Parsha Vayikra Study: The Seder (Order) of The Burnt Offerings

Like the Passover Offering, the Burnt Offerings have a Seder, or specific order, in which the tasks must be performed. When performed correctly, seemingly, LIFE is the outcome for the Jew bringing the offering.

The Seder (Order): Burnt Offerings

1. Fire is placed on the altar

2. Wood is placed on top of the fire

3. The animal sections are laid on the wood (v. 12)

4. The head and suet (fat) are laid on the wood

5. The entrails and legs are washed with water before being placed on the altar

6. The entrails and legs are placed on the altar

7. ALL parts are turned into smoke on the altar.

Commentary:

• If we think about this order of the sacrifice process, we see something amazing. The fire comes before the  wood! This preliminary fire is like the burning fire (and later, smoking pot) that appeared to Abram when Hashem made the covenant of the split pieces!

  • The cut pieces covenant was always a way for both parties to say, "if I do not keep my part of the bargain, let me become like these animals and be cut into pieces."

  • But, in The Covenant between the pieces, Abram was put into a sleep. He did not have to walk between the pieces. Hashem showed up as fire and a smoking pot.

    • These acts were Hashem's way of saying to Abram that He would take care of the sacrifices if Abraham could not keep his part of the deal.​

• The wood comes next, like the pile of wood Abraham carried up the mountain when Hashem told Abraham to offer up his promised son Isaac.

• The animal is then placed on the wood, like Isaac was placed on the wood which Abram carried.

  • But, to indicate that the offering is indeed like the "ram in the bush" that connects to the promise made to Abram in Genesis 15, ALL of the pieces of the sacrificed animals that are placed on the wood: the clean parts, the unclean, and everything in between--turned to smoke (like the smoking pot in Genesis 15) in the stead of the descendants of Abraham: the Jewish people.

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With the Burnt Offering, NOTHING is to be left over. Every part of the offering is to be turned into smoke. This is important because it speaks to the completeness of the promise made to Abram in Genesis 15. It's as if Hashem said: "you and your offspring will in no-wise become like these pieces, even if you are dead asleep and have no conscious awareness of me. I will take care of the 'punishment' while you rest."

Am Yisrael Chai!

Kimberly Davis