The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Leviticus 5:18 – Who Does the Ram Reach? Solving Leviticus 5's Sacrifice Puzzle

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Episode 185 examines the apparent contradiction in Leviticus 5 about bringing a guilt offering "to the Lord" versus "to the priest," showing how the priest functions as God’s appointed representative who facilitates atonement, restitution, and reconciliation.

The episode traces the ritual’s purpose, its theological meaning, and its fulfillment in Christ, and offers practical takeaways about restoration, mediation, and trusting Scripture’s harmony.

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  1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI 
  2. Stiles, Wayne. "Offerings in Leviticus—What They Were and Why They Mattered." https://www.waynestiles.com/blog/offerings-in-leviticus-what-they-were-and-why-they-mattered/
  3. Dunham, Kyle C. "The Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering of the Levitical Cult: Their Occasion, Nature, and Distinction." Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2025. https://dbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Sin-Offering-and-the-Guilt-Offering-of-the-Levitical-Cult-by-Kyle-C-Dunham.pdf
  4. Watts, James W. "Leviticus’ Rhetorical Presentation of the Sin and Guilt Offerings." TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/leviticus-rhetorical-presentation-of-the-sin-and-guilt-offerings
  5. Watts, James W. "The Historical and Literary Contexts of the Sin and Guilt Offerings." In Syracuse University Surface Repository, 2006. https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=rel
  6. Gane, Roy E. "Sacrifice and the Old Testament." St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology. https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/SacrificeandtheOldTestament
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