Vayikra (Leviticus)
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Meaning
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Day Four
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Haftara
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B'rit Hadashah
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1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5
Leviticus 10:16-20 (NASB)1
16 But Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up! So he was angry with Aaron's surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying, 17 "Why did you not eat the sin offering at the holy place ? For it is most holy, and He gave it to you to bear away the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD. 18 "Behold, since its blood had not been brought inside, into the sanctuary, you should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, just as I commanded." 19 But Aaron spoke to Moses, "Behold, this very day they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD. When things like these happened to me, if I had eaten a sin offering today, would it have been good in the sight of the LORD?" 20 When Moses heard that, it seemed good in his sight.
It's a lovely blue sky this morning and we are somewhat behind in the homestead news. The snows are receding greatly and we've had rain which helped this engaging phenomenon. I call it that because it's so welcome and “about time”! The acreage is now mostly brownish ground cover but has intermittent green showing through. The chickens have been in and out of the run for a couple of weeks now and their feet are muddy! I was thinking of buying a few hay bales to throw in. They'd like to pick through it and it might add a layer of dry outside bedding. We lost the Mamasan who had vision problems. Now the kennel is empty and will be hauled out of the coop and washed. We've switched out the electric water resources this past week. The heat lamp has been shut off for almost a month now and we won't need it again until next January. The two roosters seem to have reached a sort of detente. The brown one that is not named steers clear of Sheamus and one day recently they were both outside and within a foot of each other and no hostilities were being noted.
Springtime is moving along just fine here and I'm so glad of all the signs. I'm getting my “to do” list prepared. Two of the denim rag quilts have been completed, and tied, and they're off in their new homes now. Only one is left and so the “Who's stupid idea was it to make three denim rag quilts!?” project is finally “put to bed” for one more season! The only situation that causes angst now is the Canadian political scene. The latest thing out yesterday was the Liberal campaigning for the Prime Minister job 'promises' to go after our wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to increase the country's “green” policies. He can't force us to stop using them. But wants to 'register' all fireplaces and our wood-burning stoves will be “restricted if there's a smog warning in effect”. I don't ever remember a 'smog warning' occurring in this region, but if he gets his way, we can be sure that 'smog warnings' will become a reality. That tidbit came out of the mainstream CTV news, so I don't know what I'm getting all flustered about. Perhaps, between them and the Liberals, they're jerking my chain! (And it's working.) The political scene is still very unstable here with the prospect of getting another Justin Trudeau on steroids (another globalist in a different suit) in office. The more "common sense" parties have risen and have gained a lot of momentum but I fear it is a little late. However, they may be powerful enough in the next election to make some changes for the better. Richard said something that I chewed on yesterday. He noted that this news has come out now that a lot of the advanced voting has been done. We voted on Monday afternoon after my cooking gig at the Senior's Club. The official day for voters is the 28th of this month so it won't be long now. Time. Will. Tell.
Are we up for some dialogue about the “letter of the law” versus the “spirit of the law”? I was wondering where that idiom came from in the first place. I discovered the “letter” of the law consists of the absolute way it’s written as opposed to the more “general purpose and policy” which defines the spirit of the law. I didn’t find the origin of this ‘idiom’ but the origin isn’t as important as what each is considered to be regarding the 'letter' and the 'spirit'. Moses approached his nephews like a thundercloud about that goat of the sin offering. At the time he was concerned with the ‘letter’ and rightly so to his credit. He was a very obedient man of God. But let’s realize that Moses was still finding his way through the many instructions that he was passing along to Israel. Moses was considered ‘the lawgiver’ and so perhaps he felt that he had to lead with a heavy hand, considering the attitude of that mixt multitude. Adam Clarke wrote:
“Moses diligently sought the goat - The goat which was offered the same day for the sins of the priests and the people, (see Le 9:15, Le 9:16), and which, through the confusion that happened on account of the death of Nadab and Abihu, was burnt instead of being eaten. See Le 10:16-18.”
