Leviticus 4: Sin Offering Laws

Introduction (4:1–2): The Lord instructs Moses on the sin offering for cases where someone unintentionally sins against any of God’s commands.. Sin of the Anointed Priest (4:3–12): If the high priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must offer a young bull without blemish.. He brings the bull to the Tabernacle, lays hands on it (transferring guilt), and slaughters it.. The priest sprinkles the bull’s blood seven times before the veil in the Holy Place, puts blood on the altar of incense, and pours the rest at the base of the burnt offering altar.. ) is burned outside the camp in a clean place, as its sin is serious due to the priest’s role.. , through ignorance of a law), they offer a young bull once the sin is realized.. The elders lay hands on the bull, and the ritual mirrors the priest’s offering: blood is sprinkled in the Holy Place, fat and kidneys are burned, and the remainder is burned outside the camp.. This atones for the community’s collective guilt.. Sin of a Leader (4:22–26): If a tribal leader or ruler sins unintentionally, he offers a male goat without blemish.. The leader lays hands on the goat, slaughters it, and the priest puts blood on the horns of the burnt offering altar, pouring the rest at its base.. The fat is burned on the altar, and the rest is presumably handled per priestly portions (implied, not detailed here).. This atones for the leader’s sin..