Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 3

A sacrifice of peace offering. —The peace offering, which this chapter discusses, consisted of two kinds, the peace offering from the herd (Leviticus 3:1–5), and the peace offering from the flock (Leviticus 3:6–15). As in the case of the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:3), the ox is mentioned first, because it is most costly and more important.

Whether it is a male. —While in the case of the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 1:10), only the male was lawful, there is no distinction of sex here, nor is there any limitation of age. All that was required was that it should be without any organic defect.

And he shall lay his hand. —Unlike the laying of hands on the burnt offering, there was no confession of sin here, but the utterance of words of praise to God, and this might be done in any place of the courtyard which was most convenient for the offerer to kill the sacrifice.

At the door of the tabernacle. —Better, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. (See Leviticus 1:3.)

Aaron’s sons the priests. —Better, the sons of Aaron, the priests. (See Leviticus 1:5.)

Shall sprinkle. —Better, throw .

And he shall offer. —That is, he who brings the sacrifices, not the priest.

The fat. —That is, the best or choicest part. Hence the expression is also used for the best produce of the ground (Genesis 45:18; Numbers 18:12). As the most valuable part of the animal, the fat belonged to God, and hence had a peculiar sanctity, for which reason it was not allowed to be eaten (Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:23).

And Aaron’s sons. —After the offerer has killed the victim, taken out the choice parts and offered them to the officiating priest, the latter is to burn it, that is, the whole collection of the fat pieces described in Leviticus 3:3-4, upon the ashes of the continual burnt offering, which was the daily offering of the lamb. It always took precedence and burned the whole day (Leviticus 6:12). Besides these choice pieces which therefore had to be burned, the breast and the right shoulder were reserved for the priest, while the remainder of the peace offering was eaten by the offerer, his family, and his friends (Leviticus 7:15–16).

Of the flock. —That is, of sheep or goats; they too might be either male or female, provided only that they were without organic defects.