The Slaughter of Animals

17:1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 17:2 “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites, and tell them: ‘This is the word that the Lord has commanded: 17:3 “Blood guilt1 will be accounted to any man2 from the house of Israel3 who slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat inside the camp or outside the camp,4 17:4 but has not brought it to the entrance of the Meeting Tent5 to present it as6 an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord. He has shed blood, so that man will be cut off from the midst of his people.7 17:5 This is so that8 the Israelites will bring their sacrifices that they are sacrificing in the open field9 to the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent to the priest and sacrifice them there as peace offering sacrifices to the Lord. 17:6 The priest is to splash10 the blood on the altar11 of the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and offer the fat up in smoke for a soothing aroma to the Lord. 17:7 So they must no longer offer12 their sacrifices to the goat demons,13 acting like prostitutes by going after them.14 This is to be a perpetual statute for them throughout their generations.15

17:8 “You are to say to them: ‘Any man16 from the house of Israel or17 from the foreigners who reside18 in their19 midst, who offers20 a burnt offering or a sacrifice 17:9 but does not bring it to the entrance of the Meeting Tent to offer it21 to the Lord—that person will be cut off from his people.22