering that acknowledges God's power and holiness. “He is anointed” means God is powerful and significant. "...the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour..." - An ephah was a large container, roughly equivalent to 30-40 bushels of grain. “Fine flour” indicates it’s a very pure and important offering. "...half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night." – This is where it gets a little tricky. The priests were instructed to give away half of the food in two specific times: Morning: They gave half of the flour before sunrise. Night: They gave half of the flour after sunset. Why was this done? This ritual was a way for the Israelites to make a special covenant with God, demonstrating their commitment to follow his laws and worship him honestly. It’s about acknowledging that they were still imperfect and needed to be purified through sacrifice. Important Note: This verse is part of a larger story about a massive impurity that had occurred in Israel – a large amount of animal sacrifices had been made, leading to a spiritual problem. This ritual was designed to cleanse the land and remind everyone of God's holiness. --- Do you want me to explain any of these parts in more detail? For example, we could go into: The significance of the “ephah” (a large container) The concept of "impurity" and how it was addressed through this ritual What the verse is not saying – like that Aaron’s blood was spilled.