Read Leviticus 7-8 at Bible Gateway.
So far I have found three chiastic structures in the first seven chapters of Leviticus, and all of their central axis’ have Messianic significance:
Lev 1:1-7:38
1A: Lev 1:1-2:16, The law of the burnt offering + grain offering;
1B: Lev 3:1-16a, The law of the peace offering;
1C: Lev 3:16b-17, You shall eat neither fat nor blood;
1D: Lev 4:1-6:23, The law of the offerings + grain offering that must not be eaten;
–> a) Lev 4:1-35, The law of the sin offering;
–> b) Lev 5:1-6:7, The law of the trespass offering;
–> c) Lev 6:8-18, The law of the burnt offering + grain offerings;
–> d) Lev 6:19-23, The law of the perpetual grain offering that must not be eaten;
CENTRAL AXIS: Lev 6:24, “Also the LORD spoke to Moses, saying;”
2D: Lev 6:25-7:21, The law of the offerings + the peace offering that must be eaten;
–> a) Lev 6:25-30, The law of the sin offering;
–> b) Lev 7:1-7, The law of the trespass offering;
–> c) Lev 7:8-10, What is the priests’ of the burnt offering + grain offerings;
–> d) Lev 7:11-21, The law of the peace offering that must be eaten;
2C: Lev 7:22-27, You shall not eat the fat or the blood;
2B: Lev 7:28-36, The law of the peace offering;
2A: Lev 7:37-38, The law of the offerings.
The end of Lev 7:38 is the end of the law of the offerings. So in other words, all of the law of the offerings, or sacrifices, has at its heart, “YHVH spoke to Moses,” an unusual central axis. What YHVH spoke is His word which proceeded from His heart (Mat 12:34). His Word is what became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth (Joh 1:14). The heart of the law of the offerings is Messiah. What YHVH spoke to Moses, became flesh in order to be offered up as an offering according to the law of the offerings.
Lev 3:6-4:35
1A: Lev 3:6-11, The law of the peace offering of the flock;
1B: Lev 3:12-17, The law of the peace offering of the goats;
1C: Lev 4:1-10, The law of the sin offering of the herd when the priest sins unintentionally;
1D: Lev 4:11-12a, The whole bull shall be taken outside the camp where the ashes are poured out;
CENTRAL AXIS: Lev 4:12b, “and burn it on wood with fire;”
2D: Lev 4:12c, Where the ashes are poured out the bull shall be burned;
2C: Lev 4:13-21, The law of the sin offering of the herd when the congregation sins unintentionally;
2B: Lev 4:22-32, The law of the sin offering of the goats;
2A: Lev 4:32-35, The law of the sin offering of the flock.
Another unusual central axis! In fact, the chiastic structure could be expanded, so that in the D pairs, the bulls are paired, the ashes are paired, and in Lev 4:12, “burn it” becomes paired with “with fire”, leaving the two words “on wood” as the central axis. This is prophesying that Messiah as the sin sacrifice will be sacrificed on wood – on the cross.
Lev 7:11-38
1A: Lev 7:11, This is the law of the peace offering;
1B: Lev 7:12-14, The heave offering of the grain of the peace offering;
CENTRAL AXIS: Lev 7:15-27, That which cuts off;
2B: Lev 7:28-36, The wave and heave offering of the peace offering;
2A: Lev 7:37-38, This is the law of the burnt offering, etc.
In the central axis, while eating the sacrifice on the third day does not cut one off from Israel, the third day is belabored in verses 16-18. The third day – a sign of the Messiah. Then in verses 19-27, the three things that cut one off from Israel are explained: 1) eating the peace offering while unclean; 2) eating the fat; 3) eating the blood. Three – a sign of the Messiah:
“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;” Dan 9:26
That within the law of the sacrifices, there are three chiastic structures with three central axis’ which reveal Messiah as the sacrifice for sin, bearing in Himself the cutting off of His people, is also a sign of Messiah!
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