---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Leviticus 1:1. And the Lord called unto Moses — From the manner in which this book commences, it appears plainly to be a continuation or the precedi"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1"
---

Verse [Leviticus 1:1](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/1). ***And the Lord called unto Moses*** — From the manner in which this book commences, it appears plainly to be a continuation or the preceding; and indeed the whole is but *one* *law*, though divided into *five* portions, and why thus divided is not easy to be conjectured.
Previously to the erection of the tabernacle God had given no particular directions concerning the manner of offering the different kinds of sacrifices; but as soon as this Divine structure was established and consecrated, Jehovah took it as his dwelling place; described the rites and ceremonies which he would have observed in his worship, that his people might know what was best pleasing in his sight; and that, when thus worshipping him, they might have confidence that they pleased him, every thing being done according to his own directions. A consciousness of acting according to the revealed will of God gives strong confidence to an upright mind.

Verse [Leviticus 1:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/2). ***Bring an offering*** — The word קרבן *korban*, from קרב *karab*, to *approach* or *draw near*, signifies an *offering* or *gift* by which a person had access unto God: and this receives light from the universal custom that prevails in the east, no man being permitted to approach the *presence* of a superior without a *present* or *gift*; and the offering thus brought was called *korban*, which properly means the *introduction-offering*, or *offering* of *access*. This custom has been often referred to in the preceding books. *See also Clarke on "*[Leviticus 7:38](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/38)*"*.
***Of the cattle*** — הבהמה *habbehemah*, animals of the *beeve* kind, such as the *bull, heifer, bullock*, and *calf*; and restrained to these alone by the term *herd*, בקר bakar, which, from its general use in the Levitical writings, is known to refer to the *ox, heifer*, c. And therefore other animals of the *beeve* kind were excluded.
***Of the flock*** — צאן *tson*. SHEEP and GOATS for we have already seen that this term implies both kinds; and we know, from its use, that no other animal of the *smaller* clean domestic quadrupeds is intended, as no other animal of this class, besides the *sheep* and *goat*, was ever offered in sacrifice to God. The animals mentioned in this chapter as proper for sacrifice are the very same which God commanded Abraham to offer; see [Genesis 15:9](../../../kjv/genesis/15/9). And thus it is evident that God delivered to the patriarchs an epitome of that law which was afterwards given in detail to Moses, the essence of which consisted in its *sacrifices*; and those sacrifices were of clean animals, the most perfect, useful, and healthy, of all that are brought under the immediate government and influence of man. Gross-feeding and ferocious animals were all excluded, as were also all birds of *prey*. In the pagan worship it was widely different; for although the ox was esteemed among them, according to *Livy*, as the *major hostia*; and according to *Pliny*, the *victima optima, et laudatis sima* *deorum placatio*, Plin. Hist. Nat., lib. viii., c. 45, "the chief sacrifice and the most availing offering which could be made to the gods;" yet obscene fowls and ravenous beasts, according to the nature of their deities, were frequently offered in sacrifice. Thus they sacrificed *horses* to the SUN, *wolves* to MARS, *asses* to PRIAPUS, *swine* to CERES, *dogs* to HECATE, &c., &c. But in the worship of God all these were declared *unclean*, and only the three following kinds of QUADRUPEDS were commanded to be sacrificed:
1. The *bull* or *ox*, the *cow* or *heifer*, and the *calf*.
2. The *he-goat, she-goat*, and the *kid*.
3. The *ram*, the *ewe*, and the *lamb*.
Among FOWLS, only *pigeons* and *turtle-doves* were commanded to be offered, except in the case of cleansing the leper, mentioned [Leviticus 14:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/14/4), where two clean birds, generally supposed to be *sparrows* or other small birds, though of what species is not well known, are specified. *Fish* were not offered, because they could not be readily brought to the tabernacle *alive*.

