leviticus .... sum up of first few chapters.

Leviticus is the third book of Law and contains instructions for sacrifices and offerings to be offered in the temple. Sacrifices had been offered to God prior to the law being given to Moses. But this book gives specific instructions as to how sacrifices should be offered. The book addresses many responsibilities of the priests (Levites) and partly where the name is derived from. The first seven chapters of Leviticus describe five different sacrifices to be offered. The main emphasis throughout the book of Leviticus is purity. It emphasizes God’s holiness, and God’s desire for the chosen nation of Israel to be holy.
God gives specific instructions to his people in Leviticus 1:1-6:7. God speaks to Moses and tells him to “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘when any man of you brings an offering to the Lord…” (Lv. 1:2). As revealed from this passage, the instructions found within these specific verses are for the ‘lay people’ as opposed to the priests. The first three sacrifices described here are voluntary. Burnt offerings are described in 1:1-17, grain offerings are described in 2:1-16, and peace offerings are described in 3:1-17. The next two described sacrifices are compulsory. Sin offerings are described in 4:1-5:13, and guilt offerings are described in 5:14-6:7.
Burnt offerings are mentioned first most likely because they were to be offered the most frequently. According to Numbers 28 this type of sacrifice was to be offered every morning and evening, every Sabbath, and for special feasts. A male animal without defect should be chosen for this sacrifice. The sacrifice was to serve as an atonement for the sin of the one offering the sacrifice (v. 4). Atonement means to reconcile. Thus, the one sacrificing the animal is seeking to reconcile himself to God. He would place his hand on the animals head to signify the transfer of sin onto the animal. Therefore the one offering the sacrifice would be reconciled to God. The offering signified the repentance and obedience to God and his word. This type of sacrifice needed to be made everyday because it only temporarily eliminated sin. Hebrews 10:8-9 discusses how God does not desire the offerings of animals, and how Jesus came as the final sacrifice.
Grain offerings are discussed next in chapter 2. These instructions again are given to the lay person. Detailed descriptions are given as to how different grain offerings can be offered. Fine flour can be offered if oil and frankincense are poured atop. Baked flour could be offered as well, and detailed instructions as to how unleavened bread should be baked are found in verses 4-13. One additional way grain could be offered is directly from the harvest. Instructions for this type of offering are found in verses 14-16. This type of sacrifice was different than the burnt sacrifices in that it provided the priests themselves with food. The priests were allowed to eat the unburned part of the sacrifice (v. 3). While the burnt offering was to signify atonement, the grain offering was more of a dedication of oneself to God’s purpose.
The peace offering is described next in chapter 3. This offering is referred as the peace offering for it is to provide reconciliation and fellowship. This chapter includes detailed instructions as to how specific animals should be sacrificed. While the burnt sacrifice could only be a male; the peace offering could be male or female (v 1). The animal should be slayed outside the tent and the blood sprinkled around the altar. The same protocol for symbolically transferring sin to the animal is given in verse 2. “He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering.” The text continues with specifics on which parts of the animal should be offered to God, and which were to be kept. While the burnt offering and grain offering were offered as merely an aroma to God, the peace offering was offered as food (v. 11).
The sin offering is the first of the compulsory offerings. “If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed” (4:2-3). A sacrifice was required if this instance of unintentional sin occurred. The following verses (4:1-5:13) describe the details as to how the sacrifice should be handled.
Guilt offerings are the second compulsory sacrifice. The specifics behind the guilty offerings are described in Leviticus 5:14-6:7. While all sin is ultimately against God, some more directly affect others.
“When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty…” Leviticus 6:2.

Guilt offerings and sin offerings were obligatory when a wrong was knowingly committed. The other sacrifices were voluntary and depended upon the conviction of the one offering the sacrifice. In the sin and guilt offerings a decision on the need of a sacrifice was not needed. It was given.

The specific instructions for the priests (Levites) for sacrifices are given in Leviticus 6:8-7:38. These verses explain the five different offerings but are directed towards the priests. The burnt offering is described 6:8-13, the grain offering in 6:14-23, the sin offering in 6:24-30, the Peace offerings in 7:11-36. It describes how the burnt offering needs to be completed burnt and may take an entire night (6:9). The text goes on to explain how the ashes of the burnt offering should be disposed (6:11). The fire on the altar was to never go out (6:13). It also describes what the priests could eat specifically from the sacrifice (6:26).
The text is extremely comprehensive on how sacrifices and offerings should be handled. Leviticus 7:37-38 serves as a summary to the previous seven chapters: “This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering and the ordination offering and the sacrifice of peace offerings, which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the sons of Israel to present their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai.” Not a lot of reasoning is given behind why it is to be handled in such a fashion, the text is more bent towards obedience. Sacrifices were to be offered in worship to God, not out of obligation. Even from the first few chapters of Leviticus the holiness and purity which God expects of his people is evident. There seems to be no room for mistakes or lapses in obedience. The detail to which the sacrifices are laid are incredible. First instructions described to all peoples, and then specific instructions to priests as to how to handle specifics of the sacrifice.