At that point in time, there was no room for argument as Moses saw it. Had Moses panicked about this issue? Might he have been thinking that if the two older sons were killed for their infraction then there could be more deaths!? Perhaps there were elements of the fear of God in Moses that provoked that veneer of anger. Let’s keep in mind that the day that the sons of Aaron died was also the same day when the beginning of the eight days of Tabernacle worship began. In the next seven days, the heads of the tribes would be bringing their gifts to the Lord as outlined in Numbers chapter 17, and it was to be a whole week of unprecedented formality with the appropriate celebrations. The day the boys died was the first and same day that there were a number of offerings given. The chief three were the calf sin-offering of Aaron, the he-goat sin-offering given for the Israelites, and the he-goat given by the tribal head Nahshon for his clan’s sin-offering. In all of the commotion, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu took place, and the particular remains of the he-goat sin offering for the people was what Moses was investigating. The he-goat sin offering was to be eaten by the priests and not burned.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. Leviticus 6:26.
Aaron interceded for his sons. Aaron spoke the spirit of the law. Surely the God of his and his brother’s fathers had built in leniency and leverage in His laws too? (Might we also refer to leniency and leverage as elements of ‘compassion’?)
19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD? Leviticus 10:19.
In other words, Aaron questioned, “If I’d eaten the sin offering, feeling the way I do now, as a mourner, would God have approved?” Aaron’s intentions of complying with the rules of the sin offering were pure, and he was going “by the book” if you will. So much a part of the sacrifices were the intentions and attitude of the one who was sacrificing. God takes no “token” offerings—and Aaron knew this! If Aaron had eaten of the sacrifice in the state of mind which he was in, his attitude would have defiled the offering altogether! Moses then, was satisfied. He had pointed out the error and left it at that, realizing that Aaron had, in his actions, appeared to have strayed from “the book”, while at the same time, Aaron had, indeed, complied with “the book”. Is has to be an excellent example of the subtle difference between the “letter” of the law and the “spirit” of the law? Aaron didn’t “throw out” the Law by burning the entire sin offering. He was able to shine a light on another facet of the law, like a fine jewel, and reveal another aspect of it that escaped the mind of his brother Moses at that time. Why was Moses content with his brother’s answer? Because he realized that Aaron was right.
Adam Clarke added:
“And such things have befallen me, etc. - The excuse which Aaron makes for not feasting on the sin-offering according to the law is at once appropriate and dignified; as if he had said: "God certainly has commanded me to eat of the sin-offering; but when such things as these have happened unto me, could it be good in the sight of the Lord? Does he not expect that I should feel as a father under such afflicting circumstances?" With this spirited answer Moses was satisfied; and God, who knew his situation, took no notice of the irregularity which had taken place in the solemn service. To human nature God has given the privilege to weep in times of affliction and distress. In his infinite kindness he has ordained that tears, which are only external evidences of our grief, shall be the outlets to our sorrows, and tend to exhaust the cause from which they flow.” When Moses considered the statement of Aaron he stood down.
20 And when Moses heard that, he was content. Leviticus 10:20.
The KJV renders it as “he was content”. Moses got the message. Moses was attempting to uphold the letter of the law and rightly so! Moses’ experience with the formality of the law was in its infancy. So in the aftermath of the tragedy, he was doing quality control and came along and discovered that the sin offering had been completely burned instead! Mind, he was already plenty upset with the deaths of his nephews because of their infringement of God’s demands and he was ever mindful of the wrath and fickleness of the people. I feel an incredible sympathy for Moses at this moment! So he exploded at Eleazar and Ithamar. Aaron intervenes. It almost sounds like he is saying: “Hey, they’ve done what they were supposed to do today; they brought their sin offering and their burnt offering—the sin offering being burned is my jurisdiction!” Compare this passage to the one when the death of the sons first occurred in Leviticus 10:3.
3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:3.
When Aaron needed to see some meaning in the deaths of his sons, Moses was there for him. And when Moses needed to exercise judgment in the aftermath, Aaron was there for him. All brothers should have such an edifying relationship! Those who say that there was no grace but only ‘law’ in the first half of the Bible are misinformed for here is a sterling example of just that thing. Genesis 6:8 underlines my contention that grace abounds in both testaments/histories: 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. The riches that can be found in the first half of the Bible!
