You’re a priest

And you are perfect

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it. Let’s see where this takes us!

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Leviticus 21

I had to look up the meaning of “defile,” which I thought I knew. I’m guessing from context that to touch a dead body would be to make a priest “unclean” or “defiled.” Or perhaps it means, or also means, that a priest can only “let himself go” or neglect personal cleanliness routines, only to mourn nearest kin.

The priests “shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the Lord’s offerings by fire, the food of their God; therefore they shall be holy.”

What are we to make of this? That this entity called The LORD is “fed” by the aroma of the burnt animal? Is this part of the distinction between the “clean” and “unclean” animals?

Also, whereas the other offerings are “cooked” for consumption, the “burnt offering” is entirely consumed by fire. Is it the burnt smell that the entity “feeds” on? It’s possible; maybe certain aromas give the LORD energy while others (from “unclean” animals) are…