Leviticus 4:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-21

This is the law for expiating the guilt of a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people, through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the mistake was discovered an offering must be brought, that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation. Observe, 1. It is possible that the church may err, and that her guides may mislead her. It is here supposed that the whole congregation may sin, and sin through ignorance. God will always have a church on earth; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:13

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance ,.... That is, all Israel, or the greatest part of them, as Gersom interprets it, through the ignorant teaching of the judges, who by their instruction cause the people to err, and commit sins of ignorance, as Baal Hatturim on the place observes, and Maimonides elsewhere F7 Hilchot Shegagot, c. 12. sect. 1. ; wherefore Jarchi, and some others, by the congregation of Israel understand the sanhedrim, or the bench of judges,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 4:13

If the whole congregation of Israel sin - This probably refers to some oversight in acts of religious worship, or to some transgression of the letter of the law, which arose out of the peculiar circumstances in which they were then found, such as the case mentioned 1 Samuel 14:32 , etc., where the people, through their long and excessive fatigue in their combat with the Philistines, being faint, flew on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and did eat... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 4:13

Verse 13 13.And if the whole congregation. The very same sacrifice which was enjoined on the priest is required of the people; since he who went into the sanctuary in the name of all to present all the tribes before God, represented the whole body. It seems indeed that the kind of ignorance here spoken of is different from the former kind; since it was said “if the thing be hid;” yet I think that these infirmities are comprised, in which it often happens that men are blinded for a time. (261)... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

The sin offering signifies and ceremonially effects propitiation and expiation. Its characteristic feature, therefore, is the presentation of the blood of the victim, which in this sacrifice alone (when it was offered for the high priest or the whole congregation) was carried into the tabernacle and solemnly sprinkled before the vail which covered God's presence. I. WHEN IT WAS TO BE OFFERED . On certain solemn public occasions, and whenever the conscience of an individual... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

Atonement for the penitent, as illustrated in the sin offering. Le Leviticus 5:1-13 ; cf. Psalms 19:12 ; Galatians 6:1 ; 1 Timothy 1:13 , etc. The offerings already considered, viz. the burnt offering, the meat offering, and the peace offering, have respectively emphasized the ideas of personal consecration, consecrated life-work, and fellowship. Moreover, they are to be regarded as voluntary offerings, depending upon the impulse of the heart for their celebration. Special... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:3-27

Gradations in guilt. In Israel, as we have seen, sin was divided into the pardonable and the unpardonable—into "sins through ignorance" and sins of presumption. But this was not the only distinction. Of those which might be forgiven there were some more serious than others, demanding variety in expiation. Special regulations were given as to the sin of the "priest that is anointed" ( Leviticus 4:3 ), the "whole congregation of Israel" ( Leviticus 4:13 ), the ruler ( Leviticus 4:22 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:3-27

Access for all: comparison and contrast. In the statutes of the Law given in this chapter we are reminded, by comparison and by contrast, of two of the main features of the gospel of Christ. We are reminded by comparison of— I. THE ACCESS THAT WAS PERMITTED TO EVERY ISRAELITE , AND IS NOW GRANTED TO US . No single individual in the whole congregation of Israel could feel that he was forbidden to go with his offering "before the Lord," to seek forgiveness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-14

Collective guilt unconsciously incurred. We learn from the special provision made for the "sin in ignorance" of "the whole congregation of Israel "— I. THAT , THOUGH GOD DEALS PRIMARILY WITH INDIVIDUAL SOULS , HE HAS DIRECT RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES . Ordinarily, constantly, God comes to the individual soul, and says, "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not;" "My Son," do this and live, etc. But he has his Divine dealings with societies, with secular and sacred... read more

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