Sheep and Goats Count || Leviticus 1:10-13 || A Year in Leviticus #3

Welcome to Day 3 of our “A Year in Leviticus” devotional series. We’re going to slow things down in 2025 and spend the year in the book of Leviticus. The goal of this series is to understand its historical context and see how we can apply its teaching today.

Today, we’re focusing on Leviticus 1:10-13. I’m focusing on what it means for a pleasing aroma to reach God.

Leviticus 1:10-13

NASB	NLT	VOICE
10 ‘But if his offering is from the flock, either from the sheep or from the goats, as a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without defect.	10 “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the flock, it may be either a sheep or goat, but it must be male with no defects.	10 If you give a burnt offering from the flock, either of sheep or goats, you are only to offer an unblemished male. No diseased, weak, or injured animals are allowed.
11 And he shall slaughter it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.	11 Slaughter the animal on the north side of the altar in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar.	11 Slaughter it on the north side of the altar before Me. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter the blood all around the altar.
12 He shall then cut it into its pieces with its head and its suet and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.	12 Then cut the animal in pieces, and the priests will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar.	12 Cut the sacrifice up into pieces. The priests will take the head, fat, and rest of the pieces and place them all on the altar as the fire burns.
13 The entrails, however, and the legs he shall wash with water.  And the priest shall offer all of it, and offer it up in smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.	13 But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.	13 Wash the animal’s organs and legs with water. The priest will offer up the whole burnt offering on the altar, and the smoke of the sacrifice will rise and be a pleasant aroma to Me.

Now this feels repetitive, right? It should. Verses 3-9 are covering if the animal is from the herd. Verses 10-13 covers if the animal is from the flock. Verses 3-9 talk about cows and bulls. Verses 10-13 covers sheep and goats. The process is the same:

• Offer a male with no defects.
• Slaughter the animal in God’s presence.
• The priests will splatter the blood on all sides of the altar.
• Cut the animal into pieces
• Priests arrange the pieces on the offering.
• The internal organs and legs must be washed with water.
• The entire sacrifice will be burned on the altar.

There is one difference I notice: for a flock animal, the blood splattered on the north side. The north side of the altar was often interpreted as the direction of devotion and submission. It seems like they pointed out the north side of the altar for the flock because of the uncommonness of using a sheep or a goat compared to a cow or a bull. It was a way to specifically signify that this animal would work just as effectively as a herd animal.

Describing a sacrifice as a “pleasing aroma to the Lord’ is a way of saying that God accept it because the attitude of the people was pleasing to him. Let’s dig into that further.

Pleasing is the Hebrew word nichowach (nee-kho’-akh). It refers to a pleasing aroma. It signifies the acceptance and satisfaction of God. The concept of a pleasing aroma reflects the idea that sacrifices, when offered with a sincere heart and following God’s commandments, were a way to keep a right relationship with God. The aroma symbolized the worshiper’s devotion and obedience and could reach God through their faithfulness.

Aroma is the Hebrew word reyach (ray’-akh). Refers to pleasant and unpleasant odors, dependent odors. It symbolizes the acceptability of offerings to God. Incense and burnt offerings were integral to worship, symbolizing prayers and devotion rising to God. The pleasing aroma of sacrifices was a metaphor for divine acceptance. Items like myrrh, frankincense, and spices were used in anointing oils, perfumes, and temple rituals.

These aromas from the animals that are cut up and set ablaze were smells that were pleasing to God. These smells weren’t good because they smelt like steaks on the grill. God was happy with the obedience of his followers for following the ritual practices. These sacrifices when offering with a sincere heart (intentionally) and following the protocol laid out by God where the perfection equation to ensure a right standing with God. That’s our takeaway from this.

In the next part, we’re continuing the discussion on burnt offerings with the happenings if a bird is the sacrificial animal of choice. Until then, stay blessed!