Leviticus 4:13-21

How does the whole assembly respond when it discovers its wrongdoing?

Berean Standard Bible

13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden, 14 when they become aware of the sin they have committed, then the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting. 15 The elders of the congregation are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the LORD, and it shall be slaughtered before the LORD. 16 Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting, 17 and he is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil. 18 He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 19 And he is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar. 20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he is to take the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.

What is the context?

The next case concerns the congregation violating a command without recognizing it. When the sin becomes known, the assembly brings a bull and its elders place their hands on its head as representatives of the people.

The blood procedure resembles the priest’s offering, including its use inside the Tent of Meeting and the burning outside the camp. This paragraph explicitly promises forgiveness through the atonement the priest makes. Shared wrongdoing is faced together rather than hidden behind the absence of an initial intention to sin.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the whole congregation as the body or greater part of the people, with their rulers involved. The USCCB note relates this case closely to the preceding priestly case. The written instructions distinguish the assembly’s offering while leaving the precise circumstances of a particular collective error unspecified.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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