Levitico 2

1 Quando qualcuno presenterà all’Eterno come offerta una oblazione, la sua offerta sarà di fior di farina; vi verserà sopra dell’olio e v’aggiungerà dell’incenso.

2 E la porterà ai sacerdoti figliuoli d’Aaronne; e il sacerdote prenderà una manata piena del fior di farina spruzzata d’olio, con tutto l’incenso, e farà fumare ogni cosa sull’altare, come ricordanza. Questo è un sacrifizio di soave odore, fatto mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

3 Ciò che rimarrà dell’oblazione sarà per Aaronne e per i suoi figliuoli; è cosa santissima tra i sacrifizi fatti mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

4 E quando offrirai un’oblazione di cosa cotta in forno, ti servirai di focacce non lievitate di fior di farina impastata con olio, e di gallette senza lievito unte d’olio.

5 E se la tua offerta è un’oblazione cotta sulla gratella, sarà di fior di farina, impastata con olio, senza lievito.

6 La farai a pezzi, e vi verserai su dell’olio; è un’oblazione.

7 E se la tua offerta è un’oblazione cotta in padella, sarà fatta di fior di farina con olio.

8 Porterai all’Eterno l’oblazione fatta di queste cose; sarà presentata al sacerdote, che la porterà sull’altare.

9 Il sacerdote preleverà dall’oblazione la parte che dev’essere offerta come ricordanza, e la farà fumare sull’altare. E’ un sacrifizio di soave odore, fatto mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

10 Ciò che rimarrà dell’oblazione sarà per Aaronne e per i suoi figliuoli; è cosa santissima tra i sacrifizi fatti mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

11 Qualunque oblazione offrirete all’Eterno sarà senza lievito; poiché non farete fumar nulla che contenga lievito o miele, come sacrifizio fatto mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

12 Potrete offrirne all’Eterno come oblazione di primizie; ma queste offerte non saranno poste sull’altare come offerte di soave odore.

13 E ogni oblazione che offrirai, la condirai con sale e non lascerai la tua oblazione mancar di sale, segno del patto del tuo Dio. Su tutte le tue offerte offrirai del sale.

14 E se offri all’Eterno un’oblazione di primizie, offrirai, come oblazione delle tue primizie, delle spighe tostate al fuoco, chicchi di grano nuovo, tritati.

15 E vi porrai su dell’olio e v’aggiungerai dell’incenso: è un’oblazione.

16 E il sacerdote farà fumare come ricordanza una parte del grano tritato e dell’olio, con tutto l’incenso. E’ un sacrifizio fatto mediante il fuoco all’Eterno.

Levitico 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.