Leviticus 1:1-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 1:1-2

Observe here, 1. It is taken for granted that people would be inclined to bring offerings to the Lord. The very light of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour to his Maker, and pay him homage as his Lord. Revealed religion supposes natural religion to be an ancient and early institution, since the fall had directed men to glorify God by sacrifice, which was an implicit acknowledgment of their having received all from God as creatures, and their having forfeited all to him as... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 1:3-9

If a man were rich and could afford it, it is supposed that he would bring his burnt-sacrifice, with which he designed to honour God, out of his herd of larger cattle. He that considers that God is the best that is will resolve to give him the best he has, else he gives him not the glory due unto his name. Now if a man determined to kill a bullock, not for an entertainment for his family and friends, but for a sacrifice to his God, these rules must be religiously observed:?1. The beast to be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 1:10-17

Here we have the laws concerning the burnt-offerings, which were of the flock or of the fowls. Those of the middle rank, that could not well afford to offer a bullock, would bring a sheep or a goat; and those that were not able to do that should be accepted of God if they brought a turtle-dove or a pigeon. For God, in his law and in his gospel, as well as in his providence, considers the poor. It is observable that those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were most mild and gentle,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:1

And the Lord called unto Moses ,.... Or "met him", as the phrase is rendered in Numbers 23:4 . The word ויקרא , translated "called", the last letter of it is written in a very small character, to show, as the Jews F2 Vid. Buxtorf. Tiberias, c. 15. p. 39. say, that he met him accidentally, and unawares to Moses: other mysteries they observe in it, as that it respects the modesty of Moses, who lessened himself, and got out of the way, that he might not have the government laid upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... For unto no other was the law of sacrifices given; not to the Gentiles, but to the children of Israel: if any man ; or woman, for the word "man", as Ben Gersom observes, includes the whole species: of you ; of you Israelites; the Targum of Jonathan adds,"and not of the apostates who worship idols.'Jarchi interprets it of yours, of your mammon or substance, what was their own property, and not what was stolen from another F4... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:3

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd ,.... So called, because consumed by fire, see Leviticus 6:9 even all of it except the skin, and therefore its name with the Greeks is "a whole burnt offering", as in Mark 12:33 its name in Hebrew is עולה , which comes from a word which signifies to "ascend" or "go up", because not only it was carried up to the altar by the priest, which was common to other sacrifices, but being burnt upon it, it ascended upwards in smoke and vapour;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:4

And he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering ,.... According to the Targum of Jonathan, it was his right hand; but it is generally thought by the Jewish writers that both hands were laid on; so Ben Gersom and Aben Ezra, with whom Maimonides F5 Hilchot Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 3. sect. 13. agrees, who says, he that lays on hands ought to lay on with all his strength, with both his hands upon the head of the beast, as it is said, "upon the head of the burnt offering": not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:5

And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord ,.... That is, the man that brings the burnt offering, for no other is yet spoken of; and according to the traditions of the elders F8 Misn. Zebachim, c. 3. sect. 1. & Maimon. in ib. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 27. 1. & Zebachim, fol. 32. 1. & Menachot, fol. 19. 1. , killing of the sacrifice was right when done by strangers, by women, and by servants, and by unclean persons, even in the most holy things so be it that the unclean did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:6

And he shall flay the burnt offering ,.... Take off its skin; this was the only part of it that was not burnt, and was the property of the priest, Leviticus 7:8 but who this was done by is not so manifest, since it is in the singular number "he", and seems to be the bringer of the offering; for Aaron's sons, the priests that sprinkled the blood, are spoken of plurally; and agreeably, Gersom observes, that the flaying of the burnt offering and cutting it in pieces were lawful to be done by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 1:7

And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar ,.... The fire of the altar originally came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice, and which was a token of God's acceptance of it, see Leviticus 9:24 and this fire was kept burning continually upon the altar, Leviticus 6:12 and yet the Jewish writers say, it was the command of God, according to this passage, that fire should be brought from another place and put here; Jarchi's note on the text is,"though fire came... read more

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