1 And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be [of] fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, [to be] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
3 And the remnant of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron’s and his sons’: [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, [it shall be] unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
5 And if thy oblation [be] a meat offering [baken] in a pan, it shall be [of] fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it [is] a meat offering.
7 And if thy oblation [be] a meat offering [baken] in the fryingpan, it shall be made [of] fine flour with oil.
8 And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.
9 And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
10 And that which is left of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron’s and his sons’: [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.
13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, [even] corn beaten out of full ears.
15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it [is] a meat offering.
16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, [part] of the beaten corn thereof, and [part] of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: [it is] an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Overview of Leviticus Chapter 2
Leviticus Chapter 2 provides detailed instructions regarding the grain offerings, which are a significant aspect of the sacrificial system established for the Israelites. These offerings are meant to express gratitude and devotion to God, and they serve as a means of worship within the community.
Types of Grain Offerings
The chapter outlines several types of grain offerings, each with specific requirements and procedures:
- Fine Flour Offering: The primary form of grain offering, where fine flour is used as the base.
- Oil and Incense: The offering must include oil and frankincense, which are symbolic of the Holy Spirit and prayers, respectively.
- Unleavened Bread: The offerings may also include baked goods made without yeast, signifying purity and the absence of corruption.
Preparation and Presentation
The chapter specifies how the grain offerings should be prepared and presented:
- The offering must be brought to the priest, who will take a portion of it and burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
- The remainder of the offering is to be consumed by the priests, signifying their role in mediating between God and the people.
- Specific instructions are given regarding the proportions of oil and frankincense to be used, emphasizing the importance of adhering to God’s commands.
Symbolism and Significance
The grain offerings hold deep symbolic meaning within the context of Israelite worship:
- Expression of Gratitude: Grain offerings are a way for the Israelites to express thankfulness for God’s provision.
- Community and Fellowship: These offerings foster a sense of community as the priests and the people share in the offering.
- Holiness and Purity: The requirement for unleavened bread and fine flour signifies the need for purity in worship and the importance of presenting the best to God.
Conclusion
Leviticus Chapter 2 serves as a foundational text for understanding the role of grain offerings in the worship practices of ancient Israel. It emphasizes the importance of intention, purity, and community in approaching God, setting the stage for the broader sacrificial system outlined throughout the book of Leviticus.
