Leviticus2
World English Bible · Public Domain
1“‘When anyone offers an offering of a meal offering to Yahweh, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.
2He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. He shall take his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all its frankincense, and the priest shall burn its memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
3That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy part of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire.
4“‘When you offer an offering of a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
5If your offering is a meal offering made on a griddle, it shall be of unleavened fine flour, mixed with oil.
6You shall cut it in pieces, and pour oil on it. It is a meal offering.
7If your offering is a meal offering of the pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
8You shall bring the meal offering that is made of these things to Yahweh. It shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar.
9The priest shall take from the meal offering its memorial, and shall burn it on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
10That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy part of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire.
11“‘No meal offering which you shall offer to Yahweh shall be made with yeast; for you shall burn no yeast, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
12As an offering of first fruits you shall offer them to Yahweh, but they shall not rise up as a pleasant aroma on the altar.
13Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt. You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14“‘If you offer a meal offering of first fruits to Yahweh, you shall offer for the meal offering of your first fruits fresh heads of grain parched with fire and crushed.
15You shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it. It is a meal offering.
16The priest shall burn as its memorial part of its crushed grain and part of its oil, along with all its frankincense. It is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The meat-offering of flour. (1–11). The offering of first-fruits. (12–16).
vv1-11
Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God. The term “meat” was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion, and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven; and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow, and to be like him.
vv12-16
Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.
Key Words
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
מִנְחָה: a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
קׇרְבָּן: something brought near the altar, i.e. a sacrificial present
סֹלֶת: flour (as chipped off)
יָצַק: properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
שֶׁמֶן: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְבוֹנָה: frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Leviticus 2Explicates the 'salt of the covenant' as a perpetual, incorruptible bond between God and His priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Christ's offering of Himself to God is described as a sweet-smelling savor, fulfilling the grain offering's purpose.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Applies the prohibition of physical leaven to purging the spiritual leaven of malice and wickedness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus references the command that every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt, representing spiritual purification.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates the term 'memorial' as a physical reminder of God's covenant and favor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the Levites' duty in preparing the fine flour and baked things for the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus uses leaven to symbolize corrupt doctrines, explaining the prohibition of leaven in holy offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The frankincense placed on the offering represents Christ's intercession and the prayers of saints.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Specifies the priestly practice of taking a handful of the offering as a memorial on the altar.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that Aaron's sons could eat 'most holy' bread within the sanctuary precincts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows the designated boiling and baking places in the temple where priests prepared the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel command for speech to be seasoned with salt, representing grace and wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Relates to the firstfruits dough offering which was presented but not burned on the altar.
Supported by JFB
Details the ritual presentation of the firstfruits sheaf at the beginning of harvest.
Supported by Matthew Henry