Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 5:11
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering.
11. he shall put no oil upon it ] as in the jealousy offering (Num 5:15).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
11 13. A further concession in the case of extreme poverty: 1/10th of an ephah of fine flour is allowed as a substitute for the animal sacrifice. This is treated as a Meal-Offering but described as a Sin-Offering ( Lev 5:11-12). See Rob.-Sm. Rel. Sem. 2 p. 242, note 3, with a reference by Frazer to an instance where an offering of rice is called ‘eating the soul of the rice,’ so that the rice is viewed as a living creature. For approximate amount of an ephah see on Lev 6:20.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. Tenth part of an ephah] About three quarts. The ephah contained a little more than seven gallons and a half.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The tenth part of an ephah, about a pottle of our measure. See Exo 16:36.
He shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; either to distinguish these from the meat-offerings, Lev 2:1; or as a fit expression of their true sorrow for their sins, in the sense whereof they were to abstain from things pleasant and delightful; see Num 5:15; or to signify that by his sins he deserved to be utterly deprived both of the oil of gladness, the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Holy Ghost, and of Gods gracious acceptance of his prayers and sacrifices, which is signified by incense, Psa 141:2; or to teach them how evil a thing sin was, how hateful to God, and how uncomfortable to themselves.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons,…. Which is supposing a man to be in the poorest circumstances he can well be; and such is the grace and goodness of God, that he has provided for the atonement and forgiveness of the poorest, as well as of the rich:
then he that hath sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; which is an omer, Ex 16:36 and is as much as a man can eat in one day, as Aben Ezra remarks:
he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon; to distinguish it from the common meat offering, which had both, Le 3:1 and to make it as easy, and as little chargeable to the poor as possible, both oil and frankincense being things of value; and some think that these were prohibited, to show that atonement and forgiveness, and even the salvation of men, are not owing to grace in them, comparable to oil, or to their prayers, signified by frankincense, and so to any or all of their duties, but to Christ alone, and his atoning sacrifice: or these were forbidden, because emblems of joy and gladness, and therefore not so proper at a confession of sin, and humiliation for it: or rather to show how disagreeable and offensive sin was to the Lord, being contrary to grace, of which oil was an emblem, and far from being acceptable to him, which frankincense might signify; and therefore being prohibited, might denote how unacceptable, yea nauseous, sin is to him; which agrees with the reason given;
for it [is] a sin [offering], and therefore must not be honoured, as Jarchi, or must have everything removed from it that is beautiful and amiable, as Ben Gersom, such as oil and frankincense.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 11-13:
The second provision for the poor offerer was: The offerer could bring “a tenth part of an ephah” (about three and a half pints) of, flour, as a Sin Offering. This must not be mixed with oil or frankincense. The priest would burn a handful of the flour upon the altar, and the remainder would belong to the officiating priest as his portion, in the manner of the Meat Offering (see Chapter Two).
The Law provided these two concessions, in order that none could claim poverty as an excuse for not offering the Sin Offering. It pictures the Divine mandate, that there is no excuse for any failure to confess and receive pardon for sin, see Ro 1:20; 2:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(11) But if he be not able.The benign consideration for the poor, and the desire not to mulct them too heavily for their frailties, are here still more evinced in the statute before us. If anyone is so impoverished that the offering of two birds would press too heavily upon him, he might bring the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour, a little less than half a gallon.
For it is a sin offering.That is, because it is a sin offering, and not a Minchah or meat offering (see Lev. 2:1), therefore it shall have no oil or frankincense, otherwise its distinguishing features as such would be destroyed.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Turtledoves pigeons See chap. 1, notes, also Introduction, (4)
The tenth ephah flour The most impoverished person was supposed to be able to present three quarts of sifted wheat or barley flour for the disburdening of his conscience.
No oil neither frankincense The addition of these would make a mincha, or bread offering, Lev 2:2, a eucharistic sacrifice, which could be offered only by one in a state of acceptance with God. The sinner must secure pardon before he offers praise. Says Kurtz: “Oil and incense symbolized the Spirit of God and the prayers of the faithful; the meat offering, always good works; but these are then only good works and acceptable to God when they proceed from the soil of a heart truly sanctified. The sin offering, however, was pre-eminently the atonement offering; the idea of atonement came out so prominently that no room was left for others. The consecration of the person, and the presentation of his good works, to the Lord, had to be reserved for another stage in the sacrificial institute.” How strikingly this corroborates the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification as a work distinct from justification. Jesus, the great Sin Offering, so fills the vision of the penitent sinner that there is no room for the consideration of his other office, by which he is made unto the believer “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Second Alternative A Guilt Offering of Grain ( Lev 5:11-13 ).
