Brian Somers Torah: Leviticus 6:8 – 8:36
Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21 – 8:3, 9:23-24
Brit Chadassah/New Testament: Hebrews 9:11-28
This parashah is primarily focused on the duties of Aaron and his sons, collectively the Aaronids, and their fellow Levites. I do not and will not presume to instruct the Aaronids and Levites in their duties. So there is not that much in this parashah to apply to the wider host of the sons of Israel, except for the fact that the performance of their duties requires meticulous attention to detail. The non-Levites would do well to apply the same care and meticulousness in the discharge of their responsibilities. Beyond this, there are some valuable commandments and statutes that do apply to everyone in Tsav.
In addition, the Haftarah readings have some valuable insights from the prophet Jeremiah as he tried to reach his own people of Judah as they faced the Babylonian threat. Several decades earlier, the northern ten tribes of Israel had been exiled to the northeast by the Assyrians. But the lessons of that exile fell on deaf ears.
Knowing when we are clean or unclean is important with respect to consuming offerings. But since the Temple does not now stand, this is more theoretical than practical. Yet, the reminder is necessary.
19 ‘Also the flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire. As for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh. 20 But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, when he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. 21 When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”
Leviticus 7:19-21
In the future, we men have to be aware of our status of ritual cleanness and also be aware of the status of cleanness of the members of our families. We do not want to be careless about this because we should want to be able to eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, and not be cut off from our people. In fact, if we spend any time in the wilderness before the King returns, this will be an excellent topic of study and preparation.
Leviticus chapter 11 is known as the primary chapter defining the food laws but we will study that chapter in the next parashah, Sh’mini. However, there are some clear laws regarding food in Leviticus chapter 7 and to them, we now turn.
22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep, or a goat. 24 Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by animals may be put to any other use, but you certainly are not to eat it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is offered to the Lord, the person who eats it shall also be cut off from his people. 26 And you are not to eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Any person who eats any blood, that person shall also be cut off from his people.’”
Leviticus 7:22-27
The above passage was clearly directed to the sons of Israel. So let’s take note.
We are not to eat the fat from the ox, the sheep, and the goat. Those fats are restricted to offerings by fire. The beasts who die from causes other than slaughter are not to be consumed but their fats can be put to other uses such as lamp oil or treating skins, for example.
We are also not to consume any blood whatsoever, neither from beast nor bird.
Either offense related to fat or blood results in being cut off from the people.
Turning now to the Haftarah readings, we will read from Jeremiah about the importance of the Torah (Law).
23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.’
Jeremiah 7:23
YHVH’s Voice is Yeshua. He greatly desires that we obey Him and walk entirely in all His ways so that we will be His people and He our God. Obeying Him makes things go well for us.
23 This is what the Lord says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Instead of boasting about our blessings, let’s boast about the One who blesses us. Boast about understanding and knowing him, for isn’t that what a wife does for her husband? Note the order of what is important to him: mercy, justice, and righteousness. Because He delights in these things, so let us also delight in those things!!!