Topical Bible: Offerings: Burnt: Ordinances Concerning

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Topical Encyclopedia

The burnt offering, known in Hebrew as "olah," meaning "that which goes up," is one of the oldest and most significant offerings in the biblical sacrificial system. It is detailed extensively in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. The burnt offering was a voluntary act of worship, atonement for unintentional sin, and an expression of devotion, commitment, and complete surrender to God.

Biblical Instructions and Purpose

The ordinances concerning burnt offerings are primarily found in Leviticus 1:1-17 and Numbers 28:1-8. The burnt offering was to be a male animal without blemish, symbolizing purity and perfection, and could be taken from the herd (cattle), flock (sheep or goats), or birds (turtledoves or young pigeons) depending on the offerer's economic status.

Leviticus 1:3-4 states: "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for acceptance on his behalf before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it may be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."

The laying of hands on the animal symbolized the transfer of the offerer's sins to the animal, which would then be sacrificed in their place. The entire animal was to be burned on the altar, signifying the complete dedication of the offerer to God.

Procedures and Rituals

The procedure for the burnt offering involved several steps:

1. Selection of the Animal: The offerer was to choose a male animal without defect, reflecting the requirement for purity and the best of what one had to offer.

2. Presentation and Laying on of Hands: The offerer brought the animal to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, laid hands on its head, and confessed their sins, symbolically transferring them to the animal.

3. Slaughter and Blood Ritual: The animal was slaughtered, and the priests collected its blood. The blood was then sprinkled around the altar, signifying purification and atonement.

4. Preparation and Burning: The animal was skinned and cut into pieces. The priests arranged the pieces, along with the head and fat, on the altar. The entire offering was consumed by fire, producing a "pleasing aroma" to the LORD (Leviticus 1:9).

5. Disposal of the Remains: The skin of the burnt offering was given to the priest, while the remains were disposed of outside the camp.

Daily and Special Burnt Offerings

In addition to individual offerings, there were daily burnt offerings commanded by God. Numbers 28:3-4 specifies: "And you shall say to them: This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD as a regular burnt offering each day: two unblemished year-old male lambs. In the morning offer one lamb, and at twilight offer the other."

These daily offerings were a continual reminder of the need for atonement and the Israelites' dependence on God. Special burnt offerings were also prescribed for Sabbaths, new moons, and festivals, as outlined in Numbers 28 and 29.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

The burnt offering holds deep theological significance, symbolizing total dedication to God. It prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as a perfect and complete sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Hebrews 10:10 reflects this fulfillment: "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

The burnt offering underscores the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of atonement, themes that resonate throughout the biblical narrative and find their culmination in the New Testament.

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Exodus 29:15-18
You shall also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram.
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Leviticus 1:1
And the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
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Leviticus 5:7-10
And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he has committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
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Leviticus 6:9-13
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning on the altar all night to the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
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Leviticus 17:8,9
And you shall say to them, Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,
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Leviticus 23:18,26-37
And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering to the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet smell to the LORD.
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Numbers 15:24,25
Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet smell to the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
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Numbers 19:9
And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
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Numbers 28:26-31
Also in the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new meat offering to the LORD, after your weeks be out, you shall have an holy convocation; you shall do no servile work:
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Numbers 29:1
And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have an holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets to you.
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Library

The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... the priesthood, of sacrifices, whole burnt-offerings, first-fruits, free-will offerings,
thank-offerings. ... commandments contrary to the ordinances of God. ...
/.../iii the testament of levi concerning.htm

Concerning Baptism.
... and gives precepts concerning some temporary things, as the ... that where the matter
of ordinances is the ... which it clearly appears that burnt-offerings, which are ...
/.../proposition xii concerning baptism.htm

Of the Origin of the Word "With," and what Force it Has. Also ...
... Spirit, and sufficient for every thought concerning Him ... of the Deity; sacrifices
and burnt offerings and the ... is abused, we mean by traditions ordinances made in ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter xxvii of the origin.htm

The Jewish Sacrifices are Now Abolished.
... and diligently inquire into the ordinances of the ... Egypt, to offer unto Me
burnt-offerings and sacrifices ... brethren, carefully to inquire concerning our salvation ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter ii the jewish sacrifices are.htm

Of the Sacrifices which God Does not Require, but Wished to be ...
... Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves ... is well pleased." All the
divine ordinances, therefore, which we read concerning the sacrifices ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of the sacrifices which.htm

Of the Law.
... in charge commandments and ordinances." [3261] Which ... afterwards: "Gather your
burnt-offerings, together with ... of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iv of the law.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their ... [216:3] As the sacrifices,
offerings, and other ... was not otherwise present in these symbolic ordinances. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have ... Sacrifice and offering, burnt
offering and sin offering ... Aaronic priesthood, and all the ordinances of it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come exposition.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... 51, 16.17: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. ... ie, that the Gentiles might be
offerings acceptable to ... preach mostly of human ordinances, whereby consciences ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

In Judaea
... woman, who was not fully versed in all the legal ordinances concerning clean and ...
circuit on every side, the males were offered as burnt-offerings, the females ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm