The Sin Offering האטח-Hataat (Part 2)

Now although you may probably be thinking that it isn’t possible to get any deeper into the Hatta’at sacrifice, we are going to slice this onion even thinner. In lesson thirty-three, we were taught that this sin offering had a purification objective similar to an antidote for a poison and that there were procedural differences depending on whether the offender was the high priest, the whole congregation, a tribal leader or a common citizen. However, in addition, there is a whole other class of sin that requires the Hatta’at sacrifice. These offenses are classified as being “The Sins of Omission”. In other words, these sins fall under those things that we should have done but didn’t. I guess sins of neglect could be another appropriate translation. Leviticus verses 5:1-13 gives us the following four examples of what constitutes the committing of this particular sin.

1) Withholding Relevant Testimony
Not being forthright at a public hearing in terms of sharing testimony that could be relevant to the conclusion of a case being judged.

2) Contact with Unclean Things
This refers to accidentally coming into contact with an unclean thing and can be divided into the following three categories:

a) the dead body of a wild animal
b) the dead body of a domesticated animal
c) the dead body of a ground-creeping animal such as a snake

3) Human Impurities
The third example of a neglectful sin is human impurity. This could refer to a woman during her menstruation period as well as anybody that touches her during this time. However, the touching of a human corpse is not included because that is a whole other serious matter requiring a whole set of other stringent procedures.

4) Broken Vows or Oaths
Finally, the fourth example is when a vow made in the name of G-d is broken. It does not matter whether the vow was deliberately broken or simply just forgotten. In G-d’s eyes, you are still guilty and need to be purified.

In order to be purified of these particular offenses, an unblemished sheep or goat must be sacrificed. In the event that one cannot afford these animals, two pigeons or doves will suffice. However, if one cannot even afford the prescribed birds, then two quarts of fine flour (semolina) are acceptable.

So again with these sins of omission we are reminded of the multi-faceted nature of sin and the fact that all have to pay for their transgressions, whether rich or poor.

L-rd, please help us to understand the seriousness of sin from Your perspective and come to a much deeper appreciation of what Yeshua accomplished on the cross.

Amen.