Leviticus 3:1-17

Introduction to Leviticus 3
In this chapter we have the law concerning the peace-offerings, whether they were, I. Of the heard, a bullock or a heifer (Lev_3:1-5). Or, II. Of the flock, either a lamb (Lev_3:6-11) or a goat (Lev_3:12-17). The ordinances concerning each of these are much the same, yet they are repeated.

The law of the peace-offering in general, Lev_3:1-5. That of the peace-offering taken from the flock, Lev_3:6-11; and the same when the offering is a goat, Lev_3:12-17.

Lev 3:1 And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers from the herd, whether it is a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before Jehovah.

if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering--"Peace" being used in Scripture to denote prosperity and happiness generally, a peace offering was a voluntary tribute of gratitude for health or other benefits. In this view it was a token of thanksgiving for benefits already received, or it was sometimes votive, presented in prayer for benefits wished for in the future. The peace-offerings were offered by way of supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace, our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers.

Peace signifies
1. Reconciliation, concord, and communion. And so these were called peace-offerings, because in them God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of friendship. They could not thus eat together unless they were agreed; so that it was a symbol of friendship and fellowship between God and man, and a confirmation of the covenant of peace.

2. It signifies prosperity and all happiness: Peace be to you was as much as, All good be to you; and so the peace-offerings were offered either, (1.) By way of supplication or request for some good that was wanted and desired Or, (2.) By way of thanksgiving for some particular mercy received. It is called a peace-offering of thanksgiving, for so it was sometimes; as in other cases a vow, Lev_7:15, Lev_7:16. And some make the original word to signify retribution. When they had received any special mercy, and were enquiring what they should render, this they were directed to render to the God of their mercies as a grateful acknowledgment for the benefit done to them, Psa_116:12

Lev 3:2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle the blood on the altar all around.

At the door - Not on the north - side of the altar, where the burnt - offering was killed, as also the sin - offering, and the trespass - offering, but in the very entrance of the court where the brazen altar stood, which place was not so holy as the other; as appears both because it was more remote from the holy of holies, and because the ashes of the sacrifices were to be laid here. And the reason of this difference is not obscure, both because part of this sacrifice was to be waved by the hands of the offerer, Lev_7:30, who might not come into the court; and because this offering was not so holy as the others, which were to be eaten only by the priest, whereas part of these were eaten by the offerer.

Lev 3:3 And he shall bring near from the sacrifice the peace offering, a fire offering to Jehovah. The fat that covers the inward parts, all the fat that is on the inward parts,

“The fat that covereth the inwards” refers to the caul or transparent membrane which has upon it a network of fatty tissue: The omentum, caul or web, as some term it. The fat that is upon the inwards; probably the mesentery or fatty part of the substance which connects the convolutions of the alimentary canal or small intestines.

“the fat upon the inwards” refers to the small lumps of suet found upon the intestines of healthy animals.

Lev 3:4 and the two kidneys, and the fat on them, on the loins, and the lobe above the liver, with the kidneys, he shall remove.

Lev 3:5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar, on the burnt sacrifice on the wood, which is on the fire. It is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Jehovah.

This fat the priests were to burn upon the altar, over the burnt sacrifice, on the pieces of wood upon the fire. The peace-offering was preceded as a rule by the burnt-offering which burned, if not all day, at all events the whole of the forenoon, until it was quite consumed; so that the fat portions of the peace-offerings were to be laid upon the burnt-offering which was burning already. That this is the meaning is placed beyond all doubt, both by Lev_6:5, where the priest is directed to burn wood every morning upon the fire of the altar, and then to place the burnt-offering upon it, and upon that to cause the fat portions of the peace-offerings to evaporate in smoke, and also by Lev_9:14, where Aaron is said first of all to have burned the flesh and head of the burnt-offering upon the altar, then to have washed the entrails and legs of the animal, and burned them on the altar, upon the portions of the burnt-offering that were burning already.

Lev 3:6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to Jehovah is of the flocks, male or female, he shall bring it without blemish.

Lev 3:7 If he is bringing near a sheep for his offering, then he shall bring it near before Jehovah.

Lev 3:8 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.

Lev 3:9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering, a fire offering to Jehovah. He shall take away its fat, all its fat next to the backbone, and all the fat that covers the inward parts, and all the fat that is on the inward parts,

The whole rump - The whole fat tail: There is, in Eastern countries, a species of sheep the tails of which are not less than four feet and a half in length. These tails are of a substance between fat and marrow. A sheep of this kind weighs sixty or seventy English pounds weight, of which the tail usually weighs fifteen pounds and upwards. This species is by far the most numerous in Arabia, Syria, and Palestine, and, forming probably a large portion in the flocks of the Israelites, it seems to have been the kind that usually bled on the Jewish altars. The extraordinary size and deliciousness of their tails give additional importance to this law. It consists of something between marrow and fat. Ordinary sheep are also found in Arabia and Syria; but in modern Palestine all the sheep are “of the broad-tailed species.” The broad part of the tail is an excresence of fat, from which the true tail hangs down “Near the rump-bone shall he (the offerer) take it (the fat tail) away,” i.e., separate it from the body.To command by an express law the tail of a certain sheep to be offered in sacrifice to God, might well surprise us; but the wonder ceases, when we are told of those broad-tailed Eastern sheep, and of the extreme delicacy of that part which was so particularly specified in the statute.

Lev 3:10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe above the liver, beside the kidneys, he shall remove it.

Lev 3:11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar, bread of the fire offering to Jehovah.

Lev 3:12 And if his offering is a goat, then he shall bring it near before Jehovah.

Lev 3:13 And he shall lay his hand on its head and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood on the altar all around.

Lev 3:14 And he shall offer his offering of it, a fire offering to Jehovah, the fat that covers the inward parts, and all the fat on the inward parts,

Lev 3:15 and the two kidneys, and the fat on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe above the liver, beside the kidneys, he shall remove.

Lev 3:16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar, bread of the fire offering for a sweet savor. All the fat is Jehovah's.

Lev 3:17 It shall be a statute forever for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that you eat neither fat nor blood.

The blood was universally forbidden likewise, for the same reason that the fat was, because it was God's part of every sacrifice. The heathen drank the blood of their sacrifices; hence we read of their drink-offerings of blood, Psalms 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who run after another god. I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood; and I will not take their names on my lips. But God would not permit the blood, that made atonement, to be used as a common thing Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to assume to ourselves any share in the honour of making it.