Leviticus 22

Leviticus22.jpg

Priests should only eat sacred food while clean

The Existing One told Moses,

“Tell Aaron and the priests not to indulge in the sacred things the Israelites dedicate to me so that they don’t tarnish my reputation. I am the Existing One. Tell them that if any of them throughout the generations approaches the sacred things that the Israelites dedicate to me while he’s unclean, that person will be cut off from my presence. I am the Existing One. If any of Aaron’s offspring has a leprous disease or discharge, he shouldn’t eat the sacred things until he’s clean. If any of them becomes unclean (from touching something dead, having an emission of semen, touching a swarming critter, touching someone unclean, or whatever else) that person will be unclean until evening and shouldn’t eat the sacred things unless he has taken a bath. He will be clean at sunset, and only then may he eat from the sacred things (because they are his food). He shouldn’t eat anything that has died of natural causes or was killed by wild animals because that would make him unclean. I am the Existing One. They should follow my instructions or they’ll die when they oppose me. I am the Existing One who purifies them.

Common people shouldn’t eat sacred food

“Commoners shouldn’t eat anything sacred, and their visitors and employees shouldn’t either. But if a priest buys a slave as property, then the slave may eat it along with the slave’s family. If a priest’s daughter marries a commoner, she shouldn’t eat from the sacred things. But if a priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced, has no children, and moves back in with her father, then she may eat from her father’s food. But no commoners should be allowed to eat it. If anyone eats something sacred unintentionally, he should pay the priest back for it with an added 20%. They shouldn’t defile the sacred things that the Israelites give to the Existing One by eating them because that would make them wicked and guilty. I am the Existing One who purifies them.”

Sacrifices need to be in perfect condition

The Existing One told Moses,

“Tell Aaron, the priests, and the Israelites that whenever an Israelite (or Israelite guest) presents a burnt offering to the Existing One as a vow or voluntary offering, it needs to be a male bull, goat, or sheep in perfect condition in order for it to be accepted. You shouldn’t offer anything with a defect, because that won’t be accepted. And whenever anyone sacrifices a peace offering to fulfill a vow or as a voluntary offering, it also needs to be perfect without any defects. Animals that are blind, disables, mauled, or having discharges, itches, or scabs shouldn’t be given to the Existing One as food offerings. If the animal has a limb that is too long or too short, you can offer it as a voluntary offering, but not as a vow offering. If the animal’s testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut, you shouldn’t offer it to the Existing One (even if you got them from a foreigner). I will not accept them if they are defective.”

Sacrificed animals need to be at least 8 days old

And the Existing One continued telling Moses,

“When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it should stay with its mother for 7 days, and starting on the 8th day you are free to present it to me as a food offering. But you shouldn’t kill an animal and her young in the same day. When you sacrifice a thankful offering to the Existing One, you need to follow the guidelines so that it will be accepted. It should be eaten on that same day without keeping any leftovers for the morning. I am the Existing One.

Listen to God; don’t tarnish his reputation

“You should listen to my orders and follow them. I am the Existing One. Don’t tarnish my sacred reputation, so that the Israelites regard me as pure. I am the Existing One who purifies you and rescued you from Egypt to be your God. I am the Existing One.”

Previous
Previous

Leviticus 23

Next
Next

Leviticus 21