Lev 5:11
‘But if his means suffice not for two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his oblation for that in which he has sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of milled grain for a purification for sin-offering: he shall put no oil on it, neither shall he put any frankincense on it; for it is a purification for sin-offering.’
For the very poor another alternative is offered. Nothing must be allowed to prevent a purification for sin offering from being made. In this case the offering is of milled grain. At first sight this appears not to involve the shedding of blood. But note how carefully the writer says that it is to be offered ‘on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire’. For the very poor God graciously combines his offering with those of others.
No oil or frankincense is added to it. For this is not a positive expression of dedication, praise and thanksgiving, (and one who was so poor could not afford it). It is a purification for sin offering. Thus the bare grain is offered alone. Its full content is absorbed from the previous offerings made by fire. The person has given all that he can afford without embellishment and without pretence, and God does the rest.
Lev 5:12
‘And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as its memorial, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire: it is a purification for sin-offering.’
The priest takes from his offering the memorial portion as described in Leviticus 2, and he burns it on the altar on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Note the change in wording, ‘the offerings of Yahweh made by fire’. They were now Yahweh’s offerings and He has provided through them what was lacking in the poor man’s offering. Note that it is no more a grain offering but a purification for sin offering.
Lev 5:13
‘And the priest shall make atonement for him as touching his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he shall be forgiven: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as with the grain offering.’
Thus will the priest make atonement for him with regard to any of these sins that he has committed. He shall be forgiven as much as will the ruler with his he-goat. And what is left of the grain is the priest’s as with the grain offering. His holiness will absorb the holiness of the offering.
So do we learn that God’s forgiveness comes equally to all, whether to priest, or whole congregation, or ruler, or commoner, or poor man or destitute. God’s forgiveness is offered to all equally. For in the end all these offerings obtained their efficacy from the one great offering offered once-for-all at Golgotha.
(What is more, so is His bounty. When it comes to rewards, one man may finance a cathedral, the other give a cup of cold water, but both are treated the same. Indeed the cup of cold water may well count for more than the cathedral (Mar 12:43-44)).
We note as a postscript that once again the writer has provided his material about this guilt offering in a group of three. With this ends this session of Yahweh’s words to Moses.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Lev 5:11. Tenth part of an ephah of fine flour That is, an omer. No oil or frankincense was to be put upon this gift, as these were appropriated to joyful occasions; and, consequently, unfit for offerings expressive of humiliation and grief; see Num 5:15. Note: Sin must be as unsavoury to the soul, as this offering was on the altar.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Observe the divine condescension to the poor sinner; nothing costly was to be in his offering. The poor as well as the rich are equally interested in the salvation of the gospel. Mat 11:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 5:11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering.
Ver. 11. But if he be not able. ] So low doth the Most High stoop to man’s meanness, that he will accept of a very small present from him that would bring a better, if it were in the power of his hand. Lycurgus enjoined his Lacedemonians to offer small sacrifices; for God, said he, respecteth more the internal devotion, than the external oblation.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43. For the poor only a little flour. Compare Lev 4:23; Lev 4:28. All equally forgiven. Compare Lev 4:26, Lev 4:31 and Lev 5:13.
sin offering: and not a minchah, Lev 2:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But if: Lev 5:7
the tenth part: Exo 16:18, Exo 16:36
fine flour: Lev 2:1, Num 7:13, Num 7:19-89, Num 15:4-9
no oil: Lev 2:1, Lev 2:2, Lev 2:4, Lev 2:5, Lev 2:15, Lev 2:16, Num 5:15, Psa 22:1-21, Psa 69:1-21, Isa 53:2-10
for it is: Lev 5:6, Lev 5:9, Lev 5:12, 2Co 5:21
Reciprocal: Exo 30:34 – frankincense Mat 21:12 – doves
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 5:11. The tenth part of an ephah About six pints. He shall put no oil, neither frankincense Either as a fit expression of his sorrow for his sins, in the sense whereof, he was to abstain from things pleasant; or to signify, that by his sins he deserved to be utterly deprived both of the oil of gladness, the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Holy Ghost, and of Gods gracious acceptance of his prayers and sacrifices, which is signified by incense, Psa 141:2.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an {e} ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no {f} oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering.
(e) Which was about a half gallon.
(f) As in the meat offering, Lev 2:1.