What role does the "female goat" play in the sacrificial system of Numbers? Text Spotlight – Numbers 15:27 “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a year-old female goat for a sin offering.” Where the Female Goat Fits in Numbers • Only appears in this single verse within the book. • Assigned specifically to the sin (ḥaṭṭāṯ) offering of an individual Israelite who has unintentionally broken one of God’s commands. • Distinct from the community sin offering (v. 24) that calls for a male goat and a bull; the female goat is uniquely linked to the private, personal situation. Purpose of the Female Goat Sin Offering • Atonement – “The priest shall make atonement… and he will be forgiven” (v. 28). • Restoration – repairs the worshiper’s covenant standing so he or she can re-enter normal fellowship with the Lord (cf. Leviticus 4:27-31). • Reminder – underscores that even unintentional sin still matters to God and requires cleansing. Why a Female Goat? • God assigns offerings, not at random but by design: – Female animals often complement male animals in the sacrificial calendar, emphasizing that all life belongs to Him (cf. Exodus 13:12-15). – For private, less public offenses, the cost is less than the communal bull; a year-old female goat was accessible yet still valuable, keeping the focus on the heart, not on wealth. • The gender distinction also highlights the Creator’s authority over every detail of worship; nothing is left to human preference. How the Offering Was Presented 1. Worshiper brings the year-old female goat to the tent of meeting. 2. Lays hands on its head, identifying with the animal (Leviticus 4:29). 3. Slaughters it; priest takes some blood, applies it to the altar’s horns, pours the rest at the base (Leviticus 4:30). 4. Fat portions burned on the altar; remaining meat disposed of as prescribed. 5. Priest pronounces forgiveness. Theological Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Leviticus 4 repeats the same pattern for inadvertent sin, proving continuity. • Hebrews 9:13-14 shows how such blood pointed forward to Christ’s better, once-for-all sacrifice. • 1 John 1:9 reminds believers that confession and faith in Christ bring real cleansing today, just as the ancient worshiper found forgiveness through the prescribed goat. Practical Takeaways • Sin—intentional or not—always matters; God provides a way back. • Obedience includes taking God at His word down to the smallest detail. • The affordability of the female goat shows the Lord’s compassion; He never prices forgiveness out of reach. • Every Old-Testament sacrifice ultimately directs our gaze to the cross, where the perfect Lamb bore our iniquity once for all. |
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