Day 37, Leviticus 16-18

Today started with the Day of Atonement for Aaron and his sons. Aaron was to offer sacrifices, follow a bunch of rules, wear certain clothes, and do certain things in order to gain atonement.

Of the offerings, one goat was for the Lord and the other was for Azazel. It says that the meaning for Azazel is uncertain, but could possibly be the name of a place or a demon, traditionally a scapegoat. Still unclear on this.

The NIV Study Bible easily explains the order of the ritual for the day of atonement, but does not mention the name Azazel. It simply just says “scapegoat.”

On the 10th day of the seventh month, they would afflict themselves, or fast. The Day of Atonement was the only regular fast day stipulated in the Old Testament, though tradition later added other fast days to the Jewish calendar.

The seventh month began with the Feast of Trumpets. The Day of Atonement followed on the 10th day, and on the 15th day the Feast of Tabernacles began.

On the Day of Atonement the repentant Israelites were assured of sins forgiven.

There were also rules on the place to sacrifice. If anyone killed an ox, lamb, or goat in the camp or outside of the camp and didn’t bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer as a gift to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle; blood guilt would be imputed on the person and they would be cut off from among the people.

This is the first time I remember it mentioned “blood guilt.” What is that?

The people were directed to sacrifice only at the central sanctuary. One reason for such a regulation could be to keep the Israelites from becoming corrupted by the Canaanites’ pagan worship.

“And you shall say to them, Any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from his people.”

-Leviticus 17:8-9

The laws against eating blood seemed a little out there to me. Did they really need to have a law against this? Who was going around eating blood? Wow!

“If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.

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 for life.”

-Leviticus 17:10-11

Finally there are laws about incest! I have been questioning this since the beginning, and now, here they are in an entire section of unlawful sexual relations.

“None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness.”

-Leviticus 18:6

“God’s people are given instructions concerning interpersonal relations and a morality reflecting God’s holiness. Israel was thereby prepared for a life different from the Canaanites, whose life-style was deplorably immoral.”

It lists out all the people you can not have sex with, well “uncover the nakedness” of, all in relation to your family tree. That only took how long?

It went on to give many more laws about sexual relations and what you can not do.

“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her. You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.”

-Leviticus 18:19-23

“I am the Lord” occurs 47 times, and six times in this chapter Israel is warned not to follow the example of pagans.

Molech was the god of the Ammonites. The detestable practice of sacrificing children to Molech was common in Phoenicia and other surrounding countries. Why would someone feel they needed to sacrifice a child? What would they gain?

Maybe I’m close-minded in trying to be empathetic to life then, but I just can’t picture what would have been going on. Apparently the ten commandments were not clear enough though, that they needed more specifics. Don’t sleep with a family member or an animal. Don’t drink blood. Don’t offer your children as sacrifices. What the hell!? I am literally just shaking my head through most of this…

As controversial as the topic is, and my opinions will remain to myself, and am not opening any doors to a debate or fight or attack; I see now where the Bible discusses homosexuality. I never understood before what people would mean when they said, “The Bible Says…”

After reading the Bible for over a month now, I am finally starting to see the things people mention when people say this, or quote the Bible. Whether it’s killing, lieing, cheating, stealing, being gay, sleeping around, coveting, gossiping, drinking, etc. things are not really any different today.

Here I’m sitting and questioning why some of these rules and laws needed to be specified going, “Wow, they must’ve been really screwed up,” when in reality they’re all still happening.

This is why journaling this journey is nice and helpful. I’m forced to ask questions and really reflect.

I don’t understand though why people put more pressure on some laws than on others. Homosexuality is always a discussion it seems, but is that really worse than killing someone, or any of the other laws that God made? Why is that topic always one people will turn to saying, “The Bible Says,” but not focus on other ones too?

In conclusion for today, most people, myself included do not follow a lot of what is in the Bible. Is one sin more severe than another? I thought they were all equal, as in “a sin is a sin is a sin” type of thing…