We begin reading the book of Leviticus today. Leviticus was primarily written to clarify God's law of worship and sacrifices. The priestly tribe in the Old Testament was Levi and the name of this book is derived from their family name. Notice the number of different types of offerings and sacrifices. Each had special significance.
Notice in Chapter 4 that the blood from sin and guilt offerings was used in the Holy Place, which was the outer room in the Tabernacle (the inner room or "Holy of Holies" was where only the High Priest went and only on the Day of Atonement). This is comparable to the room which Zechariah entered in the Jerusalem Temple when he met the angel that told him that he and Elizabeth would have a son (John the Baptist). The priests entered the Holy Place regularly to bring the sacrifices.
The blood of sin and guilt offerings was sprinkled seven times before the curtain that separated the two rooms. That curtain -- or veil -- was what tore in half from top to bottom as Christ died on the cross. Seven is the number representing completeness in Scripture (7 days = 1 complete week). The seven sprinkles represented a "complete" covering by the blood. (Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission -- Hebrews 9:22). Then a dab of blood was smeared on the horns of the incense altar to "cover" it. Finally, the rest was poured out to run off to a designated place.
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