13 ' Now if the whole congregation of Israel commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly , and they commit any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done , and they become guilty ; 14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known , then the assembly shall offer a bull of the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting . 15 'Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord , and the bull shall be slain before the Lord . 16 'Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of meeting ; 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord , in front of the veil . 18 'He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the Lord in the tent of meeting ; and all the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at the doorway of the tent of meeting . 19 ' He shall remove all its fat from it and offer it up in smoke on the altar . 20 'He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering ; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven . 21 'Then he is to bring out the bull to a place outside e the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull ; it is the sin offering for the assembly .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21
Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21
(Read Leviticus 4:13-21)
If the leaders of the people, through mistake, caused them to err, an offering must be brought, that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation. When sacrifices were offered, the persons, on whose behalf they were devoted, were to lay their hands on the heads of the victims, and to confess their sins. The elders were to do so, when the sacrifices were offered for the whole congregation. The load of sin was supposed then to be borne by the guiltless animal. When the offering is completed, it is said, atonement is made, and the sin shall be forgiven. The saving of churches and kingdoms from ruin, is owing to the satisfaction and mediation of Christ.