Then take all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. The internal fat, the liver lobe, and the kidneys are the portions of the sin offering that are burned on the altar — the same portions that Leviticus 3 and 4 consistently describe as the parts that belong to God. The burning of the internal organs — the seat of life and emotion in ancient anthropology — represents the offering of the most vital, most personal parts of the sacrifice. The internal fat around the organs is the richest part of the animal; giving the richest to God is the principle of firstfruits applied to the sacrifice's own body.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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