Leviticus 17:1-9

Common English Bible

Sacrifice at the sanctuary

17 The Lord said to Moses, ² Say to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the Israelites: This is what the Lord has commanded: ³ Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox, sheep, or goat inside or outside the camp ⁴ but does not bring it to the meeting tent’s entrance to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the Lord’s dwelling^[a] will be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have spilled blood. They will be cut off from their people. ⁵ This will make the Israelites bring the communal sacrifices, which they are sacrificing in the countryside, to the Lord, to the priest at the meeting tent’s entrance, and sacrifice them as communal sacrifices of well-being to the Lord. ⁶ The priest will toss the blood against the Lord’s altar at the meeting tent’s entrance and burn the fat completely as a soothing smell to the Lord. ⁷ The Israelites must no longer sacrifice their communal sacrifices to the goat demons that they follow so faithlessly.^[b] This will be a permanent rule for them throughout their future generations. ⁸ You will also say to them: Anyone from Israel’s house or from the immigrants who live with you who offers up an entirely burned offering or communal sacrifice ⁹ without bringing it to the meeting tent’s entrance in order to offer it to the Lord will be cut off from their people.