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Leviticus 2

16 verses

TL;DR

Leviticus 2 outlines the procedures and ingredients for meat offerings, emphasizing the sanctity of the altar, the priest’s role, and the covenantal salt.

Summary

The chapter details how to prepare and present a meat offering to the LORD. It begins with instructions for an oven-baked offering made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, which the priests then sacrifice as a memorial on the altar. The remainder of the offering belongs to Aaron and his sons, underscoring its holiness. Subsequent verses expand the types of preparations—baked, pan, and frying pan—each requiring fine flour, oil, and sometimes unleavened wafers. All offerings must be seasoned with salt and must not contain leaven, honey, or any other forbidden ingredients. First‑fruits offerings receive special treatment with green corn, oil, and frankincense, again burned as a memorial. Throughout, the focus remains on the act of sacrifice, the priest’s duty, and the covenantal obedience required of Israel.

Outline
  1. 1. Oven‑baked meat offering with flour, oil, frankincense; priest burns a memorial on the altar (v1‑3).
  2. 2. Various cooking methods—baked, pan, frying pan—require fine flour and oil; the priest again sacrifices a memorial (v4‑10).
  3. 3. Prohibitions against leaven and honey; covenantal salt; special first‑fruits offering with corn (v11‑16).
Themes
Sacrifice and memorialHoliness and covenantObedience to divine law
Keywords
meat offeringmemorialaltarpriestfine flouroilfrankincensesaltfirstfruitsunleavenedcovenantsweet savorholy
People
AaronAaron's sonsprieststhe LORD
Places
altar
Things
fine flouroilfrankincensesaltgreen ears of cornunleavened cakeswafersfirstfruits
Key Verses
  • Leviticus 2:2: Illustrates the priest’s central role in burning the memorial.
  • Leviticus 2:11: States the prohibition of leaven and honey, highlighting purity requirements.
  • Leviticus 2:13: Emphasizes the covenantal significance of salt in offerings.
Questions
  • What is the theological significance of burning a memorial on the altar?
  • Why is leaven strictly forbidden in meat offerings?
  • How does the covenantal salt relate to Israel’s relationship with God?
  • What does the use of first‑fruits and green corn signify in the broader context of the law?
  • In what ways does this chapter illustrate the relationship between ritual practice and holiness?
Sentiment

neutral
The text presents procedural instructions without emotive language.