Leviticus 5:7-13

Concessions to Poverty in the case of sin offerings. This section takes up the last verses in Leviticus 4. (Guilt offering in Leviticus 5:7 should be sin offering as is shown by Leviticus 5:8 f.) If the offerer cannot afford a lamb, two turtle doves or young pigeons may be offered. Only one of these is properly a sin offering; but another, for a burnt offering, has to be given as well, as one would hardly be enough. Part of the blood is sprinkled on the side of the altar, part poured out at the base (cf. Leviticus 4:7). If not even this can be afforded, a small meal offering will be accepted as a sin offering. A tenth of an ephah would form about 6½ pints. Oil and frankincense are the natural accompaniments, as in Leviticus 2:15. These concessions are doubtless because the sin is of an unwitting character. Whether the offerer or the priests is to decide as to the kind of victim, is not stated.