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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2014 January 12




Image 1: The Farm (Detail) - (1649)
Paulus Potter (1625-1654)
Romanticism Style
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

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Image 2: Blood and Fat (Detail) - (2004)
Photographer Greg Willis; Uploaded by russavia
Image Source: Wikimedia


     Explanation: The first image above shows the three types of sacrificial animals mentioned in Leviticus 3 -- cows, sheep, and goats. The second image shows the portion of those animals which was reserved exclusively for the LORD -- blood and fat.
     Leviticus 3 gives the regulations for Peace Offerings (also called Thank Offerings). These could be a male or female cow, sheep, or goat. The regulations for cattle are in verses 1-5. Those for sheep are in verses 6-11. And those for goats are in verses 12-17.
     The peace offerings were given by those who were at peace with God because they had already offered the proper sacrifices for their sins. The regulations for offering all three types of animals are virtually identical in form and substance, with only minor variations.
     The regulations are these: first, the offering must be without blemish (unmentioned for goats since they were part of the "flock" offerings, which included sheep which had to be unblemished, and also to be inferred here since blemished sacrifices of any type were unacceptable, as clearly stated later in the book -- "Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the LORD, if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you." (Leviticus 22:18-20, ESV). The blemish issue was so important that the priests could not offer sacrifices or do any service in the temple if they had any sort of blemish (Leviticus 21:17-24). So, both the sacrifice and the priest had to be unblemished -- in retrospect, an obvious symbol of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
      The second regulation was that the one who made the offering was to lay his hand on the head of the sacrifice. The Hebrew word translated "lay" could be translated as press, lean, take hold, etc. It was more than a light touch. The contact was substantive. It conveyed a sense of the transfer of sin from the sinner to the substitute.
      The third regulation was to for the one who made the offering to kill the sacrifice at the Tabernacle door.
      The fourth regulation was for the priest to sprinkle (or throw) the blood on the altar round about.
      The fifth regulation was for the priest to burn the sacrifice. He was to particularly include the fat portions of the animal -- around the intestines, the kidneys, and the liver; and in. the case of sheep, the fat on the rump, which probably included the tail which was particularly rich in fat in Middle Eastern species of sheep.
      the sixth and final regulation was that the fat belonged to the LORD perpetually; and the people were to eat neither fat nor blood throughout their generations.


Leviticus 3

     1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. 2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. 3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
     6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD. 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar. 9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.
     12 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD. 13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. 14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD'S. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.




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