Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 17:8-9

"And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that offereth a burnt-offering or sacrifice, and bringeth it not unto the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it unto Jehovah; that man shall be cut off from his people." — Leviticus 17:8-9 (ASV)

Whatsoever man there be. —Better, what man soever there be, as it is in the Authorized Version in Leviticus 17:3. Here again we have an instance of the same legislative phrase used four times in one short section (Leviticus 17:3; Leviticus 17:8; Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 17:13), being translated differently in the Authorized Version.

The law enacted in these two verses requires that all legitimate sacrifices should from now on be presented in the appointed sanctuary, which was the centre of national unity. This abolished the liberty that, in accordance with patriarchal practice, had previously existed, where every head of a family could be his own priest and offer up sacrifices wherever and whenever he liked.

The commonwealth of Israel was now to acknowledge one altar, one high priest, and one sanctuary. This law was binding not only upon the Israelite by race but also upon strangers who took up residence with and joined the Jewish community.

For willfully violating this law, the offender incurred the penalty of excision.