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The Problem with the Inaugural Sin Offering

16 Later Moses sought diligently for the sin offering male goat,[a] but it had actually been burnt.[b] So he became angry at Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, saying, 17 “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sanctuary? For it is most holy and he gave it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation,[c] to make atonement on their behalf before the Lord. 18 See here![d] Its blood was not brought into the Holy Place within![e] You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary just as I commanded!”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:16 sn This is the very same male goat offered in Lev 9:15 (cf. the note on Lev 10:1 above).
  2. Leviticus 10:16 tn Heb “but behold, it had been burnt” (KJV and NASB both similar).
  3. Leviticus 10:17 sn This translation is quite literal. On the surface it appears to mean that the priests would “bear the iniquity” of the congregation by the act of eating the sin offering (so J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:622-25, 635-40). Such a notion is, however, found nowhere else in the Levitical regulations and seems unlikely (so J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 136). A more likely interpretation is reflected in this interpretive rendering: “he gave it to you [as payment] for [your work of] bearing the iniquity of the congregation.” The previous section of the chapter deals with the prebends that the priests received for performing the ministry of the tabernacle (Lev 10:12-15). Lev 10:16-18, therefore, seems to continue the very same topic in the light of the most immediate situation (see R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 2:702-4).
  4. Leviticus 10:18 tn Or “Behold!” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).
  5. Leviticus 10:18 sn The term here rendered “within” refers to the bringing of the blood inside the Holy Place for application to the altar of incense rather than to the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard of the tabernacle (cf. Lev 4:7, 16-18; 6:30 [23 HT]).

16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering[a](A) and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering(B) in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt(C) of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place,(D) you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:16 Or purification offering; also in verses 17 and 19