UTN uW Translation Notes:

Leviticus 3 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

This chapter gives instructions about how to offer a peace offering. In a similar fashion to Leviticus 1, here Yahweh provides options for sacrifices of peace offerings consisting of a bovine, whether male or female (3:1–5), or a flock animal, whether a lamb (3:6–11) or a goat (3:12–16). The chapter ends with an “enduring statute,” applicable to any Israelite, regardless of age or location. This statute entails the proscription of consuming any fat or blood (3:17). In outline form, the structure of chapter 3 is as follows: - 1) The Peace Offering (3:1–17) - I. Offering a bovine (3:1–5) - II. Offering a flock animal (3:6–16) - i. a sheep (3:6–11) - ii. a goat (3:12–16) - The proscription against eating blood or fat (3:17)

Special Concepts in this Chapter

The peace offering

The peace offering, sometimes called the "restitution offering" or the "fellowship offering," CONTINUE!!- can everyone eat the peace offering?- what is the relationship of the peace offering to the wave offering? (cf. 7:28–34)- mention the thanksgiving peace offering (7:11–15), which accompanied bread and animal sacrifices, votive peace offerings and the freewill peace offerings (7:16–21).

Fat

In ancient times, the fat of an animal was considered the best part of the animal to eat. Therefore, the fat portions of a sacrifice belonged to Yahweh and were to be offered on the fire and converted into pleasant-smelling smoke that rose to Yahweh in heaven. The fat portions and internal organs that were to be removed for burning that are referred to in this chapter include:- 1) For bovine, sheep and goats:* the fat covering the innards, that is, the caul fat that covers all of the internal organs (see 3:3, 9, 14)* the fat that is on the innards, that is, the visceral fat that is directly connected to the internal organs (see 3:3, 9, 14)* the fat that is connected to the two kidneys (see 3:4, 10, 15)* the two kidneys themselves (see 3:4, 10, 15)* the lobe on the liver, that is, one of the four bunches of liver tissue on the animal's liver (see 3:4, 10, 15)* the liver itself (see 3:4, 10, 15)-2) For sheep only, in addition to the portions listed above:* the entirety of the fat of the sheep (see 3:9)* the fatty tail, that is, the portion of fat attached to the short tail of the sheep, which was to be removed in one piece near the end of the spine (see 3:9)These portions of fat were to be carefully removed by the person offering the sacrifice and presented to the priest to be burned on the altar.

Sprinkling blood

The symbolic action of splashing or "sprinkling” the blood of the animal on the the altar is frequent in animal sacrifices in Leviticus. The blood, being the life of the animal (see 17:11), was given by God to purify ritually and to remove sin. In this chapter, the blood acts as a ritual detergent with the special ability to cleanse people, sacred objects, and sacred spaces from the impurity generated by sin. As such, it was splashed on the sides of the altar in a symbolic act that removed the impurities of sin.

Consuming blood or fat

Leviticus 3:17 prohibits any Israelite, regardless of age or location, from eating any fat or blood of any animal. Because the blood contained "the life" of the animal, it had the special ability to cleanse people, sacred objects, or sacred space from the impurity caused by sin. As such, Yahweh forbid the eating of any animal blood (see (7:26–27, (17:10–14, and (19:26). While the reason for forbidding the consumption of fat is not given in this chapter, it is presumed that these choice portions of rich fat were especially coveted and so belonged exclusively to Yahweh.