And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.
young men
Exodus 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
burnt offerings
Exodus 18:12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
Leviticus 1:1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
peace offerings
Leviticus 3:1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Leviticus 7:11-21 And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD…
and they offered burnt offerings
Burnt offerings were a common form of sacrifice in ancient Israel, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God. The entire animal was consumed by fire, representing the complete surrender to God's will. This act of offering burnt sacrifices was a way to seek favor and forgiveness from God, emphasizing the seriousness of the covenant being established. Burnt offerings are mentioned throughout the Old Testament, such as in Leviticus 1, where detailed instructions are given.
and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings
Peace offerings, also known as fellowship offerings, were meant to symbolize reconciliation and communion with God. The choice of young bulls indicates the value and significance of the offering, as bulls were considered valuable livestock. Peace offerings were unique in that they were shared between the altar, the priests, and the offerer, symbolizing a communal meal with God. This type of offering is detailed in Leviticus 3 and highlights the relational aspect of worship, pointing to the peace and fellowship believers have with God.
to the LORD
The use of "the LORD" (YHWH) signifies the covenant name of God, emphasizing the personal and relational nature of the covenant being established. This phrase underscores the direct worship and dedication to the God of Israel, distinguishing Him from the pagan deities of surrounding nations. The sacrifices were not just ritualistic acts but were directed towards maintaining a covenant relationship with the one true God. This covenant relationship is foundational throughout the Old Testament and is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate peace offering, reconciling humanity to God.
• “He” is Moses, acting under direct command from the LORD (Exodus 24:3-4).
• The covenant is being ratified, and service is required immediately; since Aaron’s priestly line has not yet been consecrated (that happens in Exodus 28-29), Moses drafts young men—strong, unblemished representatives of the nation.
• Their involvement highlights:
– The corporate nature of the covenant (Exodus 19:5-6).
– A foreshadowing of Israel’s future priesthood, where service is mediated on behalf of all (Numbers 8:14-19).
– Willing obedience that models what God later asks of every believer (Romans 12:1).
• A burnt offering is wholly consumed on the altar; nothing is kept back (Leviticus 1:9).
• It pictures complete consecration and atonement:
– Noah offered one after the flood (Genesis 8:20) and God “smelled the pleasing aroma.”
– Abraham was told to offer Isaac in the same way (Genesis 22:2-13), pointing to substitutionary sacrifice.
– In the New Testament, Christ fulfills the burnt offering’s intent by offering Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:8-10).
• As Israel enters covenant, the burnt offering says, “We belong entirely to You, LORD.”
• Peace (or fellowship) offerings celebrate restored relationship; portions are eaten in a shared meal (Leviticus 3; 7:11-21).
• Young bulls underscore value and strength—nothing cheap is presented to the King (2 Samuel 24:24).
• The blood is about to be sprinkled (Exodus 24:8), sealing the covenant with life itself (Leviticus 17:11).
• Peace offerings create:
– Thanksgiving for God’s deliverance (Leviticus 7:12-15).
– Communion between God and His people, anticipating the meal the elders will share in His presence (Exodus 24:11) and pointing ahead to the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 10:16).
– A preview of the peace won through Christ, “having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1).
Moses commissions young men to act on Israel’s behalf, showing that covenant obedience involves every generation. The burnt offerings proclaim total surrender and atonement; the peace offerings celebrate restored fellowship and shared joy with God. Together they declare that entering into covenant with the LORD means giving Him everything and receiving His peace in return, truths ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
(5) Young men . . . which offered burnt offerings.--It is to be noted that, even subsequently to the appointment of the Levitical priesthood, the acts of slaughtering the victims and arranging the flesh upon the altar were regarded as appropriately per formed by any Israelite (Leviticus 1:5-6; Leviticus 1:11-12, &c). The sprinkling of the blood and the lighting of the fire were the special sacrificial acts reserved to the priest (Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 1:7; Leviticus 1:11; Leviticus 1:13). At this time, before the Levitical priest hood had been instituted, the sprinkling of the blood would seem to have been the sole act reserved. Young men were employed to slay the animals as best qualified by their strength to deal with them. . . . Verse 5. - And he sent young men. The Levitical priesthood not being as vet instituted, either all the people were regarded as holy, and so any one might offer sacrifice, or the "young men" selected may have been of the number of the first-born, who were priests in their respective families until the appointment of Aaron and his sons to be priests of the nation (Exodus 28:1). No doubt young men were selected as most competent to deal with struggling animals.