T.O.D. taught from Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy at Paran Baptist Church on Highway 341 / Johnsonville Hwy in Lake City, South Carolina. This commentary is based on the notes he wrote in preparation for the lessons.
The author was licensed to preach the Gospel by Paran on May 26, 1979. He has been a student of Scripture since 1972. He was an art teacher for over 30 years in Florence School District 3.
Copyright Information:
Johnston, T.O.D.
A Layman's Commentary on Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy/Religious Non-fiction
1st Edition 2020
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Feel free to contact us:
Owen Johnston, Publisher
E-Mail – email@biblestudylessonspdf.info
Free Downloads:
All of the author's Bible study lessons may be downloaded for free. Visit our website and click on the "Free Downloads" link.
http://www.biblestudylessonspdf.info
Dedication:
Dedicated for knowledge, understanding, and inspiration as we seek to follow Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
After reading many scholarly commentaries on different books of Scripture, it became my mental habit to sift through the minute discussions of individual words and/or phrases, and the quoting of various scholars of the past of many differing opinions, and center on the most logical and inspirational truths that remained. Thus I relied on the studied scholarship of those who had learned the original languages and had read all the previous scholars that had written to get the best possible understanding of Scripture that I, as a non-scholar, could. It seemed that most church members would not attempt to read scholarly works - but would benefit from their knowledge if presented in a plain and straightforward manner, the truths they had perceived. The following commentary is my attempt to do this. May God bless my efforts to the extent that they increase the understanding and faith of the reader.
T.O.D. Johnston
2005
Leviticus – The Third Book of Moses.
Introduction to Leviticus: the laws of the priests, the Levites (tribe of Levi). It records the sacrifices under the Levitical dispensation, the priests roles concerning them; the times and seasons when they were offered, and many other rites and ceremonies.
Written by Moses, as accepted by the Jews, and affirmed in the New testament by Jesus (Matthew 8:4). Its contents were spoken to Moses from out of the newly created tabernacle. It was the 2nd year from coming out of Egypt. The first day of the first month (1st 7 chapters.) On some of the following days of the first month the remainder was given to him, and written by him (chapter 8:1; 10:1; 16:1).
Other dates: years since creation - 2514; 1490 years before the coming of Christ. The sacrifices, rites and ceremonies in it were types of Christ; "shadows of good things to come by Him."
Leviticus chapter 1.
Burnt Offerings
1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3 ¶ If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8 and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
9 but his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
10 ¶ And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13 but he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
14 ¶ And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
16 and he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes.
17 And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
Commentary on Leviticus chapter 1.
Verse 1. A still small voice called out to Moses from the tabernacle of the congregation, from the holy of holies, from the mercy-seat over the ark.
Verse 2. Through only Moses were the law of the sacrifices of the people of Israel given. The animals they were to bring were clean beasts (no wild animals) – oxen and sheep – the oxen and bullock were emblems of strength; the sheep of innocence, patience, harmless; the goat – the likeness of sinful flesh, the sins of the people imputed to them. (Fit to represent the sacrifice of Christ.)
Verse 3. A burnt-offering of the herd (the whole animal except the skin) all burned upward in smoke and vapors (as the fire of divine wrath, its strength dried up thereby). A male without spot or blemish – offered up voluntarily, a free will offering – even as Christ. To be done openly, in public, in the presence of the Lord: at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation (see Luke 24:18-20).
Verse 4. He shall put his hand on the head of the beast (the burnt-offering). He makes confession of his sins - both bad things he had done, and good things he had neglected to do. This was the transferring of his sins to his sacrifice – to be offered to make atonement for them: "and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."
Verse 5. The one that brings the offering shall kill it before the Lord (all being guilty). The priests (Aaron's sons) will bring the blood in vessels (or caught when the animal was slain), and sprinkle it round about the altar, that is by the door of the tabernacle – its sprinkled upon the four horns at the corners, the drops therefrom go down all four sides of the entire altar (round about).
The blood could be spread by many priests, the sprinkling. 1 Peter 1:2 – Christ's blood is called the blood of sprinkling – on the heart by the Spirit of God – purging the conscience, speaks peace and pardon (also Hebrews 12:24).
Verse 6. The priest shall take off the skin of the burnt offering. The only part not burnt, now property of the priest. This may be an emblem of the righteousness of Christ, as the skins God made for Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden, (Genesis 3:21). The rest of the beast is cut into his pieces, every part naked and open to view. (Even as Christ suffered and endured in every part of His body, head to foot).
Verse 7. The sons of Aaron put fire upon the altar – the fire of the altar originally came down from heaven, consumed the sacrifice – taken of God's acceptance (Leviticus 9:24; Chronicles 21:26). It was to b kept continually burning upon the altar, by the priests. Their wood was burning upon the altar, by the priests. Then wood was added in order upon the fire. There was a room where wood was stored until needed. The fire first kindled, the wood added upon it.
Verse 8. Aaron's sons, the priests, lay the various parts, the head and the fat, the rest of the pieces were laid in order upon the wood that is upon the fire which is upon the altar.
Verse 9. the innards and legs were washed separately – the innards of the holy things – in water. All lusts washed away – anything hurtful to the lives of men. All then were burned on the altar by the priest. All consumed by fire, a sweet savour unto the Lord.
