A Hand on the Head of the Animal

Reflecting on Part of the Sacrificial Rituals in Leviticus 1–7

This post is for paid subscribers. If you’ve been encouraged by the content of this newsletter, and if you’d like to have complete and unending access to the huge archive of biblical theology articles, consider becoming a paid subscriber and supporting the work that goes into this site.

The book of Exodus ends with the official installation of the tabernacle, and the book of Leviticus begins with the offerings that the Israelites would bring there. In particular, Leviticus 1–7 unpacks five offerings: the burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt offerings.

The five offerings are different, so the details of the corresponding procedures are different. But one element that the reader sees repeated is the worshiper placing a hand on the head of an animal. Let’s think about that.