A dear friend of mine described the difference between the law and grace in this way:
“When I was a young person, I lived by the rules of the house that my parents set down. They were instituted to provide a framework for me so that I might know the difference between right and wrong. If I ignored that framework and did wrong, I would be punished. Then, when I became older, because I understood the framework was for my own good, and because my parents loved me, and because I abided by the rules, then I began to understand them. I no longer obeyed them because disobedience meant punishment—I obeyed because I learned the difference between right and wrong, and I had learned to love the right! I had been transformed by the “law” (so to speak) so that I may appreciate the “grace”!”
What a marvelous way to look at the Teachings of God in Torah! If only the Rabbis had known—they didn’t need to build fences around the Teachings to ensure that they would be followed. The Teachings ARE the fences in themselves! Only man can think that he can improve on something God does!
Springtime is moving along just fine here and I'm so glad of all the signs. I'm getting my “to do” list prepared. Two of the denim rag quilts have been completed, and tied, and they're off in their new homes now. Only one is left and so the “Who's stupid idea was it to make three denim rag quilts!?” project is finally “put to bed” for one more season! The only situation that causes angst now is the Canadian political scene. The latest thing out yesterday was the Liberal campaigning for the Prime Minister job 'promises' to go after our wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to increase the country's “green” policies. He can't force us to stop using them. But wants to 'register' all fireplaces and our wood-burning stoves will be “restricted if there's a smog warning in effect”. I don't ever remember a 'smog warning' occurring in this region, but if he gets his way, we can be sure that 'smog warnings' will become a reality. That tidbit came out of the mainstream CTV news, so I don't know what I'm getting all flustered about. Perhaps, between them and the Liberals, they're jerking my chain! (And it's working.) The political scene is still very unstable here with the prospect of getting another Justin Trudeau on steroids (another globalist in a different suit) in office. The more "common sense" parties have risen and have gained a lot of momentum but I fear it is a little late. However, they may be powerful enough in the next election to make some changes for the better. Richard said something that I chewed on yesterday. He noted that this news has come out now that a lot of the advanced voting has been done. We voted on Monday afternoon after my cooking gig at the Senior's Club. The official day for voters is the 28th of this month so it won't be long now. Time. Will. Tell.
Are we up for some dialogue about the “letter of the law” versus the “spirit of the law”? I was wondering where that idiom came from in the first place. I discovered the “letter” of the law consists of the absolute way it’s written as opposed to the more “general purpose and policy” which defines the spirit of the law. I didn’t find the origin of this ‘idiom’ but the origin isn’t as important as what each is considered to be regarding the 'letter' and the 'spirit'. Moses approached his nephews like a thundercloud about that goat of the sin offering. At the time he was concerned with the ‘letter’ and rightly so to his credit. He was a very obedient man of God. But let’s realize that Moses was still finding his way through the many instructions that he was passing along to Israel. Moses was considered ‘the lawgiver’ and so perhaps he felt that he had to lead with a heavy hand, considering the attitude of that mixt multitude. Adam Clarke wrote:
“Moses diligently sought the goat - The goat which was offered the same day for the sins of the priests and the people, (see Le 9:15, Le 9:16), and which, through the confusion that happened on account of the death of Nadab and Abihu, was burnt instead of being eaten. See Le 10:16-18.”
At that point in time, there was no room for argument as Moses saw it. Had Moses panicked about this issue? Might he have been thinking that if the two older sons were killed for their infraction then there could be more deaths!? Perhaps there were elements of the fear of God in Moses that provoked that veneer of anger. Let’s keep in mind that the day that the sons of Aaron died was also the same day when the beginning of the eight days of Tabernacle worship began. In the next seven days, the heads of the tribes would be bringing their gifts to the Lord as outlined in Numbers chapter 17, and it was to be a whole week of unprecedented formality with the appropriate celebrations. The day the boys died was the first and same day that there were a number of offerings given. The chief three were the calf sin-offering of Aaron, the he-goat sin-offering given for the Israelites, and the he-goat given by the tribal head Nahshon for his clan’s sin-offering. In all of the commotion, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu took place, and the particular remains of the he-goat sin offering for the people was what Moses was investigating. The he-goat sin offering was to be eaten by the priests and not burned.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. Leviticus 6:26.
