Leviticus 4 Study Notes

4:13-14 The priest who carried out the offering on his own behalf (16:11) now did so for the congregation. The word errs (Hb shegag) refers to unintended transgressions (cp. v. 2). This sort of sin escaped notice (Hb ‘alam), hidden at the time of the trespass, but was perceived later. The priest’s sin imposing “guilt” on the congregation (v. 3) may indicate that the congregation’s guilt was related to the error committed by the priest, which the assembly obeyed.

4:15 Before the Lord is equivalent to “before the tent of meeting” (v. 14; cp. v. 4). The passage does not specify who slaughtered the sin offering, although the priest did so on the Day of Atonement (16:15).

4:16-19 The procedure is the same as for the high priest.

4:20-21 This is the first occurrence in Leviticus of the word forgiven (Hb salach; cp. vv. 26,31,35; 5:10,13,16,18; 6:7; 19:22); the Hebrew passive form of the verb implies that it is God alone who can forgive sin.

4:22-23 A leader (Hb nasi’) was a ruler over a tribe (Gn 25:16; Ex 34:31). The expression the Lord his God is often used of a significant leader (Moses, Ex 32:11; king, Dt 17:18-19; priest and Levite, Dt 18:6-7).

4:24 The burnt offering was slaughtered north of the altar (see note at 1:10-13). The declaration that it is a sin offering was a reminder that this rite should not be confused with the burnt offering.

4:25 The blood remained outside the tent and was applied to the courtyard’s altar of burnt offering for its purgation (Ex 29:38-42; on the altar’s construction, see Ex 27:1-8). On horns of the altar, see note at v. 7.

4:26 The phrase he will be forgiven only occurs with the sin offering and the restitution offering.

4:27-35 The individual was permitted to offer a female goat or female sheep.

4:27 Common people renders (lit) “people of the land,” meaning anyone who was not the high priest or an official.

4:31 Divine acceptance shown by the catchphrase pleasing aroma occurs only here in chap. 4, and it is assumed for the previous procedures for the sin offering (see note at 1:9).