Leviticus 9:20

Study note

Setting — Aaron and his sons execute the inaugural priestly rites for the Israelite community at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They process the designated animal portions from the ox and ram sacrifices before presenting them to the Lord.

The words — The narrative employs וַיָּשִׂימוּ (va.ya.si.mu), literally "and they placed," to describe positioning the fat on the breast portions. It then uses וַיַּקְטֵר (va.yak.ter), meaning "and he made smoke" or burned, to record Aaron offering those fat portions on the altar.

The thread — The directive to burn specific fat portions on the altar is established in Leviticus 3:14 as a food offering to the Lord. The subsequent ceremonial handling of the breast portions as a wave offering is recorded in Leviticus 7:30 and Leviticus 9:21.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe the precise sequence of positioning, burning, and waving prescribed for the sacrifices. It demands adherence to the exact physical handling of each portion without deviation or improvisation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.