Tzav צַו - Command!
Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Reading #2 - Leviticus 6:12–7:10
My Thoughts:
Hashem is laying out His instructions for the different types of offerings. In the website -- “The Jewish Virtual Library” -- you can read the most amazing article on sacrifices. They are suggesting 3 reasons why people gave offerings. First, because people need to give to Hashem. They are bringing the offering to the one Holy Elohim. Secondly, it is a sacrifice for them to give and a kind of retribution for their sin. Like we have discussed before, when you have to give up something important because you did something wrong, you will learn a great lesson. And lastly, because the offering brings one closer to Hashem. In fact, that is the whole reason for the offering -- to draw close. To read the entire article go to: Sacrifices and Offerings - Karbanot
Challenge:
“Karbanot” (offering) means to draw near. Today’s challenge is to think about how YOU are drawing near to Hashem. What brings you closer to Him? Is it when you do a “mitzvah” or a good deed? Is it when you worship, pray or talk to Hashem in your special time? For me, I know when I worship or listen to songs that extol Hashem that it seems to move my spirit to be close to Him. Or sometimes when I see an answered prayer or small miracle, it makes me super aware that He is close. The whole point is, find something that draws you closer to Him. When Hashem is involved in our daily lives, we have better lives. We need to be shining “lights” of His love to share with others. We can only do that by “karbanot”.
Reading #2 - Leviticus 6:12–7:10
2 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning. He shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
14 “‘This is the law of the meal offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Hashem, before the altar. 15 He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial portion, to Hashem. 16 That which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 17 It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass offering. 18 Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Hashem made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.’”
19 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 20 “This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to Hashem in the day when he is anointed: one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening. 21 It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 22 The anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burned to Hashem. 23 Every meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”
24 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 25 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before Hashem. It is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 27 Whatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water. 29 Every male among the priests shall eat of it. It is most holy. 30 No sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten. It shall be burned with fire.
7 “‘This is the law of the trespass offering: It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering, he shall kill the trespass offering; and its blood he shall sprinkle around on the altar. 3 He shall offer all of its fat: the fat tail, and the fat that covers the innards, 4 and he shall take away the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys; 5 and the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to Hashem: it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.
7 “‘As is the sin offering, so is the trespass offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with them shall have it. 8 The priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered. 9 Every meal offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is prepared in the pan and on the griddle, shall be the priest’s who offers it. 10 Every meal offering, mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another.
