Leviticus 5:15-16 - Exposition

Refer to sins of omission, offenses in the holy things of the Lord ; that is, withholding tithes and offerings. The non-payment of tithes and offerings was looked upon as robbing Jehovah ( Malachi 3:8 ), and therefore it is that a trespass offering, involving compensation, and not only a sin offering, is required to atone for the offense. The ram that is to be offered is to be of a value fixed by the priest ( with thy estimation , i.e; according to the estimation of the priest), and the priest is to estimate it by shekels of silver ; implying that its value must amount at least to shekels (in the plural), meaning two shekels (see Ezekiel 47:13 , where "portions" means "more than one portion," i.e; "two portions"). The shekel is considered to be equal to 2s. 7d. The shekel of the sanctuary means the shekel according to its exact weight and value, while still unworn by traffic and daily use. Beside offering the rain, he is to make amends for the harm (or rather sin ) that he hath clone in the holy thing, and.. . add the fifth part. The fifth part is probably appointed as being the same as two-tenths of the principal sum. Full satisfaction is the marked feature of the trespass offering. In Luke 19:8 , "Zacchaeus stood, and said,… Behold, Lord,… if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore fourfold." He went far beyond his legal obligation in respect to compensation. (Cf. 2 Samuel 12:6 , "He shall restore the lamb fourfold.")