The Trespass Offering

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Chapter 5 describes the fifth offering. It was called the Trespass or Guilt Offering. Three examples of such a sin are given.

1. Refusing to give testimony of known evidence.
2. Touching anything "unclean", i.e. the body of a dead animal or human discharge of any kind.
3. The making of a vow in haste, either good or evil.

If someone is guilty of one of these sins, they must confess the sin and bring a guilt offering to the Lord.

Three alternative sacrifices were allowed:

1. A female lamb or goat.
2. Two turtledoves or two young pigeons. (Luke 2:22-24)
3. A tenth of an ephah of fine flour. (An ephah = a little more than a bushel)

Any one of these three offerings could be used by the Priest to bring atonement for the sinner. Whatever was left over was given to Aaron and his sons.

The last part of the chapter deals with the sin of a person "breaking faith" either with another person or with the Lord. They must bring to the Tabernacle a ram without blemish as a sin offering and make restitution to the person and one fifth of the value of the restitution must be given to the Priest. Then the Priest will make atonement for the sinner. Should a person break faith with the Lord, i.e. breaking a vow or commitment to Him, he shall bring a ram without blemish and the Priest shall offer it to the Lord as a sacrifice for the atonement of the man's sins.

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