4:1–6:7 Review · Mandatory Sacrifices as Moral Remedies: Two new kinds of mandatory sacrifices protect the holy sphere centered at God’s earthly residence. These are the purification (so-called sin) and reparation (“guilt”) offerings. The purification offering removes defilements caused by sins (4:1–5:13) and by physical conditions (chaps. 12–15) that can affect the state of the sanctuary (15:31; 16:16). The reparation offering remedies various kinds of sacrilege (5:14–6:7).

The Hebrew word for “purification offering” is generally rendered “sin offering” because it is the same as the word for “sin,” which it remedies (e.g., 4:3, 14). This sacrifice does expiate or atone for moral faults involving violation of divine laws, so that the offerer can receive forgiveness (e.g., 4:20, 26, 31, 3…