Leviticus (10) Reparation Offering (asam)

The fourth offering described in Leviticus 5:14-6:7 is the Reparation Offering. The Hebrew word used is “asam”, which means guilt, but can also mean reparation or compensation. Leviticus specifies the situations in which it applies.

The first set of sins that need reparation are sins done with mistaken understanding. They intended to take the action, but the consequences were unintended. This is why the sinner is liable to God. These sins are less serious than many, but slightly more serious than the ones dealt with by the Decontamination Offering. The latter were done without intention, so there is no guilt. These sins bring liablility, because they were deliberate actions, although the consequences were not foreseen.

• A person fails to testify in support of someone about a vow that he has heard, assuming his/her witness is not important(Lev 5:1). He carries waywardness.

• A person touches an unclean taboo animal or corpse and gets contaminated without being aware of it. When he comes to know it, he is liable to God (Lev 5:2).

• A person touches something human that is unclean and becomes contaminated without being aware of it. When he comes to know it, he is liable to God (Lev 5:3).

• A person swears an oath thoughtlessly without understanding the seriousness of their commitment. If they are unable to honour it, they are liable to God (Lev 5:4).

The person who commits these is “liable” to God. The word liable is a financial term. There is a debt to God that must be repaid (Lev 5:19). The debt is incurred because the person has contaminated the tabernacle, where God dwells.

The person who is guilty of these sins must confess their fault (Lev 5:5). Repentance and confession are sufficient to cleanse the person. Leviticus promises that they will be forgiven (Lev 5:10,11).

With are related set of sins, the sinner has the option of making payment by way of reparation.

• A breach of the regulations for the holy things of Yahweh (Lev 5:14). He has to make a Reparation Offering because his sin has contaminated the tabernacle.

• When a commandment is violated without knowing it, but this is discovered afterwards (Lev 5:17).

• When a person deceives a fellow citizen regarding something held in trust, a pledge, something stolen or extorted, or something found and swears falsely that he has not found it(Lev 6:2-3). In these cases, the sinner is liable to another person. They thief must make repayment to the person to who the person to whom it belongs. He must pay the total value of the object and add one-fifth to it (Lev 6:5). The person also had to make a Reparation Offering because his sin has contaminated God’s home (Lev 6:7).

• When a person sleeps with another man’s maid servant who has not been redeemed or set free, in addition to setting her free, he must make a Reparation Offering because he has contaminated the tabernacle (Lev 19:20-22). The woman is not punished because she was not free.

The person who has liability to God can make a financial donation to the tabernacle that is of equivalent value to the animal for the Reparation Offering as repentance. He also had to make a reparation offering because his sin had contaminated God’s home (Lev 6:7).

The process is similar to the Decontamination Offering. The purpose of both offerings is to cleanse the tabernacle.

The Reparation Offering has four purposes.

• A person gets to confess their sins. This offering only deals with sins with unintended consequences.

• The offering is an expression of worship to God by burning fat for a sweet smell; ie as an Ascending Offering.

• The offering provides food for the priests.

• The blood poured out on the ground by the altar provides spiritual protection against the spiritual powers of evil.