Leviticus 4:15

15 The elders of the community must place their hands on the bull's head in the sight of the Lord. The bull must be killed in the sight of the Lord.

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 " 'Or suppose the whole community of Israel sins without meaning to. They do something the LORD commands us not to do. Even if they are not aware of what they have done, they are guilty.

14 " 'But suppose they become aware of the sin they have committed. Then they must bring a young bull as a sin offering. They must offer it in front of the Tent of Meeting.

15 The elders of the community must place their hands on the bull's head in the sight of the Lord. The bull must be killed in the sight of the Lord.

16 " 'Then the anointed priest must take some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting.

17 He must dip his finger into the blood. He must sprinkle it seven times in the sight of the Lord. He must do it in front of the curtain.