What does the phrase "as it is removed" reveal about sacrificial procedures? Locating the Phrase Leviticus 4:10: “just as the fat is removed from the ox of the fellowship offering, so the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offerings.” (See also 4:31; 7:4.) What “as it is removed” Tells Us About the Ritual • A fixed pattern: The wording points the priest back to an earlier, identical action. Every sacrifice followed an established template; nothing was left to guesswork. • Precision, not approximation: “Removed” (Hebrew sur — to take away completely) required clean separation of the fat portions without leaving scraps behind. • Consistency across offerings: Whether sin, fellowship, or ordination offerings, the same cuts were taken. God expected uniform obedience. • Sacred exchange: The choicest fat, never eaten, went wholly to the Lord (Leviticus 3:16). Removing it “as” before underscores that the animal’s best belonged exclusively to Him. • Holiness safeguarded: By isolating fat from meat, priests prevented Israel from treating holy portions as common food (Leviticus 6:25–26). • Echoes of atonement: Thorough removal pictured the thoroughness with which sin must be taken away (Psalm 103:12; John 1:29). Step-by-Step Procedure Highlighted by the Phrase 1. Slaughter the animal at the sanctuary entrance (Leviticus 1:3–5). 2. Flay and quarter it. 3. Identify every fat piece named in the law — kidneys, fat tail, caul above the liver (Leviticus 3:3–4). 4. Lift each portion, severing cleanly “as it is removed” in previous offerings. 5. Place the fat on the altar’s fire; its smoke rose “as a soothing aroma to the LORD” (Leviticus 4:31). 6. Dispose of the carcass according to the offering type (burnt, sin, or fellowship). Why the Detail Still Matters • God values exact obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). • Repetition cements truth: daily sacrifices taught a nation that sin always costs life and blood (Hebrews 9:22). • The flawless pattern points ahead to the once-for-all perfection of Christ’s sacrifice, carried out “in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 10:1-14). |
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