There goes the neighborhood

Reading Numbers 7. Israelite leaders bringing their offerings for the dedication of the altar. Over 12 days, they brought:

Grain Offering
12 silver plates
12 silver sprinkling bowls
12 gold dishes
Burnt Offering
12 young bulls
12 rams
12 male rams
Sin Offering
12 male goats
Fellowship Offering
24 oxen
60 rams
60 male goats
60 male lambs a year old

12 days mind you. Whoa. I'm thinking they didn't have a zoo back then. Plus, you had all the female goats and lambs walking around going, "Now, what do we do?"

Interesting. That's a lot of work. Plus I'm thinking that place kind of smelled.

Unintentionally

In raising children, I find myself defining wrongdoing with my kids by showing them what happens when a standard is violated.

In my quest to read the bible through in a year, I pour through the details of the various offerings denoted at the beginning of Leviticus. The reasons and then the procedure of offerings (sin, peace, meal, burnt) are spelled out.

In talking about the sin offering I came across a phrase in Leviticus 4 that reminded me and surprised me.

In verse 2
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them,
Verse 3
...then let him offer to the Lord a bull without a defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

Wow. Unintentionally. I don't recall using these words with the kids. There seem to be enough wrongs committed intentionally or so it appears. But, do I ever enforce restitution for the unintentional sins? Often we hear the phrase, "I didn't mean to." That pretty much sums it up.