This reading continued on with more of the rules. It started out with a little on the clean and unclean things, but really delves into the meanings of those later on, which I am excited about because I have been questioning that since the beginning.
It mentioned something about a rash oath, but I have no idea what that means. I tried researching on it to try to find the meaning and have it explained a little better, but am still confused…
“If anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring the Lord compensation for the sin that he has committed.”
-Leviticus 5:4-6
Then, it went on to explain the rules for the compensation, which was similar to that of the other laws. The priest shall make atonement for the sin committed, and he shall be forgiven.
Laws for Guilt Offerings
-Guilt offering traditionally called the “trespass offering” was very similar to the sin offering. The difference was that the guilt offering was brought in cases where restitution for the sin was possible and therefore required; as in cases of theft and cheating.
-If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally, then he shall bring to the Lord a ram without blemish. The animal sacrificed as a guilt offering was always a ram.
-Shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and add a fifth of it to the priest.
-The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering and shall be forgiven.
-“It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”
The section on the priests and the offerings was very repetitive in the sense of explaining their position with each offering. It basically went over the “rules” for each offering explaining a little more detail of what the priests were actually in charge of doing.
To review the previous notes on laws, go to Day 32, Leviticus 1-4
https://liveandlearnjourney.com/day-32-leviticus-1-4/
One part that was cleared up for me, was explaining what the priests were able to eat from the offerings. Before, it made it sound like a lot of the animal, grain, etc. went to waste, whereas today I learned that most of it did get eaten. Also, I learned that the priests were the ones who would kill the animal for the offering.
Definition rash:
acting or tending to act too hastily or without due consideration. [thinking]
characterized by or showing too great haste or lack of consideration:
rash promises.
Note from Life Application Bible:
Have you ever sworn to do or not do something and then realized how foolish your promise was? God’s people are called to keep their word, even if they make promises that are tough to keep. Jesus was warning against swearing (in the sense of making vows or oaths) when he said, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). Our word should be enough. If we feel we have to strengthen it with an oath, something is wrong with our sincerity. The only promises we ought not to keep are promises that lead to sin. A wise and self-controlled person avoids making rash promises. [end note]
There is a very sad, disturbing, and unclear- ending story of a rash vow in Judges 11: 30-35. (Sorry- this story brings up even more questions, but is a good example of a rash vow.)