[ Lev 1:1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Ver. 1. And the Lord called.] A continuation of the former history, from the rearing of the tabernacle to the numbering of the people; being the history of one month only.
[ Lev 1:2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, [even] of the herd, and of the flock.
Ver. 2. Bring an offering.] Whereby they were led to Christ; as the apostle showeth in that excellent Epistle to the Hebrews, which is a just commentary upon this book.
[ Lev 1:3] If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Ver. 3. Burnt sacrifice.] A whole burnt offering, {[ Heb 10:6]} purporting whole Christ suffering for us, {[ Isa 53:12]} and our sacrificing our whole selves to him as a "reasonable service." {[ Rom 12:1]}
[ Lev 1:4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Ver. 4. And he shall put his hand.] As acknowledging his own guilt, and transferring the same upon Christ, resting upon him with full assurance of faith, handfasting us unto him.
[ Lev 1:5] And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Ver. 5. And he shall kill the bullock.] The priest shall kill it: for it was death for any man to offer his own sacrifice. So it is still for any to come to God, otherwise than in and by Christ.
[ Lev 1:6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
Ver. 6. And he shall flay the burntoffering.] To show the grievousness of our Saviour’s sufferings; the cruel usage of his suffering saints; {[ Mic 3:3] [ Heb 11:35]} and the duty of all that have benefit by him, to flay off the old man with his deceitful lusts, {[ Eph 4:22]} dealing thereby as the Turk dealt by him that betrayed the Rhodes. He presented unto him his promised wife and portion; but with it told him that he would not have a Christian to be his son-in-law; and therefore caused his baptized skin, as he called it, to be flayed off, and him to be cast into a bed strawed with salt, that he might get a new skin. {a} See [ Mar 9:49].
{a} Leunclavius.
[ Lev 1:7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Ver. 7. Fire upon the altar.] That fire from heaven {[ Lev 9:24]} - which the heathens apishly imitated in their vestal fire - typing either the scorching wrath of God seizing upon Christ, or the ardent love of Christ to his, and their zeal for him.
[ Lev 1:8] And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar:
Ver. 8. In order upon the wood.] Showing that ministers must rightly divide, and dispose the word of God, {[ 2Ti 2:15]} and evidently set forth Christ crucified. {[ Gal 3:1]}
[ Lev 1:9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Ver. 9. Shall he wash.] Shadowing Christ’s perfect purity {[ Heb 7:26]} and our entire sanctification. {[ Eze 26:19] [ Heb 10:22]}
Of a sweet savour unto the Lord.] The burning and broiling of the beasts could yield no sweet savour; but thereto was added wine, oil, and incense, by God’s appointment, and then there was a savour of rest in it. Our prayers, as from us, would never please; but as indited by the Spirit, and presented by Christ, they are highly accepted in heaven.
[ Lev 1:10] And if his offering [be] of the flocks, [namely], of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
Ver. 10. A male without blemish.] But "cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto God a corrupt thing." {[ Mal 1:14]}
[ Lev 1:11] And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
Ver. 11. On the side of the altar northward.] Not eastward, as the heathen sacrifices: or to note the obscurity of the legal ceremonies.
[ Lev 1:12] And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar:
Ver. 12. In order.] {See Trapp on "[ Lev 1:8]"}
[ Lev 1:13] But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring [it] all, and burn [it] upon the altar: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Ver. 13. He shall wash.] {See Trapp on "[ Lev 1:9]"}
[ Lev 1:14] And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD [be] of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
Ver. 14. Turtle doves, or young pigeons.] Old turtles and young pigeons are the best: God must have the very best of the best, as being best worthy.
[ Lev 1:15] And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
Ver. 15. Wring off his head.] Or, Pinch it with his nail, that the blood might go out, without separating it from the rest of the body. This prefigured the death of Christ without either breaking a bone or dividing the Godhead from the manhood; as also the skill that should be in ministers, to cut or divide aright the word of truth.
[ Lev 1:16] And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
Ver. 16. His crop with his feathers.] Or, The maw with the filth thereof - that is, the guts which receive the filth sent unto them from the maw - was plucked out, and the blood strained at the side of the altar. This signified those clots of blood wrung from our Saviour before his oblation upon the cross.
[ Lev 1:17] And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Ver. 17. And he shall cleave it.] That the inward part might be laid on the fire. See [ Psa 51:18-19] [ Mar 12:33].