The Third Book of Moses: Leviticus

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Leviticus 6:8–13)

Then the Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tabernacle of the testimony, saying:

Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: The man among you who will offer to the Lord a sacrifice from the cattle, that is, an offering of victims of oxen or sheep:

if his offering will be a holocaust, as well as from the herd, he shall offer an immaculate male at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, to make himself pleasing to the Lord.(a)

And he shall place his hand on the head of the sacrifice, and so it shall be acceptable and effective, in its expiation.

And he shall immolate the calf in the sight of the Lord. And the priests, the sons of Aaron, shall offer its blood, pouring it all around the altar, which is before the door of the tabernacle.

And having pulled away the skin of the victim, they shall cut up the joints into pieces,

and they shall toss fire under the altar, having arranged beforehand a stack of wood.

And they shall lay the parts which are cut up in order upon it: namely, the head, and all the things that adjoin to the liver,

the intestines and feet having been washed with water. And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a holocaust and as a sweet odor to the Lord.

But if the offering is from the flocks, a holocaust either of sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish.

And he shall immolate it at the side of the altar which looks out toward the north, in the sight of the Lord. Yet truly, the sons of Aaron shall pour its blood upon the altar all around.

And they shall divide the limbs, the head, and everything that adjoins to the liver. And they shall place them on the wood, under which the fire is to be thrown.

Yet truly, the intestines and the feet they shall wash with water. And the priest, having offered everything, shall burn it upon the altar as a holocaust and as a most sweet odor to the Lord.

But if the oblation of a holocaust to the Lord is of birds, either of turtledoves, or young pigeons,(b)

the priest shall offer it at the altar: and twisting back the neck with the head, and also rupturing the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run down over the edge of the altar.

Yet truly, the craw of the throat and the feathers he shall cast near the altar at the eastern section, in the place where the ashes are usually poured out.

And he shall break its wing joints, but he shall neither cut, nor divide it with metal, and he shall burn it upon the altar, placing fire under the wood. It is a holocaust and an oblation of a most sweet odor to the Lord.

Footnotes

(a)1:3 A holocaust:That is, a whole burnt offering (olokauston), so called, because the whole victim was consumed with fire; and given in such manner to God as wholly to evaporate, as it were, for his honour and glory; without having any part of it reserved for the use of man. The other sacrifices in the Old Testament were either offerings for sin, or peace offerings: and these latter again were either offered in thanksgiving for blessings received; or by way of prayer for new favours or graces. So that sacrifices were then offered to God for four different ends or intentions, answerable to the different obligations which man has to God: 1. By way of adoration, homage, praise, and glory due to his divine majesty. 2. By way of thanksgiving for all benefits received from him. 3. By way of confessing and craving pardon for sins. 4. By way of prayer and petition for grace and relief in all necessities. In the New Law we have but one sacrifice, viz., that of the body and blood of Christ: but this one sacrifice of the New Testament perfectly answers all these four ends; and both priest and people, as often as it is celebrated, ought to join in offering it up for these four ends.(Challoner)

(b)1:14 A dove is another name for a pigeon. Turtledoves are white pigeons. Young pigeons are generally white, no matter what color they will have as adults. So this verse calls for white birds, symbolizing purity.(Conte)