Verse [Leviticus 1:3](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/3). ***Burnt-sacrifice*** — The most important of all the sacrifices offered to God; called by the Septuagint ολοκαυτωμα, because it was *wholly consumed*, which was not the case in any other offering. [Leviticus 7:38](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/38).
***His own voluntary will*** — לרצנו *lirtsono, to gain himself* *acceptance* before the Lord: in this way all the versions appear to have understood the original words, and the connection in which they stand obviously requires this meaning.

Verse [Leviticus 1:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/4). ***He shall put his hand upon the head of the**********burnt-offering*** — By the imposition of hands the person bringing the victim acknowledged,
1. The sacrifice as his own.
2. That he offered it as an atonement for his sins.
3. That he was worthy of death because he *had* sinned, having forfeited his life by breaking the law.
4. That he entreated God to accept the *life* of the innocent animal in place of his own.
5. And all this, to be done profitably, must have respect to HIM whose life, in the fulness of time, should be made a sacrifice for sin.
6. The *blood* was to be *sprinkled round about upon the altar*, [Leviticus 1:5](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/5), as by the sprinkling of blood the atonement was made; for the blood was the *life* of the beast, and it was always supposed that *life* went to redeem *life*. [Exodus 29:10](../../../kjv/exodus/29/10).
On the required perfection of the sacrifice [Exodus 12:5](../../../kjv/exodus/12/5).
It has been sufficiently remarked by learned men that almost all the people of the earth had their *burnt-offerings*, on which also they placed the greatest dependence. It was a general maxim through the heathen world, that there was no other way to appease the incensed gods; and they sometimes even offered human sacrifices, from the supposition, as Caesar expresses it, that life was necessary to redeem life, and that the gods would be satisfied with nothing less. "Quod pro vita hominis nisi vita hominis redditur, non posse aliter deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur." - Com. de Bell. Gal., lib. vi. But this was not the case only with the Gauls, for we see, by Ovid, *Fast*., lib. vi., that it was a commonly received maxim among more polished people: -
"--------Pro parvo victima parva cadit.
Cor pro corde, precor, pro fibris sumite fibras.
Hanc animam vobis pro meliore damus."

See the whole of this passage in the above work, from ver. 135 to 163.

Verse [Leviticus 1:6](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/6). ***He shall flay*** — Probably meaning the *person who* *brought the sacrifice*, who, according to some of the rabbins, killed, flayed, cut up, and washed the sacrifice, and then presented the parts and the blood to the priest, that he might burn the one, and sprinkle the other upon the altar. But it is certain that the priests also, and the Levites, flayed the victims, and the priest had the skin to himself; see [Leviticus 7:8](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/8), and [2 Chronicles 29:34](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/29/34). The red heifer alone was not flayed, but the whole body, with the skin, &c., consumed with fire. See [Numbers 19:5](../../../kjv/numbers/19/5).

Verse [Leviticus 1:7](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/7). ***Put fire*** — The fire that came out of the tabernacle from before the Lord, and which was kept perpetually burning; see [Leviticus 9:24](../../../kjv/leviticus/9/24). Nor was it lawful to use any other fire in the service of God. See the case of Nadab and Abihu, [Leviticus 10:1](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/1); [Leviticus 10:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/2).

Verse [Leviticus 1:8](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/8). ***The priests - shall lay the parts*** — The sacrifice was divided according to its larger joints.
1. After its blood was poured out, and the skin removed, the head was cut off.
2. They then opened it and took out the omentum, or caul, that invests the intestines.
3. They took out the intestines with the mesentery, and washed them well, as also the fat.
4. They then placed the four quarters upon the altar, covered them with the fat, laid the remains of the intestines upon them, and then laid the head above all.
5. The sacred fire was then applied, and the whole mass was consumed. This was the holocaust, or complete burnt-offering.

