Translation: ESV
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Every aspect of the Israelite community's life must reflect the holiness of God.
▸Leviticus 17 is the beginning of the 'Holiness Code' (chapters 17-26).
Leviticus 17 is the beginning of the 'Holiness Code' (chapters 17-26). This section contains comprehensive laws concerning the holiness of Israelite community life. Chapter 17 begins specifically with regulations about blood and sacrifice.
"If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp,
Every act involving life and death must take place within an awareness of and reverence for God.
▸When Israelites slaughtered cattle, sheep, or goats, they had to bring them to the tent of meeting as an offering before the LORD.
So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.
God's people must make a complete break from their former culture and religion and worship only the LORD.
▸It is mentioned that Israel had sacrificed to goat-demon gods (satyrs) in Egypt.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Life is in the blood, and offering blood is offering life. The blood of Jesus is the complete atonement for our lives.
▸This is one of the most theologically significant verses in Leviticus.
For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
The sacredness of life is symbolized through blood, and respecting it is an acknowledgment of God's created order.
▸The prohibition against eating blood goes back to the command given to Noah in Genesis 9:4.