Leviticus 17:1-9

Expanded Bible

Offering Sacrifices

17 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the ·people [^Lsons; children] of Israel. Tell them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded. ³ If ·an Israelite [^La person from the house of Israel] ·kills [slaughters] an ox, a lamb, or a goat either inside the camp or outside it, ⁴ when he should have brought the animal to the entrance of the Meeting Tent as a ·gift [offering] to the Lord in front of the Lord’s ·Holy Tent [sanctuary], he is guilty of ·killing [^Lshedding blood]. He has ·killed [^Lshed blood], and he must be cut off from the people. ⁵ This rule is so ·people [^Lthe sons/^Tchildren of Israel] will bring their sacrifices, which they have been sacrificing in the open fields, to the Lord. They must bring those animals to the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent; they must bring them to the priest and offer them as ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1]. ⁶ Then the priest will ·sprinkle [dash] the blood from those animals on the Lord’s altar near the entrance of the Meeting Tent. And he will ·burn [^Lturn into smoke] the fat from those animals on the altar [3:17], as a smell pleasing to the Lord. ⁷ They must not offer any more sacrifices to their goat idols [^Cgoat images representing demons; 2 Chr. 11:15; Is. 13:21; 34:14], which they have chased like prostitutes [^Cspiritual infidelity is often likened to marital infidelity; Hos. 1:2]. These ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] will continue for people ·from now on [^Lthroughout their generations].’

⁸ “Tell the people this: ‘If ·any citizen [^Lanyone from the house] of Israel or ·foreigner living with you [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien] offers a burnt offering [1:1–17] or sacrifice, ⁹ that person must take his sacrifice to the entrance of the Meeting Tent to offer it to the Lord. If he does not do this, he must be cut off from the people.