Verse [Leviticus 1:9](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/9). ***An offering - of a sweet savour*** — אשה ריח ניחוח *ishsheh reiach nichoach*, a *fire-offering*, an *odour of rest*, or, as the Septuagint express it, θυσια οσμη ευωδιας, "a sacrifice for a sweet-smelling savour;" which place St. Paul had evidently in view when he wrote [Ephesians 5:2](../../../kjv/ephesians/5/2): "Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an *offering*, και θυσιαν - εις οσμην ευωδιας, *and a sacrifice, for a sweet-smelling savour*," where he uses the same terms as the Septuagint. Hence we find that the *holocaust*, or *burnt-offering*, typified the sacrifice and death of Christ for the sins of the world.

Verse [Leviticus 1:10](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/10). ***His offering*****be*****of the flocks*** — [Leviticus 1:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/2).

Verse [Leviticus 1:12](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/12). ***Cut it into his pieces*** — [Genesis 15:10](../../../kjv/genesis/15/10); [Genesis 15:10](../../../kjv/genesis/15/10).

Verse [Leviticus 1:16](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/16). ***Pluck away his crop with his feathers*** — In this sacrifice of fowls the head was violently wrung off, then the blood was poured out, then the feathers were plucked off, the breast was cut open, and the crop, stomach, and intestines taken out, and then the body was burnt. Though the bird was split up, yet it was not divided asunder. This circumstance is particularly remarked in Abram's sacrifice, [Genesis 15:10](../../../kjv/genesis/15/10). [Genesis 15:10](../../../kjv/genesis/15/10). See Ainsworth.
WE have already seen, on [Leviticus 1:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/2), that four kinds of animals might be made burnt-offerings to the Lord.
1. *Neat cattle*, such as bulls, oxen, cows, and calves.
2. He-goats, she-goats, and kids.
3. Rams, ewes, and lambs.
4. Pigeons and turtle-doves; and in one case, viz., the cleansing of the leper, *sparrows* or some small bird.
All these must be without spot or blemish - the most perfect of their respective kinds, and be wholly consumed by fire. The RICH were to bring the most *costly*; the POOR, those of *least price*. Even in this requisition of *justice* how much *mercy* was mingled! If a man could not bring a *bullock* or a *heifer*, a *goat* or a *sheep*, let him bring a *calf*, a *kid*, or a *lamb*. If he could not bring any of these because of his *poverty*, let him bring a *turtle-dove*, or a *young pigeon*, (see [Leviticus 5:7](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/7)); and it appears that in cases of extreme poverty, even a *little meal* or *fine flour* was accepted by the bountiful Lord as a sufficient oblation; see [Leviticus 5:11](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/11). This brought down the benefits of the sacrificial service within the reach of the poorest of the poor; as we may take for granted that every person, however low in his circumstances, might be able to provide the tenth part of an ephah, about three quarts of meal, to make an offering for his soul unto the Lord. But every man must bring *something*; the law stooped to the lowest circumstances of the poorest of the people, but every man must *sacrifice*, because every man had *sinned*. Reader, what sort of a sacrifice dost thou bring to God? To Him thou owest thy whole body, soul, and substance; are all these consecrated to his service? Or has he the refuse of thy time, and the offal of thy estate? God requires thee to sacrifice as his providence has blessed thee. If thou have much, thou shouldst give *liberally* to God and the poor; If thou have but little, *do thy diligence to* *give of that little*. God's *justice* requires a measure of that which his mercy has bestowed. But remember that as thou hast *sinned*, thou needest a *Saviour*. Jesus is that lamb without spot which has been offered to God for the sin of the world, and which thou must offer to him for thy sin; and it is only *through Him* that thou canst be accepted, even when thou dedicatest thy whole body, soul, and substance to thy Maker. Even when we present ourselves a living sacrifice to God, we are accepted for *his sake* who carried our sins, and bore our sorrows. Thanks be to God, the rich and the poor have equal access unto him through the Son of his love, and equal right to claim the benefits of the great sacrifice!

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary -  Leviticus 1"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1","name":"Clarke's Commentary -  Leviticus 1","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Leviticus 1:1. And the Lord called unto Moses — From the manner in which this book commences, it appears plainly to be a continuation or the precedi","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary","name":"Clarke's Commentary"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus","name":"Leviticus"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/leviticus/1","name":"1"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```