D. The Sin Offering (4:1-5:13)

The Hebrew term for the sin offering, (ḥaṭṭā't̠) , is derived from the root (ḥāṭā'), which means “fail, sin.” The purpose of the sin offering was to expiate the unintentional sin of the offerer. There is no provision in the sacrificial system for the atonement of sins committed knowingly (cf. Nu 15:30-31).

The regulation for a sin offering is divided as follows: (1) introduction (4:1-2), (2) ritual for purification of an anointed priest who sins unintentionally (vv.3-12), (3) for the whole community (vv.13-21), (4) for a leader (vv.22-26), (5) for an individual (vv.27-35), (6) four cases requiring a sin offering (5:1-6), (7) alternative sin offerings (vv.7-13).

Rituals for the sin offering are almost identical to those of the burnt offering. In cases of the offering of the anointed priest and the congregation, blood is sprinkled before the veil as well as dabbed on the horns of the altar and against the altar. The special handling of the blood is to expiate a specific sin. The ritual achieves expiation, but God in his sovereign freedom pronounces that “he will be forgiven.” The one major difference is that only the fat tissues are burned on the altar; the remainder of the animal is burned outside the camp (4:8-12).