Animal-Blood-Sacrifices

Leviticus 17:1-16

Verses 3-4

 Prohibition against the slaughter of domesticated animals outside the Tabernacle System.

• The English term “kill” in Hebrew is SHACHAT {Shaw-Khat} which is rendered slaughter in some of our texts.

• References to slaughter may apply to:

• Killing a beast for food

• Killing a beast for purposes of sacrifice (Gen. 37:31; 1 Sam. 1:25)

• There is Rabbinic Controversy surrounding this mitzvah:

• A. No domestic animals could be slaughtered outside the Tabernacle System whatsoever. The blood would have to be collected and applied to the altar and the fat burned. But for sin offerings, the carcass had to be burned without the camp. (Rabbi Ishmael) 

• B. This mitzvah is specific to blood sacrifices and offerings of domesticated animals. No domesticated animal could be sacrificed outside the Tabernacle System. (Rabbi Akiva) And support for this understanding is found in verse 5.

• Context in this passage seems to connect reading specifically to slaughterings associated with sacrifices (reference Lev. 17:8 and Deut. 12:5-13). 

• This seems to be the overarching understanding of this mitzvah.

• This mitzvah applies to a period of time when livestock were used for sacrifices only–during our wilderness wandering days. 

• We subsisted off of manna and quail. 

• Consumption of meat would occur only during certain sacrifices where the offerer and priests partook of a portion of the sacrifices.

• There appears to be a blood component attached to this slaughtering of animals in this passage–slaughter=killeth=SHACHAT

• The Halladay Lexicon attaches blood specifically to the Hebrew term SHACHAT (Gen. 37:31).

• The Harris et. al. Lexicon specifically ties SHACHAT to a ritual sacrifice; slaughters of animals used for sacrifice rituals.

• Only at the door to the Tent of Meeting/Tabernacle were sacrifices–blood sacrifices–burnt offerings unto YHVH to be conducted (cf. Deut. 12:5, 6).

• Violators of this mitzvah were guilty of bloodshed, to be cut-off from among their people.

Verses 5-6

• At the time this mitzvah was given, our domesticated animals were to be used exclusively for sacrifices unto YHVH.

• No sacrifices were to be performed outside the place where Yah placed His Name (Deut. 12:5, 6). (Prior to Tabernacle operations, the people offered sacrifices in their own communities and outside the camp. This practice was henceforth prohibited under penalty of the offender being cut-off from among their people.)

• It appears that the portion of this mitzvah that prohibited the slaughtering of any domesticated animal was reversed in Deuteronomy 12:20-21, in anticipation of our moving into the Land. 

  • We would be removed from the lure of the Satyr sacrifices

  • We were free to consume our livestock as we so desired.

  • Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb. 9:22).

  • Any valid blood sacrifice required that the blood of the animal be applied to the Altar.

• This mitzvah in its present rendering was ideally applied as we were a community living in close proximity to the Tabernacle.

• But when we moved into the Land we would be spread over many miles:

•  This mitzvah requiring all sacrificial offerings be carried out at the Tabernacle applied to native Hebrews and sojourner alike.

• Some Jewish scholars believe this reading highlighting the slaughter of all domesticated animals was given over to specially trained me referred to as SHOCHETIM.

• Associated with SHOCHETIM is SHECHITAH which is directly tied to the Jewish cultural practices of kosher slaughtering of animals

Verses 7-9

• The Hebrews appear to have been slaughtering their domesticated animals in worship to pagan deities called SA’IR or SATYRS (Isa 13:21; 34:14).

  • Coming out from under such pagan practices as a way of life, we were quite familiar with the rituals associated with sacrifices to the Satyrs.

• Satyrs were desert “demon gods.” Some references to “hairy goat; a billy goat.

• Coming out of Egypt, offerings to Satyrs were an extension of ancient Babylonian Pagan Worship Rituals. 

• A portion of their meat would be offered up to these demon gods. 

• Thus it appears Father put into effect prohibitions against slaughtering one’s domesticated animals outside the Tabernacle System to prevent such pagan practices.

