Leviticus 4:13-21

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:14

When the sin which they have sinned against it ,.... Any of the commandments of the Lord forbidding such a thing to be done: is known ; is made known to them by the priest, or any other, so that they are convinced that what has been done is wrong, though done through ignorance: then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation ; the same offering with that of the anointed priest, he being, as Aben Ezra on the place... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:15

And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord ,.... These must be two at least, some say three, and some say five F8 Misn. Sotah, c. 9. sect. 1. ; the more generally received notion is, that they were three of the sanhedrim F9 Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Menachot, c. 9. sect. 7. Maimon. Hilchot Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 3. sect. 10. ; though the Targum of Jonathan makes them to be the twelve rulers of the twelve tribes: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:16-21

And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood ,.... That is, the chief priest, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan explain it: to the tabernacle of the congregation ; as he brought the blood of his own bullock, Leviticus 4:5 from hence to the Leviticus 4:16 an account is given of the same rites to be observed in the sin offering, for the congregation, as for the anointed priest; See Gill on Leviticus 4:6 , Leviticus 4:7 , Leviticus 4:12 . 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

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