Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 7:34
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel.
The breast or heart is the seat of wisdom, and the
shoulder of strength for action, and these two may denote that wisdom and virtue or power which was in Christ our High Priest, 1Co 1:24, and which ought to be in every priest.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel,…. These two parts were particularly pitched upon and selected:
from off the sacrifices of their peace offering; the rest being allowed the owners, besides what were burnt:
and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons, by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel; as long as the priesthood lasted, even to the coming of the Messiah, in whom all these sacrifices would have their accomplishment and their end.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The wave-breast and heave-leg Jehovah had taken of the children of Israel, from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings: i.e., had imposed it upon them as tribute, and had given them to Aaron and his sons, i.e., to the priests, “as a statute for ever,” – in other words, as a right which they could claim of the Israelites for all ages (cf. Exo 27:21). – With Lev 7:35, Lev 7:36, the instructions concerning the peace-offerings are brought to a close. “ This (the wave-breast and heave-leg) is the share of Aaron and his sons from the firings of Jehovah in the day (i.e., which Jehovah assigned to them in the day) when He caused them to draw near to become priests to Jehovah, ” i.e., according to the explanation in Lev 7:36, “ in the day of their anointing. ” The word in Lev 7:35, like in Num 18:8, signifies not “ anointing,” but share, portio , literally a measuring off, as in Aramaean and Arabic, from to stroke the hand over anything, to measure, or measure off.
The fulness with which every point in the sacrificial meal is laid down, helps to confirm the significance of the peace-offerings, as already implied in the name sacrificial slaughtering, slain-offering, viz., as indicating that they were intended for, and culminated in a liturgical meal. By placing his hand upon the head of the animal, which had been brought to the altar of Jehovah for the purpose, the offerer signified that with this gift, which served to nourish and strengthen his own life, he gave up the substance of his life to the Lord, that he might thereby be strengthened both body and soul for a holy walk and conversation. To this end he slaughtered the victim and had the blood sprinkled by the priest against the altar, and the fat portions burned upon it, that in these altar-gifts his soul and his inner man might be grounded afresh in the gracious fellowship of the Lord. He then handed over the breast-piece by the process of waving, also the right leg, and a sacrificial cake of each kind, as a heave-offering from the whole to the Lord, who transferred these portions to the priests as His servants, that they might take part as His representatives in the sacrificial meal. In consequence of this participation of the priests, the feast, which the offerer of the sacrifice prepared for himself and his family from the rest of the flesh, became a holy covenant meal, a meal of love and joy, which represented domestic fellowship with the Lord, and thus shadowed forth, on the one hand, rejoicing before the Lord (Deu 12:12, Deu 12:18), and on the other, the blessedness of eating and drinking in the kingdom of God (Luk 13:15; Luk 22:30). Through the fact that one portion was given up to the Lord, the earthly food was sanctified as a symbol of the true spiritual food, with which the Lord satisfies and refreshes the citizens of His kingdom. This religious aspect of the sacrificial meal will explain the instructions given, viz., that not only the flesh itself, but those who took part in the meal, were all to be clean, and that whatever remained of the flesh was to be burned, on the second or third day respectively, that it might not pass into a state of decomposition. The burning took place a day earlier in the case of the praise-offering than in that of the vow and freewill-offerings, of which the offerer was allowed a longer enjoyment, because they were the products of his own spontaneity, which covered any defect that might attach to the gift itself.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(34) By a statute for ever.That is, the statute that these two parts of the peace offering are to be given to Aaron and his descendants who may officiate at this sacrifice, is binding upon the Israelites as long as the priesthood lasts.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 7:34. For the wave-breast, &c. See 1Co 9:13-14. The equity of this law remains for ever: they who minister at the altar certainly ought to live by the altar. And they who honour God will have a regard about the becoming maintenance of his ministers, and share their morsel with them. We may also observe here, that the Lord’s supper is a feast upon a sacrifice, or rather in commemoration of a sacrifice where blood has been shed; and a feast of mercies provided for ministers and people. Let us then together often keep the feast.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Lev 7:34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
Ver. 34. For the wave-breast, and the heaveshoulder. ] This might further signify, saith one, that Christ Jesus heaved up for us both breast and shoulder – that is, wisdom and strength to all his elect priesthood, whose portion he is. 1Co 1:30 Or it might note, saith another, that ministers should both take care (figured by the breast) and pains (signified by the shoulder). And therefore the high priest did to that end wear the names of the tribes upon his shoulders and upon his breast.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
See notes on verses: Lev 7:30, Lev 7:32.
for ever: i.e. as long as the priesthood lasts.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the wave: Lev 7:30-32, Lev 10:14, Lev 10:15, Exo 29:28, Num 18:18, Num 18:19, Deu 18:3
by a statute: Lev 3:17, Exo 29:9
Reciprocal: Lev 7:31 – the breast Lev 7:32 – General Num 6:20 – with the wave 1Sa 2:14 – all that the fleshhook 1Sa 2:28 – did I give
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 7:34. The wave-breast, and the heave-shoulder Hebrew, The breast of elevation, and the shoulder of exaltation; that is, those parts which are consecrated to me by lifting, or heaving them up toward heaven. The breast or heart is the seat of wisdom; and the shoulder, of strength for action; and these two may denote that wisdom and power which were in Christ our High-Priest, and which ought to be in every priest. They also signify that God is to be served with all our heart, mind, and strength. By a statute for ever An ordinance to continue so long as the law of sacrifice should remain. And the equity of it remains still; for as they who waited at the altar were partakers with the altar, even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel, 1Co 9:13-14. In other words, the ministers of Christ, who devote their time and labours to his service and that of the public, have a right to be maintained by the public.