Leviticus 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Around 1446 to 1406 BC by the traditional dating, in the year after the exodus from Egypt
Location
The camp at the foot of Mount Sinai in the wilderness of the Sinai peninsula, at the newly built tent of meeting
Audience
The Israelites of the exodus generation, and later readers of the Torah who needed to know how worship at the sanctuary was to be conducted
Situation
God speaks to Moses from the tent of meeting and gives instructions for the burnt offering, the sacrifice that is entirely consumed on the altar. Three grades are described, from cattle down to birds, depending on what the worshipper can afford.
Key Background
Leviticus opens where the book of Exodus stops, with the portable sanctuary just completed, so the first words assume a tent already standing in the middle of the camp. The burnt offering was unusual among ancient sacrifices in that no portion was eaten by the worshipper or the priest, which made it a gift of the whole animal rather than a shared meal. Laying a hand on the animal's head identified the offerer with the victim, and the sliding scale from bull to pigeon meant the poorest household could still bring an acceptable gift.
Yahweh out to Moses from the and said to him:
"Speak to the people of Israel and tell them: When any of you brings an to Yahweh from the you may bring it from the cattle herd or from the flock."
"If the offering is an from the cattle herd, he must bring a male He must bring it to the entrance of the Meeting Tent so that he will be before Yahweh."
"He must on the head of the entirely-burned gift, and it will be accepted on behalf to for him."
"He must the young bull before Yahweh, and then the priests — Aaron's sons — must present the and splash it against the sides of the that stands at the entrance of the Meeting Tent."
"He must skin the entirely-burned gift and cut it into pieces."
"The sons of Aaron the priest must put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire."
"Then the priests — Aaron's sons — must arrange the pieces, including the head and the on the wood that is on the fire on the altar."
"But the inner organs and the legs must be washed with water. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar as an entirely-burned gift — a a to Yahweh."
"If the offering is an entirely-burned gift from the — from the sheep or the goats — he must bring a male without any defect."
"He must slaughter it on the of the altar before Yahweh, and the priests — Aaron's sons — must splash its blood against all sides of the altar."
"He must cut it into pieces, and the priest will arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar."
"But the inner organs and the legs must be washed with water. Then the priest will bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is an entirely-burned gift, a fire offering, a soothing aroma to Yahweh."
"If the offering to Yahweh is an entirely-burned gift of birds, he must bring his offering from the or from
"The priest must bring it to the altar, its head, and burn it on the altar. Its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar."
"He must remove its with its contents and throw it beside the altar on the east side, where the are placed."
"He must it by its — but not divide it completely — and the priest will burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is an entirely-burned gift, a fire offering, a soothing aroma to Yahweh."