Exodus 6
Leviticus 6 continues by presenting specific laws related to sacrifices and restoration. The first part of the chapter (verses 1–7) deals with the guilt offering after wrongdoing against another person, including restitution and compensation. The remaining section (verses 8–30) explains the priests’ responsibilities in connection with the burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, and other sacrificial procedures. This chapter values not only the way sin is addressed, but also the holiness of worship and the restoration of trust within the community.
1verseThe LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”
2verseGod spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am the LORD.
3verseI appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them.
4verseI have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.
5verseMoreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.
6verseTherefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.
7verseI will take you to myself for a people. I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8verseI will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am the LORD.’”
9verseMoses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
10verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
11verse“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”
12verseMoses spoke before the LORD, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?”
13verseThe LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
14verseThese are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.
15verseThe sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.
16verseThese are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years.
17verseThe sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
18verseThe sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.
19verseThe sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
20verseAmram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.
21verseThe sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
22verseThe sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23verseAaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24verseThe sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
25verseEleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.
26verseThese are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”
27verseThese are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.
28verseOn the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29verseThe LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I tell you.”
30verseMoses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”
Summary of Key Content
- Guilt against others and restoration (verses 1–7): When a person deceives another, steals property, hides what was entrusted, or swears falsely, confession, restitution, additional compensation, and a guilt offering are required.
- Keeping the fire burning (verses 8–13): The priests are instructed to keep the fire on the altar of burnt offering burning continually. This symbolizes ongoing worship and the holiness of God’s presence.
- The grain offering and the priest’s portion (verses 14–23): The chapter explains how the grain offering is to be presented, where it is to be eaten, and which portions belong to the priests.
- Regulations for the sin offering (verses 24–30): The sin offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and it is to be treated as most holy. The priestly portions are eaten in a holy place, while offerings whose blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting are burned.
Meditation Points
- Restoration and forgiveness: you can see that when harm and sin arise between God and people, or between people and people, it is not only about making a mere sacrifice, but also about practical restoration, responsibility, and restitution that must follow.
- Maintaining holiness that continues: just as there is a command to keep the fire of the offering from going out, it shows that holiness must be carried on in both daily life and faith.
- Community and trust: God’s law builds trust within a community, and it requires that sacrifices affect not just ceremonies, but all aspects of life.
Apply It to My Life
- Practical restoration: If there is wrongdoing in my life, check whether I go beyond simply seeking forgiveness and take real actions to take responsibility and restore what was harmed.
- Holiness to be kept: I reflect on whether, in the place of faith and in the place of everyday life entrusted to me, I am keeping holiness as if it is a fire that never goes out.
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