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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 26



Martyrdom of St Erasmus (left wing) - (c. 1458)
Dieric Bouts the Elder (c. 1415 - 1475)
Early Netherlandish Painter Style; Belonging to the Late Gothic and Early Renaissance Periods
Sint-Pieterskerk, Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Leviticus 17 establishes the centrality of the Tabernacle in the religious life of Israel and emphasizes the sacred nature of blood of any type, especially the blood of sacrificial animals, which is used as an atonement. In this regard, I've chosen the image above to represent blood atonement. A primary meaning of atonement is "covering," (which is represented by the robe); and blood is represented by the red color of the robe.
     The first of the lessons in Leviticus 17 is that anyone who kills a sacrifice outside of the Tabernacle is guilty of blood and will be cut off from his people. Rather they must quit sacrificing to devils and must sacrifice at the Tabernacle only, to the LORD only (1-7). Anyone who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice but does not bring it to the Tabernacle will be cut off from his people (8-9). Anyone who eats blood will also be cut off from his people because the life of the flesh is in the blood, and the LORD has given it for the purpose of making atonement. This law also applies to anyone who sojourns with the people of Israel (10-12). Any game caught in the filed must be drained of its blood and the blood covered with dust because the life of the flesh is in th blood; and anyone who eats the blood will be cut off. Anyone who eats something which dies of itself, or is killed by a wild beast, whether the person is a stranger or native born, must wash his clothes, bathe, and be unclean until the evening. But if he does not do so, he will bear his iniquity (13-16).


Leviticus 17

     1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, 3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, 4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD. 6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
     8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
     10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
     13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. 15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. 16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.




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