The אשׁם (asham-guilt offering) is the fifth qorbanot and is described in Leviticus chapter 5.
He shall also bring his guilt offering [asham] to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin. (Leviticus 5:6)
The KJV translates this as a "trespass offering".
The beginning of the chapter provides some examples of ways that people can become "guilty" [asham] and need a "guilt offering" [asham]:
- A person fails to testify when he hears a public call for witnesses and he is a witness to a matter (Lev 5:1)
- A person who becomes unclean by touching some unclean thing unawares (Lev 5:2)
- A person who becomes unclean by touching human uncleanness unawares and then later becomes aware of it (Lev 5:3)
- A person who makes a rash vow to do something (either evil or good) and he is not paying attention and later becomes aware of it (Lev 5:4)
It is interesting that this is the first offering (indeed the first place in Scripture!) where confession [ידה (yadah)- confess, give thanks] is required:
"So it shall be when he becomes guilty [asham] in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned [chata]. (Leviticus 5:5)
Here are the details of the asham:
Asham | ||||
What is Offered? |
Without Defect? |
Slain By Whom? |
Slain Where? | Entrails? |
A female from the flock, a lamb or a goat- (Lev 5:6) | No mention | The priest- (Lev 5:6) |
No mention | No mention |
Two turtle doves or two pigeons (one for a sin offering [chata'at] and one for a burnt offering [olah])- (Lev 5:7) |
No mention | The priest- (Lev 5:8) |
The same place as a sin offering- (Lev 5:9) |
No mention |
A tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering [chata'at] without oil or incense- (Lev 5:11) |
No mention | The priest- (Lev 5:12) |
The memorial portion is burned up on the altar- (Lev 5:12) |
No mention |
If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD's holy things then the price of a ram in silver shall be brought to the LORD for a guilt offering [asham], plus the 120% of the value of the holy thing- (Lev 5:15) |
Yes- (Lev 5:15) |
The priest- (Lev 5:16) |
No mention | No mention |
If a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, he shall bring the price of a ram from the flock for a guilt offering [asham]- (Lev 5:18) |
Yes- (Lev 5:18) |
The priest- (Lev 5:18) |
No mention | No mention |
Leviticus chapter 6:2-6 provides some additional examples of willful sin:
If a person sins and acts unfaithfully [ma'al] against the LORD and:
- deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him
- or through robbery
- or if he has extorted from his companion
- or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely
- so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do (Lev 6:2-3)
then it shall be when he sins and becomes guilt, that he shall restore:
- what he took by robbery
- or what he got by extortion
- or the deposit which was entrusted to him
- or the lost thing which he found
- or anything about which he swore falsely; (Lev 6:4-5)
and
- he shall make restitution for it in full
- and add a fifth (an additional 20%) to it
- and give it to the person to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt [asham] offering (Lev 6:5)
and
- he shall bring to the priest his asham: the value of a ram without defect (Lev 6:6)
Law for Asham
The "law for asham" is found in Leviticus chapter 7 and includes:
- The asham is to be slain in the place where the olah is slain. (Lev 7:2)
- He (the priest) shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. (Lev 7:2)
- He shall offer these up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire (Lev 7:5)
- its fat,
- the fat tail,
- the fat the covers the entrails (Lev 7:3),
- the two kidneys and the fat that is on them is on the loins,
- the lobe of the liver which is removed with the kidneys (Lev 7:4)
- Every male among the priests may eat of it in a holy place: it is most holy. (Lev 7:6)
- As is a chata'at so is an asham: there is one law for (both of) them. (Lev 7:7)
- The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. (Lev 7:7)