Leviticus 3:1-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 3:1-5

The burnt-offerings had regard to God as in himself the best of beings, most perfect and excellent; they were purely expressive of adoration, and therefore were wholly burnt. But the peace-offerings had regard to God as a benefactor to his creatures, and the giver of all good things to us; and therefore these were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner. Peace signifies, 1. Reconciliation, concord, and communion. And so these were called peace-offerings, because in them God and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 3:6-17

Directions are here given concerning the peace-offering, if it was a sheep or a goat. Turtle-doves or young pigeons, which might be brought for whole burnt offerings, were not allowed for peace-offerings, because they have no fat considerable enough to be burnt upon the altar; and they would be next to nothing if they were to be divided according to the law of the peace-offerings. The laws concerning a lamb or goat offered for a peace offering are much the same with those concerning a bullock,... read more

John Gill

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

And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering ,.... The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it, the "sacrifice of holinesses", or "sanctifications"; so called, not because they were more holy than other sacrifices; for they were what the Jews F3 Misn. Zebachim, c. 5. sect. 7. call the lighter holy things, in distinction from the most holy things, such as the meat offerings were, Leviticus 2:10 but as Ainsworth suggests, either because none but holy persons might eat of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:2

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering ,.... "His right hand with strength", the Targum of Jonathan says; perhaps both his hands were imposed; the Septuagint and Arabic versions read it in the plural number, "hands"; this same rite was used in the sacrifice of burnt offering; see Gill on Leviticus 1:4 ; which might be done in any place in the court where it was slain, only with this difference: according to Maimonides F4 Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 3. sect. 15. , there was... read more

John Gill

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

And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering ,.... That is, the priest, not all of it, but some of it, even what is after mentioned: an offering made by fire unto the Lord ; for what was offered to the Lord was burnt, and is that part of it which is next mentioned in this and the following verse: the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards ; both that which covered them, and that which stuck to them; and the fat being the best, it was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:4

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks ,.... Meaning either the two kidneys which were next the flanks, or the fat upon them, which was next to them; these, and the burning of them, may signify the burning zeal and flaming love and affections of Christ for his people, which instructed him, and put him upon offering himself a sacrifice of peace offering for them, see Psalm 16:7 . and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:5

And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar ,.... That is, the fat of the several parts before mentioned; this signified the sufferings of Christ, by which our peace is made, and by whose death we are reconciled to God: this rite of burning the fat of the inwards of sacrifices was used by the Pagans, and is still retained by the idolatrous Indians to this day F8 See the Abridgment of Mr. Brainerd's Journal, published in 1748, p. 30. : upon the burnt sacrifice ; which, as Gersom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:6

And if his offering, for a sacrifice of peace offering unto Lord, be of the flock ,.... As it might be: and be either male or female; which he pleased: he shall offer it without blemish ; See Gill on Leviticus 3:1 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:7

If he offer a lamb for his offering ,.... Which was of the flock, and must be of the first year; this is a rule laid down by Maimonides F9 Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 1. sect. 14. , that where ever this word is used in the law, it signifies one of the first year: then shall he offer it before the Lord ; bring it into the court, and present it to the priest. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 3:8

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds here, as before,"his right hand with strength:" and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation ; in the court, in any part of it; for, as Gersom says, all places were right for this; the man that brought it killed it, or the butcher, as the Targum of Jonathan says here also as on Leviticus 3:2 , and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar ; upon the four... read more

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