Leviticus Chapter 5 outlines laws concerning various sins and the required offerings for atonement, focusing on unintentional sins and specific offenses. It details four main scenarios:
- Failure to Testify: If someone fails to speak up as a witness to something they have seen or know, they bear guilt and must confess, offering a female lamb or goat as a sin offering. If they cannot afford this, two turtledoves or pigeons (one for a sin offering, one for a burnt offering) suffice, or, as a last resort, a tenth of an ephah of fine flour without oil or incense.
- Unintentional Contact with Unclean Things: Touching unclean animals, carcasses, or human uncleanness unknowingly incurs guilt. Once recognized, the person must confess and offer the same range of sin offerings as above.
- Careless Oaths: If someone makes a rash oath, whether for good or evil, and realizes their guilt, they must confess and present the same offerings.
- Sins Against Holy Things or Deceit: If someone unintentionally mishandles holy things or commits deceit (e.g., theft, false swearing, or withholding property), they must offer a ram without blemish as a guilt offering, along with restitution plus a fifth of the value for wrongs committed.
The chapter emphasizes confession, restitution, and atonement through sacrifices, tailored to the individual’s financial means, to restore their relationship with God. It underscores God’s provision for forgiveness and the importance of addressing both intentional and unintentional sins.