Verse 10. If flock offering (sheep or goat) as a burnt sacrifice a male without spot or blemish (as in verses 2 and 3).
Verse 11. The slaying of these animals on the north side of the altar at the north-west horn; the priests (Aaron's sons) will sprinkle the blood round about the altar upon it. As in verse 5.
Verse 12. They were to be cut in pieces as the bullock (verse 6); and laid on the wood, on the fire, on the altar (verse 8.
verse 13. As with the bullock, the innards and legs were washed with water (verse 9). All was burnt on the altar, a burnt-sacrifice offering by fire – a sweet savour unto the Lord (verse 9).
Verse 14. Offering of fowls – burnt sacrifice: turtle doves or young pigeons. Proper emblems of Christ: meekness and strong affection. Perfect and unblemished.
Verse 15. The priest shall bring it to the altar – the southeast horn, near the ashes-place, wherein the crop and its feathers were cast.
The head was wrung off (as if twisting backwards), then squeezing out the blood, rubbing with salt, then it is burned on the altar. The blood wrung out at the side of the altar (by its wall).
As the Jews laid violent hands upon Christ, and His life was taken away in such a manner.
Verse 16. Its dung (his crop) and feathers – beside the altar on the east part, by the ashes beside the altar. Cleanness and purity of the offering as of Christ.
Verse 17. The body of the bird was cut down the middle, but not into two pieces, the wings not separated from the body.
The priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire.
A burnt-sacrifice on the fire, a sweet savour unto the Lord (verse 9).
Next, the meat offering: Leviticus 2:1-16.
Leviticus chapter 2. Meat or meal offerings.
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 savor 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 baked 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 baked 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 baked in the frying pan, 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 savor 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 savor.
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.
Commentary on Leviticus chapter 2.
Verse 1. This is a free-will offering, to be offered with all the heart and soul – as offering one's soul to the Lord. "A meat offering" is a general term as used here.
The best wheat flour denotes excellence and purity. Bread of life – as the principle part of human sustenance, nourishing and strengthening, supporting and maintaining life. A fit emblem of Christ, the True Bread of life for all them that believe: the bread of God.
Oil shall be poured upon it, to mix with the flour. Oil denotes the grace of the Spirit, poured upon Christ without measure, this being the Anointed Prophet, Priest, King – the oil of gladness (Psalms 14:7). And frankincense (a handful) for a sweet odour. All brought together to be presented to the priest.
Verse 2. Aaron's sons, the priests. One priest would take the offering, and with his right hand, reach down into it, taking off a handful of flour, oil, and frankincense together – and burn it as a memorial upon the altar; an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
As a recognition of the lord's loving-kindness to His people, His covenant and promises unto them, which put the offerer in mind of the great sacrifice of Christ, Who would be offered for his sins.
Verse 3. The rest of the offering was for the priests (God provided for their maintenance.). It is most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire.
Verse 4. Another offering – of cakes baked in an oven: unleavened cakes of fine flour, mingled with oil. Also wafers. The cakes mixed with oil, the wafers anointed with oil. Without leaven indicates sincerity and truth. The oil, the grace of the Spirit of God in Christ.
Verse 5. If the offering was baked in a pan (no edge or covering of fine – unleavened flour, mingled with oil), as the others before.
Verse 6. All meat offerings baked in containers were to be put into cakes, oil poured on and offered as the others.
Verse 7. If baked in a frying pan, it shall follow the same procedure as the previous ones.
Verse 8. These offerings were brought to the Lord's priest, presented to the priest; the priest is to bring it to the southwest horn of the altar.
Verse 9. The priest is to take a handful there of the offering as a memorial, and burn it upon the altar, by fire: a sweet savour unto the Lord.
Verse 10. The rest of the offering is for the priests: the high priest first, then the common priests: a thing most holy (as in verse 3).
Verse 11. Leaven was acceptable in peace offerings and wave loaves (chapter 7:13) but not in meat-offerings.
Leaven is likened to the corruption of nature (as Jesus talked about the Scribes and Pharisees – Luke 12:1 and Matthew 16:6,11,12). Therefore it is forbidden. Also honey is forbidden, as widely known to be used in rituals and offerings to the heathen gods (even called the food of the gods).
Verse 12. The oblation of the first-fruits offered to the Lord were the portion of the priests – therefore not burnt upon the altar.
Verse 13. Every one of the meat-offerings are to be seasoned with salt. A savour and preservative. A symbol of the perpetual covenant (a covenant of salt – Numbers 25:13). All offerings were salted – Mark 9:49 mentions this.
Verse 14. A free-will offering of first fruits, of green ears of barley. They were dried by fire so they could be ground into fine flour. Full ears made the finest flour. I Corinthians 15:23 mentions this beating, the ears, drying them by fire, and grinding them, denoted the sufferings of Christ.
Verse 15. Oil is put upon the flour, and frankincense layed thereon: the cakes and wafers. Like the other meat offerings (as in verses 1:4,5,7).
verse 16. A memorial (handful) shall be burnt by the priest for a memorial: of the beaten corn, part of the oil, and all of the frankincense – an offering by fire unto the Lord.
End.
Leviticus chapter 3. The peace offerings.
What they consisted of: their rites and ceremonies, and concludes with forbidding forever the eating of fat and blood.
Scriptures.
1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd, whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
4 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
6 ¶ And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.
8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
11