Aaron interceded for his sons. Aaron spoke the spirit of the law. Surely the God of his and his brother’s fathers had built in leniency and leverage in His laws too? (Might we also refer to leniency and leverage as elements of ‘compassion’?)
19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD? Leviticus 10:19.
In other words, Aaron questioned, “If I’d eaten the sin offering, feeling the way I do now, as a mourner, would God have approved?” Aaron’s intentions of complying with the rules of the sin offering were pure, and he was going “by the book” if you will. So much a part of the sacrifices were the intentions and attitude of the one who was sacrificing. God takes no “token” offerings—and Aaron knew this! If Aaron had eaten of the sacrifice in the state of mind which he was in, his attitude would have defiled the offering altogether! Moses then, was satisfied. He had pointed out the error and left it at that, realizing that Aaron had, in his actions, appeared to have strayed from “the book”, while at the same time, Aaron had, indeed, complied with “the book”. Is has to be an excellent example of the subtle difference between the “letter” of the law and the “spirit” of the law? Aaron didn’t “throw out” the Law by burning the entire sin offering. He was able to shine a light on another facet of the law, like a fine jewel, and reveal another aspect of it that escaped the mind of his brother Moses at that time. Why was Moses content with his brother’s answer? Because he realized that Aaron was right.
Adam Clarke added:
“And such things have befallen me, etc. - The excuse which Aaron makes for not feasting on the sin-offering according to the law is at once appropriate and dignified; as if he had said: "God certainly has commanded me to eat of the sin-offering; but when such things as these have happened unto me, could it be good in the sight of the Lord? Does he not expect that I should feel as a father under such afflicting circumstances?" With this spirited answer Moses was satisfied; and God, who knew his situation, took no notice of the irregularity which had taken place in the solemn service. To human nature God has given the privilege to weep in times of affliction and distress. In his infinite kindness he has ordained that tears, which are only external evidences of our grief, shall be the outlets to our sorrows, and tend to exhaust the cause from which they flow.” When Moses considered the statement of Aaron he stood down.
20 And when Moses heard that, he was content. Leviticus 10:20.
The KJV renders it as “he was content”. Moses got the message. Moses was attempting to uphold the letter of the law and rightly so! Moses’ experience with the formality of the law was in its infancy. So in the aftermath of the tragedy, he was doing quality control and came along and discovered that the sin offering had been completely burned instead! Mind, he was already plenty upset with the deaths of his nephews because of their infringement of God’s demands and he was ever mindful of the wrath and fickleness of the people. I feel an incredible sympathy for Moses at this moment! So he exploded at Eleazar and Ithamar. Aaron intervenes. It almost sounds like he is saying: “Hey, they’ve done what they were supposed to do today; they brought their sin offering and their burnt offering—the sin offering being burned is my jurisdiction!” Compare this passage to the one when the death of the sons first occurred in Leviticus 10:3.
3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:3.
When Aaron needed to see some meaning in the deaths of his sons, Moses was there for him. And when Moses needed to exercise judgment in the aftermath, Aaron was there for him. All brothers should have such an edifying relationship! Those who say that there was no grace but only ‘law’ in the first half of the Bible are misinformed for here is a sterling example of just that thing. Genesis 6:8 underlines my contention that grace abounds in both testaments/histories: 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. The riches that can be found in the first half of the Bible!
A dear friend of mine described the difference between the law and grace in this way:
“When I was a young person, I lived by the rules of the house that my parents set down. They were instituted to provide a framework for me so that I might know the difference between right and wrong. If I ignored that framework and did wrong, I would be punished. Then, when I became older, because I understood the framework was for my own good, and because my parents loved me, and because I abided by the rules, then I began to understand them. I no longer obeyed them because disobedience meant punishment—I obeyed because I learned the difference between right and wrong, and I had learned to love the right! I had been transformed by the “law” (so to speak) so that I may appreciate the “grace”!”
What a marvelous way to look at the Teachings of God in Torah! If only the Rabbis had known—they didn’t need to build fences around the Teachings to ensure that they would be followed. The Teachings ARE the fences in themselves! Only man can think that he can improve on something God does!
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Proverbs 16:16:17.
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise specified
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