Topical Bible: Offerings: Trespass: To be Eaten by the Priests

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In the Old Testament, the concept of offerings is central to the worship and sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. Among these offerings, the trespass offering, also known as the guilt offering, holds a significant place. This offering was specifically designed to address certain types of sins and transgressions, particularly those involving the violation of God's holy things or the infringement upon the rights of others.

Biblical Foundation

The instructions for the trespass offering are primarily found in the Book of Leviticus. The trespass offering was required when an individual committed a sin unintentionally against the holy things of the Lord or when a person wronged another by deceit or robbery. The offering served as a means of atonement and restitution.

Leviticus 5:14-16 states: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, according to your valuation in silver shekels, based on the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. He must make restitution for what he has failed to do in regard to the holy things, add a fifth of the value to it, and give it all to the priest. The priest will then make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.'"

Role of the Priests

The priests played a crucial role in the administration of the trespass offering. They were responsible for performing the sacrificial rites and ensuring that the offering was made in accordance with God's commandments. The offering typically involved the sacrifice of a ram, and the blood of the animal was used for atonement.

Leviticus 7:1-7 provides further details: "Now this is the law of the guilt offering, which is most holy: The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest is to sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. Every male among the priests may eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law applies to both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it."

Consumption by the Priests

The consumption of the trespass offering by the priests is a significant aspect of the sacrificial system. The offering was considered "most holy," and only the priests, who were consecrated to serve in the tabernacle, were permitted to eat it. This consumption took place in a holy place, emphasizing the sanctity of the offering and the role of the priests as mediators between God and the people.

The act of eating the offering symbolized the priests' participation in the atonement process and their role in bearing the iniquities of the people. It also provided sustenance for the priests, who relied on the offerings for their livelihood, as they did not have a territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel.

Theological Significance

The trespass offering underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement and restitution. It highlights God's provision for forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as the importance of holiness and obedience in the life of His people. The role of the priests in consuming the offering points to the mediatory function they served, foreshadowing the ultimate mediation of Christ, who is both the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice for sin.

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Leviticus 7:6,7
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.
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Leviticus 14:13
And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
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Numbers 18:9,10
This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.
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Library

Leviticus.
... 5. Trespass. (or guilt) offering, 5:1-6:7. 6. Instructions to priests concerning
the offerings, 6:8-7 end. ... Chs.11-22. 1. Pure food, animals to be eaten, Ch. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii leviticus.htm

Scriptural Types.
... of the house where it was eaten as a ... The priests also received specified portions
from the peace-offerings of the people, the trespass-offerings, and the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... Oblations in general; the sin and trespass offerings, which were ... that of those who,
having eaten of his ... not the less acceptable;"these offerings pointed out ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

Separation to God.
... a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering: but ... sin; but, as we have seen,
the burnt-offerings, which speak of ... the LORD'S; no part of it was eaten by the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

The New Covenant.
... The Law came in beside, that the trespass might abound ... table in rows of twelve cakes,
was eaten by Aaron ... prepare for Me: In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their ... "If any man trespass
against his ... them, there is reason to conclude that food eaten on the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

The History of Saul
... Then Hannah arose after she had eaten and drunk in ... our Lord would rather have sacrifice
and offerings than not ... pray thee to bear my sin and trespass and return ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of saul.htm

part ii
... with food and drink, and have often eaten and drunk ... the prayer for the people of
His priests, invested with ... forgive the sins of those who trespass against you ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm