The Sanctity of Blood

17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying: 3 “Whatever man of the house of Israel who akills an ox or lamb or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, the guilt of bloodshed shall be bimputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be 1cut off from among his people, 5 to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices cwhich they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to the priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 And the priest dshall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and eburn the fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices fto 2demons, after whom they ghave played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.” ’

8 “Also you shall say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, hwho offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and does not ibring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be 3cut off from among his people.

10 j‘And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, kI will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the llife of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar mto make atonement for your souls; for nit is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’

13 “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who ohunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall ppour out its blood and qcover it with dust; 14 rfor it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’

15 s“And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, the shall both wash his clothes and ubathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then vhe shall bear his 4guilt.”