The place for sacrifice
17
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,17:1 From the beginning of this chapter to the end of chapter 22 instructions are given concerning the holy life style the people of Israel were to adopt. It is significant that this comes immediately after chapter 16 with its day of atonement. God is saying, first see the grace of God shown in atonement and forgiveness, then live a holy life (compare Rom 6:1-14; 2 Cor 5:15; Eph 4:20-24; Col 3:1-11; Heb 10:19-23; 1 Pet 2:24-25).⚜
2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them; this is what the LORD has commanded, saying, 3 📚anyone of the house of Israel who kills an ox, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it out of the camp, 4 📚and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer as an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, that man shall have blood imputed to him; that man has shed blood shall be cut off from among his people, 5 📚so that the children of Israel will bring their sacrifices which they are sacrificing in the open field; that they may bring them to the LORD to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the LORD. 6 📚And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat as a fragrant aroma to the LORD.
17:3-6 From this point on there was only one acceptable place for sacrifice. That was at the tabernacle, and later at the temple in Jerusalem. Both tabernacle and temple signify Christ. Now there is one and only one place where God accepts man’s offerings and that is in Christ (Heb 13:15-16; John 14:6). Verses 8 and 9 below show how serious a matter God’s instruction here was. For other offenses against tabernacle worship that brought danger of death see note at Ex 28:35.🪶
7 📚And they shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons 📖 to whom they have prostituted themselves 📖. This shall be a permanent regulation for them throughout their generations.
8 📚“And you shall say to them, Anyone of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners who live among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 📚and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from among his people.
Eating of blood forbidden
10 📚“And as for anyone of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners who live among you, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 📚For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
17:10-11 Lev 3:17; 7:26-27; Gen 9:4; Deut 12:16, 23-25. Life is in the blood. This is why the blood of sacrifice makes atonement – it is life poured out by a substitute.🪶
12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, None of you shall eat blood, nor shall any foreigner who lives among you eat blood.
13 📚“And anyone of the children of Israel, or of the foreigners who live among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dirt. 14 📚For it is the life of all flesh; its blood is as its life; therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall not eat the blood with any kind of meat; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
15 📚“And every person, whether native-born or a foreigner, who eats that which has died, or which was torn by beasts, shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening; then he shall be clean. 16 📚But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt”.