Leviticus 4:13

13 If it is the whole community of Israel that sins and becomes guilty of breaking one of the Lord's commands without intending to,

Leviticus 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 4:13

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through
ignorance
That is, all Israel, or the greatest part of them, as Gersom interprets it, through the ignorant teaching of the judges, who by their instruction cause the people to err, and commit sins of ignorance, as Baal Hatturim on the place observes, and Maimonides elsewhere ^F7; wherefore Jarchi, and some others, by the congregation of Israel understand the sanhedrim, or the bench of judges, consisting of seventy one. Ainsworth remarks on the words, that the church may err:

and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly;
congregation or church, so that they do not know that it is a sin which they have committed:

and they have done [somewhat against] any of the commandments of
the Lord, [concerning things] which should not be done;
transgressed negative precepts:

and are guilty;
of sin, though as yet they know it not.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Hilchot Shegagot, c. 12. sect. 1.

Leviticus 4:13 In-Context

11 But he shall take its skin, all its flesh, its head, its legs, and its internal organs, including the intestines,

12 carry it all outside the camp to the ritually clean place where the ashes are poured out, and there he shall burn it on a wood fire.

13 If it is the whole community of Israel that sins and becomes guilty of breaking one of the Lord's commands without intending to,

14 then as soon as the sin becomes known, the community shall bring a young bull as a sin offering. They shall bring it to the Tent of the Lord's presence;

15 the leaders of the community shall put their hands on its head, and it shall be killed there.