The BibleTruth.cc Torah Study Series

Parashat Vayiqra

"And He Called"

Vayiqra [Leviticus] 1:1-6:7

1:1 And He called to Mosheh...

Theme

Torah portion Vayiqra begins with the Hebrew word which means, "and he called."   Yahuwah called to Mosheh and gave him instructions for the required offerings to be performed in the Tent of Appointment (tent of Meeting).  The theme of Parashat Behar is that of approaching the Almighty.  Each of the offerings described tell us of the many reasons for approaching Yahuwah, and each come with their own instructions.

Sedarim

Olah - The Burnt Offering

An Olah from the Herd

An Olah from the Flock

An Olah from the Fowl

Minchah - The Grain Offering

Shelamim - The Peace Offering

Chatat - The Sin Offering

If the Anointed Priest Sins

If the Community Sins

If a Leader Sins

If a Member of the Community Sins

For Sins Committed Accidentally or Unawares

Making Restitution

Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Prophetic Pictures in this Week's Torah Portion

Messiah in the Torah Parashah

Prophetic End Time Shadows in the Torah Parashah

1:1 And He called to Mosheh and Yahuwah spoke to him from the Tent of Appointment. He said,

² "Speak to the sons of Yisrael and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to Yahuwah, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

The word usually translated offering, gift, oblation or sacrifice is the Hebrew !B'r>q' (pronounced korban).  There is no corresponding English word which properly fits with this Hebrew word.  This comes from the root breq' (karev), which means to draw near or approach.  Thus the concept of bringing something to slaughter or to burn before Yahuwah is for the purpose of drawing closer to Elohim.  There are various reasons for drawing near to Elohim, including tod

Olah - The Burnt Offering

The burnt offering is from the Hebrew hl'[o (olah), which means that which goes up.  It comes from the three letter root which means to go up, to ascend, to climb.  The whole burnt-offering (beast or fowl) is entirely consumed and goes up in the flame of the altar to God expressing the ascent of the soul in worship. All of the victim is laid on the altar except the hide and such parts as could not be washed clean.

An Olah from the Herd

³ "'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment so that it will be acceptable to Yahuwah.

⁴ He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

⁵ He is to slaughter the young bull before Yahuwah, and then Aharon's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment.

⁶ He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.

⁷ The sons of Aharon the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

⁸ Then Aharon's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar.

⁹ He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.

The olah which is taken from the herd must be a male without any blemish.  This is because it must be valuable to the bearer of it.  It also represents the sinless Messiah who would be offered in like manner for the sins of the world.

The bearer is to approach the entrance to the sanctuary because he is approaching his Maker in this symbolic act.  Then the bearer lays his hand on the head of the offering in a gesture which transfers his sin or guilt to the animal, and then the animal is slain for that sin.  Paul explained that the wages of sin is death.  This is the reason the bearer of the  cattle transfers his sin to the animal so that the sin can be properly dealt with.

Aharon's sons prepare the animal by skinning it, cutting it into pieces and washing it.  Then the animal is ready to be burned up to be a pleasing aroma to Elohim.

An Olah from the Flock

¹⁰ "'If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male without defect.

¹¹ He is to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before Yahuwah, and Aharon's sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.

¹² He is to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar.

¹³ He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.

If the olah is from the flock, it too must be a male without blemish or fault.  This one must be slaughtered at the north side of the alter and then its blood sprinkled along the sides of the alter.  The priests arrange the wood, cut the animal in pieces and wash them.  Then they arrange it on the alter and then burn it all up to Yahuwah.

An Olah from the Fowl

¹⁴ "'If the offering to Yahuwah is a burnt offering of birds, he is to offer a dove or a young pigeon.

¹⁵ The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

¹⁶ He is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, where the ashes are.

¹⁷ He shall tear it open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.

The dove or young pigeon is treated differently.  It's head it wringed off and its blood drained on the side of the alter.  Its crop is removed and thrown in among the ashes.  The bird is torn open and burned on the alter.  Thus, this bird arises in its smoke as a pleasing aroma to Yahuwah.
 

Minchah - The Grain Offering

1 'When someone brings a grain offering to Yahuwah, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it
2 and take it to Aharon's sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.
3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aharon and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to Yahuwah by fire.
4 "'If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of fine flour: cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or wafers made without yeast and spread with oil.
5 If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of fine flour mixed with oil, and without yeast.
6 Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7 If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of fine flour and oil.
8 Bring the grain offering made of these things to Yahuwah; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar.
9 He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.
10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aharon and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to Yahuwah by fire.
11 "'Every grain offering you bring to Yahuwah must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to Yahuwah by fire.
12 You may bring them to Yahuwah as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.
13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your Elohim out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
14 "'If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to Yahuwah, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire.
15 Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering.
16 The priest shall burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense, as an offering made to Yahuwah by fire.

