Leviticus 4:15

15 The leaders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull's head and slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI.

Leviticus 4:15 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 4:15

And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands
upon the head of the bullock before the Lord
These must be two at least, some say three, and some say five ^F8; the more generally received notion is, that they were three of the sanhedrim ^F9; though the Targum of Jonathan makes them to be the twelve rulers of the twelve tribes:

and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord;
in the court near the altar of burnt offering, either by a priest, or Levite, or by a butcher, as the above Targum expresses it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Misn. Sotah, c. 9. sect. 1.
F9 Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Menachot, c. 9. sect. 7. Maimon. Hilchot Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 3. sect. 10.

Leviticus 4:15 In-Context

13 "'If the entire community of Isra'el inadvertently makes a mistake, with the assembly being unaware of the matter, and they do something against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, they are guilty.

14 When the sin they have committed becomes known, then the assembly is to offer a young bull as a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting.

15 The leaders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull's head and slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI.

16 The anointed cohen is to bring some of the bull's blood to the tent of meeting.

17 The cohen is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times in the presence of ADONAI in front of the curtain.