Lev. 6: What's a Priest to Do?

Well, the first seven verses of chapter 6 appear to be more of a continuation of chapter 5. But what do I know? It discusses what happens when one person wrongs another, whether by deceiving someone who entrusts property to him, concealing property, swearing falsely against someone, or by extortion, that person must pay back in full, plus 20%. It's not enough to just cover what was taken or stolen. 20% extra makes one square with the house. Well, in addition to his guilt offering (a ram without defect, and of the proper value) brought to the LORD, via a priest. Then he is forgiven. Why 20%? Was that merely a deterrent to people from committing that sin? That seems like a lot. I'd probably steer clear of screwing people over if I knew that penalty was coming at me.

We know from the beginning of Leviticus what the duty of the sacrificer was when he brought his various offerings. Starting with verse 8, Chapter 6 digs into what the priests responsibilities were and why in regard to these sacrifices.

The Burnt Offering
A burnt offering was actually required to keep burning through the night and into the morning on the altar. Not only is it to keep burning, it is not to go out. Then the priest has to put on his linens and remove the ashes from the altar and set them beside the altar. Then the priest has to change into a third set of clothes and take the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean (presumably oil-anointed) place. Each morning it was the priest's responsibility to put more wood on the altar, and keep that fellowship offering burning. Once again, it was not to go out. Seems like a lot to go through. The ash removal seemed like it could be a swift and easy process, were it not for having to change clothes twice. God must have really wanted the priest to take his time, and do his duty with a lot of thought and reverence and purpose. Not with speed and economy.

The Grain Offering
We know the memorial portion was to be burned, and the rest of it belonged to the priest and his sons, but what did they do with it? Verses 16-23 tell us. The rest of it (not the memorial portion mixed with incense) is to be eaten without yeast in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. God actually says here that He is giving it to the priests as their share of the offerings made to Him by fire. God is giving back to the priests in this situation of the portion given to Him. So...keep sending those checks in to televangelists, because I'm pretty sure this is the same thing.

Additionally, on the day of anointing, the anointee should bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour...half in the morning, half in the evening. It should be prepared by the next succeeding anointed son with oil in a griddle, well-mixed, and crumbled and broken in pieces...as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. It is the share that belongs to the LORD, and is to be burned, destroyed completely, not eaten.

The Sin Offering
You know, slaughtered before the LORD, where the burnt offerings are slaughtered. But the priest who offers it shall eat it, in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. Whatever touches the flesh of the sacrifice will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, it needs to be washed in a holy place. If the meat is cooked in a clay pot, the pot is to be destroyed, but if its in a bronze pot, it needs to be scoured and rinsed with water. Clay can never be cleansed, apparently, only destroyed. Bronze is associated with cleaning though...the bronze laver...It's allowed to be eaten by any male in the priest's family. No chicks.

Any sin offering making atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten, it is to be burned. What kind of atonement is made in the Holy Place? Presumably sins made by the priests, as they are the only people mentioned in conjunction with having business in the Holy Place.

I should mention that in all these sins, there is always, evidently, a way out. A way to be forgiven. This whole system was set in place because Israelites were not meant to just live with their sins, to just sit in guilt. The System was designed to draw them out of this remorse. These sins don't have to fester, unless the Israelites allowed them. The Israelites were the ones who had to reach out to God and receive forgiveness from Him. Their forgiveness wasn't in their sacrifice, it was still God who forgave them.