Shelamim - The Peace Offering

1 "'If someone's offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before Yahuwah an animal without defect.
2 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment. Then Aharon's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides.
3 From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to Yahuwah by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,
4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.
5 Then Aharon's sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah.
6 "'If he offers an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to Yahuwah, he is to offer a male or female without defect.
7 If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before Yahuwah.
8 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Appointment. Then Aharon's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
9 From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to Yahuwah by fire: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,
10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.
11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made to Yahuwah by fire.
12 "'If his offering is a goat, he is to present it before Yahuwah.
13 He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Appointment. Then Aharon's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
14 From what he offers he is to make this offering to Yahuwah by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,
15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.
16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is Yahuwah's.
17 "'This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.'"

Chatat - The Sin Offering

1 Yahuwah said to Mosheh,
2 "Say to the Yisraelites: 'When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahuwah's commands--

If the Anointed Priest Sins

3 "'If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to Yahuwah a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment before Yahuwah. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before Yahuwah.
5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and carry it into the Tent of Appointment.
6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before Yahuwah, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.
7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before Yahuwah in the Tent of Appointment. The rest of the bull's blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment.
8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering-- the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,
9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys--
10 just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.
11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the inner parts and offal-
12 that is, all the rest of the bull-- he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it in a wood fire on the ash heap.

If the Community Sins

13 "'If the whole Yisraelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahuwah's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty.
14 When they become aware of the sin they committed, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Appointment.
15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull's head before Yahuwah, and the bull shall be slaughtered before Yahuwah.
16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Appointment.
17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before Yahuwah seven times in front of the curtain.
18 He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before Yahuwah in the Tent of Appointment. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Appointment.
19 He shall remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar,
20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.
 

If a Leader Sins

22 "'When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of Yahuwah his Elohim, he is guilty.
23 When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.
24 He is to lay his hand on the goat's head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before Yahuwah. It is a sin offering.
25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man's sin, and he will be forgiven.
 

If a Member of the Community Sins

27 "'If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahuwah's commands, he is guilty.
28 When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat without defect.
29 He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.
30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
31 He shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
32 "'If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he is to bring a female without defect.
33 He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.
34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
35 He shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar on top of the offerings made to Yahuwah by fire. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

For Sins Committed Accidentally or Unawares

1 "'If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.
2 "'Or if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean-- whether the carcasses of unclean wild animals or of unclean livestock or of unclean creatures that move along the ground-- even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty.
3 "'Or if he touches human uncleanness-- anything that would make him unclean-- even though he is unaware of it, when he learns of it he will be guilty.
4 "'Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil-- in any matter one might carelessly swear about-- even though he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty.
5 "'When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned
6 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to Yahuwah a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.
7 "'If he cannot afford a lamb, he is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to Yahuwah as a penalty for his sin-- one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
8 He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not severing it completely,
9 and is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.
10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.
11 "'If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He must not put oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering.
12 He is to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the offerings made to Yahuwah by fire. It is a sin offering.
13 In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.'"

Making Restitution

14 Yahuwah said to Mosheh:
15 "When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of Yahuwah's holy things, he is to bring to Yahuwah as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering.
16 He must make restitution for what he has failed to do in regard to the holy things, add a fifth of the value to that and give it all to the priest, who will make atonement for him with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.
17 "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of Yahuwah's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.
18 He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.
19 It is a guilt offering; he has been guilty of wrongdoing against Yahuwah."
 

6:1 Yahuwah said to Mosheh:

² "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to Yahuwah by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him,

³ or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do--

⁴ when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

⁵ or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.

⁶ And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to Yahuwah, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.

⁷ In this way the priest will make atonement for him before Yahuwah, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty."

Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
22 "Yet you have not called upon me, O Ya'acov, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Yisrael.
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
26 Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.
27 Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me.
28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Ya'acov to destruction and Yisrael to scorn.
44:1 "But now listen, O Ya'acov, my servant, Yisrael, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what Yahuwah says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Ya'acov, my servant, Yeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, 'I belong to Yahuwah'; another will call himself by the name of Ya'acov; still another will write on his hand, 'Yahuwah's,' and will take the name Yisrael.
6 "This is what Yahuwah says-- Yisrael's King and Redeemer, Yahuwah Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no Elohim.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come-- yes, let him foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any Elohim besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?
11 He and his kind will be put to shame; craftsmen are nothing but men. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and infamy.
12 The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.
13 The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.
14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
21 "Remember these things, O Ya'acov, for you are my servant, O Yisrael. I have made you, you are my servant; O Yisrael, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for Yahuwah has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for Yahuwah has redeemed Ya'acov, he displays his glory in Yisrael.
 

Messiah in the Torah Parashah

Prophetic End Time Shadows in the Torah Parashah