Tyndale Open Study NotesLeviticus 3

The peace offering (called shelem in Hebrew) showed worship through fellowship with the Lord and others. The word comes from the same root as shalom, which means wholeness, well-being, harmony, and peace.

Shalom is more than just ending conflict between God and the worshiper. It means a bond of harmonious fellowship. The peace offering was a shared meal celebrating fellowship with God and others (compare Exodus 18:12; 24:9–11; 1 Samuel 9:15–24). They could offer it as thanks (Leviticus 7:12–15), as a voluntary offering, or to fulfill a vow (7:16–18; 22:21).

Peace offerings often came after whole burnt offerings (for example, 1 Kings 9:25). This showed that fellowship with God follows atonement. When we experience atonement through Christ, we can be at peace with God and each other (see Acts 2:42; 10:36; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17–34; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21).

• male or female: The whole burnt offering required male animals because it made atonement (Leviticus 1:3, 10). The less formal peace offering allowed both male and female animals (see also 4:28, 32).

• without blemish: The sacrificial animals had to be healthy. The only exception was the voluntary offering, which allowed a slight blemish (22:23).

kidneys … lobe of the liver: The kidneys and liver had special meaning for the Israelites.

They thought of kidneys as the place where understanding and deep thoughts came from, similar to how we think of the brain today. For example, "my heart yearns within me" [literally my kidneys are consumed] (Job 19:27). It can refer to "minds" (Psalms 7:9; Psalm 26:2; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 11:20; 20:12).

The liver represented life and energy to the Israelites, similar to how many cultures today understand the "heart" (Lamentations 2:11).

Leviticus 1:3–17 describes the burnt offering. It is more accurate to call it "the whole burnt offering." They offered it twice daily (see Numbers 28:4). God required atonement before fellowship with him. So, the text assumes the burnt offering was already on the altar. The priest would place the fatty portions and certain internal organs of the peace offering on top of it (Leviticus 3:3–4).

Sheep were smaller, easier to raise, and less expensive than cattle. Besides the exceptions mentioned in these verses, people offered sheep as sacrifices in the same way as cattle.

fat tail: In this region of the ancient Near East, sheep had wide, fatty tails. People burned these tails on the altar with the other fat.

• an offering made by fire: See study note on Leviticus 1:9.

• The Scripture calls offerings of food “the food of … God” (Leviticus 21:6, 8, 17, 21, 22; Numbers 28:2). Yet, Scripture clearly states that the Lord did not eat the offerings, unlike pagan beliefs about their gods (Psalm 50:9–13). Instead, these offerings belonged to God, and the priest ate a portion as God’s representative (Leviticus 21:21–22). These offerings provided for the priest and his family.

The offering of goats followed a similar pattern to that of cattle and sheep. People considered both goats and sheep as offerings from the flock (see Leviticus 3:6).

God did not allow the people to eat any fat or any blood (see Leviticus 1:5, 8, and study notes).