Levítico 1:14

14 »Si ofreces un ave como ofrenda quemada al Señor
, elegirás una tórtola o un pichón de paloma.

Levítico 1:14 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 1:14

And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be
of fowls
As it might be for the poorer sort, who could not offer a bullock, nor a sheep, or a lamb, ( Leviticus 5:7 ) ( 12:8 ) :

then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young
pigeons;
the Jewish writers all agree, that the turtles should be old, and not young, as the pigeons young, and not old; so the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, Aben Ezra and Gersom ^F12; the latter gives two reasons for it, because then they are the choicest and easiest to be found and taken: no mention is made of their being male or female, either would do, or of their being perfect and unblemished, as in the other burnt offerings; but if any part was wanting, it was not fit for sacrifice, as Maimonides ^F13 observes. These creatures were proper emblems of Christ, and therefore used in sacrifice, whose voice is compared to the turtle's, and his eyes to the eyes of doves, ( Song of Solomon 2:12 ) ( 5:12 ) and who is fitly represented by them for his meekness and humility, for his chaste and strong affection to his church, as the turtledove to its mate, and for those dove like graces of the Spirit which are in him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Vid. T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 22. 1, 2.
F13 Issure Mizbeach, c. 3. sect. 1, 2. Vid. Misn. Zebachim, c. 7. sect. 5. & Maimon. & Bartenora, in ib.

Levítico 1:14 In-Context

12 Luego cortarás al animal en pedazos, y los sacerdotes acomodarán los pedazos de la ofrenda, junto con la cabeza y la grasa, sobre la leña que arde en el altar.

13 Sin embargo, las vísceras y las patas deben lavarse primero con agua. Después el sacerdote quemará el sacrificio completo sobre el altar como ofrenda quemada. Es una ofrenda especial, un aroma agradable para el Señor
.

14 »Si ofreces un ave como ofrenda quemada al Señor
, elegirás una tórtola o un pichón de paloma.

15 El sacerdote llevará el ave al altar, le arrancará la cabeza y la quemará sobre el altar; pero primero deberá escurrir la sangre y dejarla correr sobre un costado del altar.

16 El sacerdote también debe quitarle el buche y las plumas
, y echarlos en las cenizas al lado oriental del altar.