Leviticus
Chapter 3
Communion Sacrifices
If anyone offers a peace sacrifice from his cattle, whether male or female, whatever he presents before the Lord must be without any defect.
He is to lay his hand on the victim’s head and kill it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall pour the blood on the sides of the altar.
After that, he is to offer the following as a burnt offering for the Lord: the fat that covers the internal organs, all the fat on the internal organs,
the two kidneys, the fat on them, and the loins, along with the best part that he is to remove from the liver and kidneys.
The sons of Aaron shall burn all this on the altar along with the burnt offering, on the wood in the fire. It will be a burnt offering, and its sweet-smelling odor will please the Lord.
If he offers a sheep or goat as a peace offering to the Lord, he must offer a male or female without any defects.
If he offers a sheep, he is to present it before the Lord;
he is to lay his hand on the sheep’s head and kill it in front of the Tent of Meeting; then the sons of Aaron shall pour out its blood on the altar’s sides.
From the peace offering, he is to present the following as a burnt offering to the Lord: the fat, the tail taken off near the backbone, the fat covering the internal organs, and all the fat on the internal organs,
the two kidneys, the fat on them, the loins, and the best part, which he will remove from the liver and kidneys.
The priest shall burn this part on the altar as food, as a burnt offering to the Lord.
If his offering is a goat, he must present it before the Lord.
He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and kill it in front of the Tent of Meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall pour out its blood on the sides of the altar.
Then he is to offer the following as a burnt offering for the Lord: the fat that covers the internal organs, all the fat that is on the internal organs,
the two kidneys, the fat that is on them and the loins, and the best part which he will remove from the liver and kidneys.
The priest shall burn these pieces on the altar as food, a burnt offering for the Lord.
All the fat belongs to the Lord. This is a law forever for all your descendants, wherever they may live: never eat either fat or blood.”
Commentaries
Communion Sacrifices.
Communion sacrifices differ from burnt offerings because the sacrificial victims are not completely burned; some parts are burned on the altar, while other parts are eaten at a banquet offered by the offeror to his family and guests (7:15; 19:6-8). The distinction between large livestock (1-5) and small livestock (6) is maintained; the latter are classified as lambs (7-11) and goats (12-16). In all cases, the same ritual pattern is followed: the hand is placed on the victim before sacrifice, and the altar is sprinkled with its blood on all four sides, as in the burnt offerings—a task performed by the priest.
This type of sacrifice involves the sacred banquet, a common element among other Near Eastern nations and cultures. The offeror aimed to accomplish one of two things: 1. To show gratitude to God for a specific reason—Psalm 107 lists four reasons, though there may be more. 2. To make a votive offering, asking the Lord for a particular benefit. The Israelites made it clear they did not eat these meals with God, but in His presence. The sacredness of food mainly arises from God allowing the offeror to eat part of the victim, which belongs entirely to Him since all life is His. Additionally, the location of the sacrifice and meal—the Sanctuary—the holiness of the altar, which is reaffirmed each time with the blood of victims, and contact with sacred persons—priests dedicated solely to the Lord—all contribute to this sacredness.