Lev 14:5-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 14:5-7: 14:5-7 Killing the bird and sprinkling its blood (14:7 ) reflects Exod 24:6-8 , where all of Israel was sprinkled with blood to establish the people as God’s covenant community. Here the individual was cleansed by being sprinkled with blood and allowed to return to community membership. Fresh water was also used in cleansing ceremonies (Num 8:7 ) and in sacrifice preparation (Lev 1:9 , 13 ).

a14:5-7►

b14:7►

cExod 24:6-8►

dNum 8:7►

eLev 1:9►

f13►

g14:7►

h16:10►

i20-22►

‏ Leviticus 14:5-7

Summary for Lev 14:5-7: 14:5-7 ^a Killing the bird and sprinkling its blood (14:7 ^b) reflects Exod 24:6-8 ^c, where all of Israel was sprinkled with blood to establish the people as God’s covenant community. Here the individual was cleansed by being sprinkled with blood and allowed to return to community membership. Fresh water was also used in cleansing ceremonies (Num 8:7 ^d) and in sacrifice preparation (Lev 1:9 ^e, 13 ^f).
14:7 ^g Just as the goat released to Azazel symbolized the removal of sin from the community on the Day of Atonement (16:10 ^h, 20-22 ⁱ), the release of the live bird symbolized the removal of the individual’s uncleanness.