Leviticus 4:15

15 The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before 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 “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the LORD ’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty.

14 When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle.

15 The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before the LORD .

16 The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle,

17 dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the inner curtain.