A grain offering is also in act of worship; it is also for recognition
of God’s goodness and a devotion to him. In this type of sacrifice
grain, fine flour, olive oil, incense, baked breads, and salt are used.
A burnt offering, fellowship offering and a drink offering usually accompany
this type of offering.
A fellowship offering is for worship, thanksgiving and fellowship.
A communal meal is usually also included. With type of offering any
type of animal without defect from a herd or a flock is acceptable.
A sin offering is mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin, confession
and forgiveness of sin, and for cleansing. Different types of animals
are used for this type of offering according to which class you belong
to. For a high priest and congregation a young bull is used.
For a leader a male goat is used. For a common person a female goat
or lamb. A dove or a pigeon for the poor and for the very poor a
tenth of an ephah of fine flour.
A Guilt offering is similar to the sin offering. This type of
offering is mandatory for atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution,
cleansing from defilement, and makes restitution; also a 20% fine needs
to be paid. A ram or lamb is used for this offering.
Each type of offering has its own procedure. As for the priest, with
each sacrifice he does he is to be paid. Receiving a portion of the
animal that is being sacrificed pays him. The priest receives the
breast and right thigh.
A burnt offering is the highest of sacrifices. This sacrifice
is voluntary surrender. It is to the free will offering of Jesus.
This whole offering is to resemble the whole sacrifice Jesus made for us.
The offering remains on the altar hearth through out the night. In
the morning the fire must be keep burning. Then the priest performing
the sacrifice puts on his linen clothes with the linen undergarments next
to his body and then is to remove the ashes of the offering and place them
on the side of the altar. Then has to take off his clothes and put
on others. Then he is to carry out the ashes to outside the camp
to a place that is clean. In the mean time the fire is keep going.
The priest is then supposed to keep the fire going by placing more firewood
on every morning to continue burning the fat of the grain.
In the bible it says that for a grain offering Aaron's sons are to
bring before the Lord in front of the altar a handful of fine flour and
oil, together with incense. Then the altar is to be burnt but only
the memorial portion of it. Then Aaron and his sons are to eat without
yeast in a holy place.
As for a sin offering the animal is to be brought into the Tent of
Meeting before the Lord. The person who is sacrificing the animal
is to place the animal down and lay one hand on its head and with the other
slaughter it.
Then the priest will take some of the bull’s blood and carry it into
the Tent of Meeting and while dipping his fingers in the blood he is to
sprinkle it seven times before the Lord. He will sprinkle it in front
of the curtain of the sanctuary, then on the horns of the altar of fragrant
incense, the rest of the bull’s blood he will pour out at the base of the
altar of burnt offering. Next the priest will remove all of the fat
from the bull. He will also remove the kidneys and liver and burn
them on the altar. Then the priest will take the hide and the flesh
of the bull and bring it outside. There he will burn it on a wood
fire.
The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the north side of the altar,
just as the burnt offering. The blood is to then be sprinkled on
all sides of the altar. All of the fat of the animal is to be offered.
This includes fat of the tail and fat that covers inner parts of the animal,
both kidneys with the fat on them and the covering of the liver.
The priest will burn them on the altar. Those that are allowed to
eat of the offering are any male in the priest’s family, the only condition
is that it has to be eaten in a holy place. The priest is allowed
to keep the hide for himself, this is the same for the burnt offering.
For the fellowship offering is specifically for thanksgiving.
It is to be done along with giving cakes of bread mad without yeast and
mixed with oil wafers made without yeast and spread with oil, and cakes
of fine flour well kneaded and mixed with oil. The priest once receiving
all of this will sprinkle blood. The breads and cakes along with
the meat that is offered are eaten on the day it is offered, and all must
be eaten. If the fellowship offering is given as a free will offering
the only difference is that the food must be eaten on the day it is offered,
however, anything left over can be eaten the next day. Any meat left
over on the third day must be burned. And any that is eaten on the
third day will not be accepted as sacrifice.
Each sacrifice is important. In Ancient Hebrew times sacrificial
practices were looked very highly on. Today there is so much debt
about scientific research on animals, sacrificing an animal is unheard
of in our culture today. As it is written in Hebrews 10:14,
“Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being
made holy.”
Bibliography
Anderson, Gary A. Sacrifices and Offerings in Ancient Israel: Studies in Their Social and Political Importance. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, c1987.
Buckwalter, Douglas. Topical Analysis of the Bible: With the New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, c1991.
Kennett, Robert. Ancient Hebrew Social Life and Custom as Indicated in Law, narrative and Metaphor. Munich: Kraus Reprint, 1980.
Scott, Walter. The Tabernacle: its structure, vessels, coverings, sacrifices and services. London: Alfred Holness; Williamsport, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1920.
Swindoll, Charles R. The Living Insights study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.
Regan, Tom. Animal Sacrifices: Religious perspectives on the use of animals in science. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1986.
Scott, p145
Swindol, p108
Scott, p145-6
Swindol, p108
Scott, p147
Leviticus 6:8-13
Leviticus 6:14-16
Leviticus 4:3-12
Leviticus 7:1-10
Leviticus 7:11-18
Regan, pg 62