Leviticus
Summary
Leviticus Chapter 3 details the fellowship offerings, which were shared meals between God, the priests, and the worshippers, representing peace and communion. Whether the sacrifice was from the herd or the flock, the fat was to be burned on the altar as an "offering by fire" to the LORD. This chapter emphasizes the sacredness of the fat and the blood, which were strictly forbidden for human consumption. The fellowship offering provided a unique way for the people to celebrate their relationship with God through a communal act of worship and thanksgiving.
If a person's offering is a peace offering from the herd, he must bring a male or female without any defect to the LORD.
He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall splash the blood against all sides of the altar.
From the peace offering, he shall bring a sacrifice to the LORD made by fire: all the fat that covers and surrounds the internal organs,
both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.
Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the wood on the fire; it is an offering made by fire, a sweet savour to the LORD.
If his offering for a peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must offer a male or female without any defect.
If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD,
lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against all sides of the altar.
From the peace offering, he shall bring a sacrifice to the LORD made by fire: the entire fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, all the fat that covers and surrounds the internal organs,
both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.
The priest shall burn it on the altar; it is a food offering made by fire to the LORD.
If his offering is a goat, he shall present it before the LORD,
lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against all sides of the altar.
He shall offer from it his sacrifice made by fire to the LORD: all the fat that covers and surrounds the internal organs,
both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.
The priest shall burn them on the altar; it is a food offering made by fire, a sweet savour. All the fat belongs to the LORD.
This is a lasting law for all your generations, wherever you live: you must not eat any fat or any blood.