Leviticus 2

1 `And when a person bringeth near an offering, a present to Jehovah, of flour is his offering, and he hath poured on it oil, and hath put on it frankincense;

2 and he hath brought it in unto the sons of Aaron, the priests, and he hath taken from thence the fulness of his hand of its flour and of its oil, besides all its frankincense, and the priest hath made perfume with its memorial on the altar, a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah;

3 and the remnant of the present [is] for Aaron and for his sons, most holy, of the fire-offerings of Jehovah.

4 `And when thou bringest near an offering, a present baked in an oven, [it is of] unleavened cakes of flour mixed with oil, or thin unleavened cakes anointed with oil.

5 `And if thine offering [is] a present [made] on the girdel, it is of flour, mixed with oil, unleavened;

6 divide thou it into parts, and thou hast poured on it oil; it [is] a present.

7 `And if thine offering [is] a present [made] on the frying-pan, of flour with oil it is made,

8 and thou hast brought in the present which is made of these to Jehovah, and [one] hath brought it near unto the priest, and he hath brought it nigh unto the altar,

9 and the priest hath lifted up from the present its memorial, and hath made perfume on the altar, a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah;

10 and the remnant of the present [is] for Aaron and for his sons, most holy, of the fire-offerings of Jehovah.

11 No present which ye bring near to Jehovah is made fermented, for with any leaven or any honey ye perfume no fire-offering to Jehovah.

12 `An offering of first-[fruits] -- ye bring them near to Jehovah, but on the altar they go not up, for sweet fragrance.

13 And every offering -- thy present -- with salt thou dost season, and thou dost not let the salt of the covenant of thy God cease from thy present; with all thine offerings thou dost bring near salt.

14 `And if thou bring near a present of first-ripe [fruits] to Jehovah, -- of green ears, roasted with fire, beaten out [corn] of a fruitful field thou dost bring near the present of thy first-ripe [fruits],

15 and thou hast put on it oil, and laid on it frankincense, it [is] a present;

16 and the priest hath made perfume with its memorial from its beaten out [corn], and from its oil, besides all its frankincense -- a fire-offering to Jehovah.

Leviticus 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The meat-offering of flour. (1-11) The offering of first-fruits. (12-16)

Verses 1-11 Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God. The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion, and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven; and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow, and to be like him.

Verses 12-16 Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 2

This chapter contains the law of the meat offering, and gives an account of what it was made of, fine flour, with oil poured, and frankincense put upon it, Le 2:1 what was done with it; part of it burnt upon the altar, and the rest was the property of the priests, Le 2:2,3,8-10 how it was to be when baked in an oven, or in a pan, or fried in a frying pan, Le 2:4-7 what was prohibited in it, leaven and honey, Le 2:11 what was to be used in it, salt, Le 2:13 and what was to be the oblation and meat offering of the first fruits, and what to be done with it, Le 2:12,14-16.