Outside the Camp מִח֨וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה

We are in chapter four of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. מִח֨וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה outside the camp. It is used 27 times in the Old Testament, twice times in our chapter. We find our phrase used to identify where Moses set up the tent of meeting. Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה outside the camp. We also find our phrase used to describe what is to be done with the ashes from the burnt offering. Leviticus 6:9-11 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה outside the camp to a clean place. Our phrase is used to identify where Nadab and Abihu’s bodies were to be taken after they sinned against God by offering unauthorized fire before the Lord as priests. Leviticus 10:4-5 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה out of the camp.” So they came near and carried them in their coats מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה out of the camp, as Moses had said. We see the same thing with the one who cursed and was stoned (Leviticus 24:14, 23). Our phrase is used to describe where those with leprosy were to live. Leviticus 13:46 He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה outside the camp (Leviticus 14:3; Numbers 12:14-15). Our phrase is used to describe what is to be done with the remains of the sin offering. This is how it is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 4:11-12, 21 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung— all the rest of the bull—he shall carry מִח֨וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up … And he shall carry the bull מִחוּץ֙ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly. The Holy Spirit connects this idea of the sin offering taken outside the camp with Christ who is our sin offering. I’ll close with this great passage. Hebrews 13:19-15 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.