• This appears to have been a temporary measure since this mitzvah seems to be reversed in Deut. 12:15.

• Yah does not tolerate syncretism.

• This abolition of sacrifices to the satyrs was a permanent mitzvah.

• Violations of this mitvah would result in the offender being cut-off from among the peoples of the nation.

  • Fortunately, we see forgiveness extended for the offense of KARETH–2 Chr. 30:17-20

• To be cut-off from one’s people is not entirely understood.

• KARETH: the antonym for “to be gathered to one’s people” (Gen. 25:8), which points to one being denied an afterlife.

• According to messianicjudaism.me, Psalms 109:13 sheds light on the concept of KARETH: The end of a person’s life or descendants through the deaths of those carrying on the name (Mal. 2:12). Known as EXTIRPATION, which means the end of a family line. It may also mean a denial of the afterlife. 

• All intended sacrifices were to be presented alive at the Tabernacle. 

• This officially certified one location for Yisra’el’s sacrifices–The Tabernacle.

• Proper-sanctioned sacrifices required the mediating Levitical Priest (Lev. 16:32).

Verses 10-14

• Prohibition against the consumption of blood would result in YHVH Himself setting His face against the offender and cutting Him off from the nation (Lev. 3:17; 7:26). 

• Life of all flesh according to YHVH is in the blood.

• The blood of animals would serve only as an atonement for the souls of the people.

• Blood is the principal carrier of life

• It is sacred

• It is henceforth reserved only for sacred purposes. It is for atonement purposes (5:11).

• Blood makes atonement for sins

• Blood was for the spiritual welfare of the offerer, not to gratify YHVH. For it represents the total surrendering of the offerer to the Will of YHVH.

• Animals slaughtered for food purposes (specifically those animals that were hunted for food) were to have the blood drained from the carcass and buried.

• The consumption of animal blood has been the practice of many pagan nations for time immemorial.

• Such practices ran contrary to the intent of the sacrifice which was atonement and peace between Yah and the offender. 

• Yah reiterated that the life of the creature is in the blood. 

• Even today cultists and satanists consume blood as part of their pagan worship practices

• The enemy thrives off of human and animal blood.

• The Blood Covenant by H.C. Trumbull–written in the 1800.

Verses 15-16

• A little confusion surrounds this mitzvah because of Deuteronomy 14:21. 

• Hebrews were prohibited from consuming such animals.

• Non-Hebrews sojourning among us were permitted to consume non-slaughtered animals

• Those that consumed such meat would be unclean and not permitted to enter the sanctuary unless he or she purified themselves.

• Animals that died of natural causes or that were killed by a predator and were then consumed by members of the nation resulted in those individuals falling into a ritually impure state (i.e., they could not worship at the Tabernacle). Father provided a means for the offenders to return to a state of ritual purity:

• Mikveh

• Wash their clothes

• Remained unclean until the evening

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John 6:52-59 (66)

• Yeshua contends with Capernaum Jewish leaders over His teachings that they must consume His blood and body.

• No one comes to the Father but through Mashiyach, which is clearly seen in our Torah Reading today (Joh. 14:6).

• Blood must always be offered up to YHVH before atonement is accomplished (Heb. 9:22)

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Spiritual Applications to this Reading

• Sacrifices must cost the offerer something. When we give from our substance, we lose that portion of our substance. However, when we properly give to YHVH, we gain many folds spiritually and physically.

• Romans 12:1-2–We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices.

• Ephesians 5:2–Yeshua is our sacrifice.

• Philippians 4:18,19–financial sacrifices

• Hebrews 3:15-16–sacrifices of praise

• Summary–Two applications:

• (1) The atoning sacrifice Yeshua made on our behalf. His sacrifice is the only acceptable sacrifice unto YHVH. That sacrifice is sealed and completed.

• (2) The sacrifices and offerings we make unto YHVH. These sacrifices are open and require us to make decisions on the proper applications of our sacrifices.