Laws for Peace Offerings
The peace offering (called shelem in Hebrew) showed...
The peace offering (called shelem in Hebrew) showed worship through fellowship with the Lord and others. The word comes from the same root as shalom, which means wholeness, well-being, harmony, and peace.
Shalom is more than just ending conflict between God and the worshiper. It means a bond of harmonious fellowship. The peace offering was a shared meal celebrating fellowship with God and others (compare Exodus 18:12; 24:9–11; 1 Samuel 9:15–24). They could offer it as thanks (Leviticus 7:12–15), as a voluntary offering, or to fulfill a vow (7:16–18; 22:21).
Peace offerings often came after whole burnt offerings (for example, 1 Kings 9:25). This showed that fellowship with God follows atonement. When we experience atonement through Christ, we can be at peace with God and each other (see Acts 2:42; 10:36; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17–34; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21).
1“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD. 2He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splatter the blood on all sides of the altar.
3From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 4both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 5Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Sheep were smaller, easier to raise, and less...
Sheep were smaller, easier to raise, and less expensive than cattle. Besides the exceptions mentioned in these verses, people offered sheep as sacrifices in the same way as cattle.
6If, however, one’s peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish.
7If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he must present it before the LORD. 8He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.
9And from the peace offering he shall bring a food offering to the LORD consisting of its fat: the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 10both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 11Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, a food offering to the LORD.
The offering of goats followed a similar pattern...
The offering of goats followed a similar pattern to that of cattle and sheep. People considered both goats and sheep as offerings from the flock (see Leviticus 3:6).
12If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD. 13He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.
14And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 15both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 16Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.
17This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”