He
shall carry the whole bull outside of the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out, it shall be burned.
Leviticus 4:12
The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Yahweh, which is in the Tent of Meeting; and he shall pour out all of rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. He shall take all the fat of the bull of the sin offering off of it; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away, as it is taken off of the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. The bull’s skin, all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, its innards, and its dung, he shall carry the whole bull outside of the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out, it shall be burned.
Leviticus 4 [13.] “‘If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and are guilty; when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.
Meaning:
This verse is part of the instructions given by God to Moses regarding the sin offering, specifically for the high priest, in the book of Leviticus. The sin offering was a crucial part of the sacrificial system in ancient Israel, serving as a means for atonement for sins committed unintentionally. The detailed instructions about how the offering was to be handled, including the requirement to take the remains of the sacrificed animal outside the camp to be burned, hold significant symbolic meaning for our understanding of sin, atonement, and purification.
- The Sin Offering
Leviticus 4 outlines the procedures for the sin offering, which was required when someone sinned unintentionally. The sin offering varied depending on the status of the sinner—a priest, the congregation, a leader, or an ordinary person—but the basic elements of the ritual were consistent. When a sin was committed, the guilty party was required to bring an animal, typically a bull, goat, or lamb, to the altar as a sin offering. The animal was sacrificed, and its blood was used to make atonement for the sinner.
For the sin offering of the high priest, the blood was taken into the Holy Place and sprinkled before the veil of the sanctuary and on the horns of the altar of incense. The fat of the bull was burned on the altar, but the remainder of the bull, including its hide, flesh, head, legs, and intestines, was taken outside the camp and completely burned in a clean place where the ashes were disposed of.
Significance
Symbolism of Purification: The requirement to take the remains of the bull outside the camp underscores the concept of purification. The sin offering was intended to cleanse the community of the impurity caused by sin. By removing the remains of the sacrifice from the camp, the ritual symbolized the removal of sin and impurity from the midst of God’s people. The camp represented the place where God dwelled among His people, and sin could not remain there. Thus, the remains were taken to a clean place outside the camp and burned, completing the process of purification.
Separation from Sin: This act of taking the bull outside the camp also emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the need for separation from it. Sin defiles, and it cannot be allowed to remain in the presence of God’s holiness. By taking the sacrifice outside the camp, the ritual physically and symbolically removed the defilement caused by sin, illustrating the need for the community to be set apart as holy unto God.
Foreshadowing of Christ’s Sacrifice: The practice of taking the sin offering outside the camp finds its ultimate fulfillment in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews makes a direct connection between this Old Testament ritual and the crucifixion of Christ: "Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate" (Hebrews 13:12). Just as the sin offering was taken outside the camp to be burned, Jesus was led outside the city of Jerusalem to be crucified. His death "outside the gate" signifies His role as the ultimate sin offering, bearing the sins of humanity and removing them from God’s presence.
The Application of the Passage
Understanding Leviticus 4:12 helps us appreciate the gravity of sin and the lengths to which God went to provide atonement and purification for His people. The Old Testament sacrificial system, with all its detailed rituals, was designed to teach Israel about the seriousness of sin and the need for holiness. For us today, these rituals point to the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon Himself and removed them from us.
Recognition of Sin’s Seriousness: The ritual of taking the sin offering outside the camp serves as a reminder of how seriously God views sin. Sin is not just a minor offense; it is something that defiles and separates us from God. The physical act of removing the sacrifice from the camp illustrates the necessity of separating ourselves from sin and pursuing holiness.
Appreciation of Christ’s Sacrifice: Reflecting on the connection between the sin offering and Christ’s crucifixion deepens our understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He became our sin offering, bearing the weight of our sins and removing them from us. His suffering outside the city gates underscores the completeness of His sacrifice and the thoroughness of our purification through Him.
Call to Holiness: The idea of taking the sacrifice outside the camp also calls us to live lives that are set apart from the sinfulness of the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to "go to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach" (Hebrews 13:13). This means living in a way that reflects our separation from sin and our commitment to the holiness of God.
Cross-References:
The theme of taking the sacrifice outside the camp resonates throughout Scripture and is deeply connected to the idea of atonement and purification:
Numbers 19:3: The red heifer, another offering for purification, was also to be slaughtered outside the camp. This practice further underscores the importance of separation from sin and impurity.
Hebrews 13:11-13: These verses explicitly link the sin offering ritual to Christ’s sacrifice, encouraging believers to go "outside the camp" and bear the reproach of Christ. This call reflects the need for Christians to separate themselves from the world’s sin and identify with Christ, even in suffering.
Isaiah 53:4-5: This prophecy about the suffering servant highlights the atoning work of Christ, who "bore our griefs" and "was wounded for our transgressions." His suffering outside the camp fulfills the symbolic role of the sin offering.
Conclusion: Leviticus 4:12, with its instruction to take the sin offering outside the camp and burn it in a clean place, is rich in symbolic meaning. It underscores the seriousness of sin, the need for purification, and the lengths to which God goes to atone for the sins of His people. This verse also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was crucified outside the city, bearing our sins and removing them from us. As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the gravity of sin, the completeness of Christ’s atonement, and our call to live holy lives set apart for God.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible