The third book of the Bible, containing laws for worship, sacrifice, and holy living for Israel's priests and people.
Regulations for grain offerings, including various preparation methods (baked, fried, or firstfruits). These offerings were to be made without leaven but with salt, symbolizing purity and preservation of God's covenant.
Leviticus 2
Leviticus 2
1And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
Introduction to the grain offering (meat meaning food), with its basic ingredients symbolizing God's provision and human gratitude.
Cross References: Numbers 15:4, Isaiah 66:20, John 6:35
2And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
The portion burned represents the whole offering, acknowledging God's ownership of all.
4And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
Baked offering variation, emphasizing purity (unleavened) and the Holy Spirit's work (oil).
Cross References: Exodus 29:2, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 1 John 2:27
5And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
Another preparation method, showing God accepts various forms of worship when properly prepared.
Cross References: 1 Chronicles 23:29, Exodus 29:23, 1 Peter 4:10
6Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.
Breaking the offering symbolizes brokenness before God and sharing with others.
Cross References: Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 58:7, Mark 14:22
7And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
Third preparation method, showing God's acceptance of offerings according to one's ability and resources.
Cross References: 1 Chronicles 9:31, 2 Corinthians 8:12, Mark 12:41-44
8And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.
The importance of proper presentation and the priestly role in worship.
Cross References: Malachi 1:11, Hebrews 5:1, 1 Peter 2:5
9And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
The memorial portion represents the whole gift, acknowledging God's provision and ownership.
11No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
Prohibition of leaven and honey, representing corruption and natural sweetness versus divine provision.
Cross References: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Matthew 16:6, Mark 8:15
12As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.
Special handling of firstfruits offerings, acknowledging God's priority in all things.
13And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Salt represents preservation, purification, and the permanence of God's covenant.
Cross References: Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5, Mark 9:49-50
14And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
Instructions for firstfruits grain offering, representing the best of the harvest.
15And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.
Oil and frankincense represent the Holy Spirit's work and prayer ascending to God.
Cross References: Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, James 5:14
16And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Final instructions emphasizing complete dedication and proper procedure in worship.