Leviticus 7, Where were the sacrificial animals killed?

First, from Lev. 7:18, a study of the important word “imputed”: Hebrew chasav, meaning to think, plan, esteem, calculate, make a judgment, count. 

·       In this passage we see that an improper peace offering does not accomplish its purpose; it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be imputed to him.  

·       Also translated “impute” in …

o   Lev. 17:4 (an improper sacrifice will result in the failure of the sacrifice and bloodshed being imputed to that man).

o   2 Sam. 19:19 (Shimei, who had sinned against David, pled for mercy from David, not to impute iniquity to him or remember his wrong).

o   Psalm 32:2 (David said, and Paul quoted him in Rom. 4:7-8, Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity.) 

·       In another form the same term means to be accounted, thought, esteemed, computes, reckoned, imputed.  The first use is Gen. 15:6, of Abraham: And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Now, where were the animals killed for the offerings? And does it matter?

·       Burnt offering:

o   1:3: herd, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting

o   1:11: flock, on the north side of the altar

o   1:15: birds, bring them to the altar and wring it’s neck

·       Peace offering:

o   3:2: herd, door of the tabernacle

o   3:8,13: same place as the burnt offering (north side of the altar)

·       Sin offering:

o   4:4: bull, at the door of the tabernacle

o   4:15: young bull, before the LORD

o   4:24,29: kid of the goats; 4:33: lamb … all the same place as the burnt offering (north of altar)

o   5:8: birds, bring them to the priest

o   5:12: flour, burn a handful on the altar

·       Trespass offering:

o   5:18: ram, not specific.  Bring it to the priest (also 6:6)

6:25 and 7:2 confirm that animals for burnt and sin offerings are offered in the same spot.  The location of the killing is not, apparently, insignificant. 

Why is this important?  Well, to be truthful, it means nothing to many people, who consider it an insignificant detail.  For me, it relates to my time at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem and the location of the crucifixion.  While you may think the actual site of the crucifixion is not important, I would say there are two details God gives in Scripture as to that site.  One is in Gen. 22:14 where Moses says the act that brings salvation (involving God and His Son, as Gen. 22 indicates in the binding of Isaac) will take place in “the mountain of the LORD.”  That mountain is, of course, Moriah (not Zion).  The second detail is that all lambs sacrificed in offerings for sin and atonement (i.e. the burnt, sin and trespass offerings) are killed north of the altar.  EVERY other offering was killed at the door of the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering. 

What I find interesting is that the area of what was called “Skull Hill” fits both those details.  The traditional site at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher fits neither of those details.  Scripture predicts the place of His birth (Bethlehem, Micah 5:2).  Why should we be surprised that God would tell us the place of His death?