Daily Bread

Unacceptable Sacrifices

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁸ “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel^(A)—presents a gift^(B) for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow^(C) or as a freewill offering,^{(D) 19} you must present a male without defect^(E) from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.^{(F) 20} Do not bring anything with a defect,^(G) because it will not be accepted on your behalf.^{(H) 21} When anyone brings from the herd or flock^(I) a fellowship offering^(J) to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,^(K) it must be without defect or blemish^(L) to be acceptable.^{(M) 22} Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. ²³ You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox^[a] or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. ²⁴ You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.^(N) You must not do this in your own land, ²⁵ and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God.^(O) They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.^(P)’”

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁷ “When a calf, a lamb or a goat^(Q) is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days.^(R) From the eighth day^(S) on, it will be acceptable^(T) as a food offering presented to the Lord. ²⁸ Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.^(U)

²⁹ “When you sacrifice a thank offering^(V) to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. ³⁰ It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning.^(W) I am the Lord.^(X)

³¹ “Keep^(Y) my commands and follow them.^(Z) I am the Lord. ³² Do not profane my holy name,^(AA) for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites.^(AB) I am the Lord, who made you holy^{(AC) 33} and who brought you out of Egypt^(AD) to be your God.^(AE) I am the Lord.”