Slaughter offering
Encyclopedia
A sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible (Hebrew zevakh is the slaughter of an animal to God followed by a feast or a meal. This is distinguished from the korban
sacrifice, and oblation
(Hebrew minchah).
A common subcategory of this is the peace offering (Hebrew: Zevaḥ shelamim), which is sometimes shortened to peace offering (Hebrew: shelamim), but although shelamim is usually translated into English
as peace-offering, it more accurately means also health and prosperity.
means "to slaughter," and in the Piel means "to sacrifice." The term "peace offering" (Hebrew zevah hashelamiym זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים ) is constructed from "offering" zevah and the plural of shelem.
Slaughter offerings were also made in response to the ratification of solemn covenants
, treaties, and alliances
.
s, are explicitly identified by the Biblical text as being used for slaughter offerings, but unlike other types of sacrifice, there was no rigid insistence that the animal be unblemished, or on the gender
of the animal.
The fat of the animal was the portion allocated to the deity, and was burnt on the altar; the priests were allocated the breast and right shoulder, which was first waved around the altar (making this portion a wave offering); the remainder went to the offerer. The meat had to be consumed within a certain time limit; for praise offerings it had to be consumed on the day of the sacrifice, while for the other types of slaughter offering it had to be consumed by the day afterward; any leftovers had to be destroyed on the third day, outside the camp. The offerer was permitted to invite guests to consume the meal with him, along with strangers, paupers
, servants, and Levites, as long as they were all ritually clean. The meals were treated as a joyful occasion, and would be accompanied with wine, as well as bread (both leavened and unleavened), oil, and salt
.
However, what is generally considered the most likely explanation, is that sacrifice-of-peace offerings simply originated as meals, the consumption of which directly improved health (as opposed to starvation), and hence indirectly improved prosperity (shelamim being understood to mean prosperity/health). When sanctuaries outside Jerusalem began to be suppressed, and eventually outlawed by Josiah
, the impracticality of going to Jerusalem to sacrifice an animal simply to consume meat, led to killing an animal for food
gaining an independent existence from the sacrifice-of-peace offering.
The concentration of these sacrifices, the main offering given by private individuals, at a single sanctuary evidently resulted in such large numbers of offers that the space on the north side of the altar, where the animals were killed in the other types of sacrifices, became cramped, hence the specific permit for sacrifice-of-peace offerings were to be killed anywhere within the sanctuary courtyard. How exactly a portion of the resulting meat was given to God appears to have varied; though the regulations of the Priestly Code
point to God's portion being burnt on the altar, Gideon
is described in the Book of Judges
, a text which textual scholars
believe has a much earlier date than Leviticus, as pouring out broth
, made from the meat of the sacrifice, as a libation
.
Korban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
sacrifice, and oblation
Oblation
Oblation, an offering , a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God.-Bible usage:...
(Hebrew minchah).
A common subcategory of this is the peace offering (Hebrew: Zevaḥ shelamim), which is sometimes shortened to peace offering (Hebrew: shelamim), but although shelamim is usually translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as peace-offering, it more accurately means also health and prosperity.
Etymology
The Hebrew noun "sacrifice" zevakh is derived from the semitic root Z-V-H and verb zavakh (זָבַח) which in the QalQal
Qal can refer to:* Gal, Azerbaijan* Qal , simple form of a Hebrew verb...
means "to slaughter," and in the Piel means "to sacrifice." The term "peace offering" (Hebrew zevah hashelamiym זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים ) is constructed from "offering" zevah and the plural of shelem.
Types and occasions
There are three different subdivisions of slaughter offering:- Thank offeringThank offeringThe thank offering or sacrifice of thanksgiving was an optional offering under the Law of Moses...
(Hebrew todah) - made in response to an unexpected positive change in circumstance - Votive offering - made in response to a positive change in circumstance, when a vowVowA vow is a promise or oath.-Marriage vows:Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony. Marriage customs have developed over history and keep changing as human society develops...
in hope of such a change had previously been made - Free-will offering - more spontaneous slaughter offerings
Slaughter offerings were also made in response to the ratification of solemn covenants
Covenant (historical)
In a historical context, a covenant applies to formal promises that were made under oath, or in less remote history, agreements in which the name actually uses the term 'covenant', implying that they were binding for all time...
, treaties, and alliances
Alliances
Alliances may refer to:* The plural of alliance, an agreement between two or more parties* Airline alliances, agreements between two or more airlines to cooperate on a substantial level...
.
Ritual
As the meal resulting from a slaughter offering was seen as holy, the guests were required to change their garments if possible; impurity would have excluded them from participation. Sometimes festive garments, which were seen as having sanctity, were borrowed for this purpose from the priests, and rings, having the significance of amulets, were worn in honour of the deity. Like the other types of sacrifice, the act began with the imposition of the offerer's hands onto the sacrificial animal, which would then be killed, and its blood collected and sprinkled upon the altar; however, slaughter offerings could be killed anywhere within the Temple Courtyard, not only on the north side of the altar. Oxen, sheep, and goatGoat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s, are explicitly identified by the Biblical text as being used for slaughter offerings, but unlike other types of sacrifice, there was no rigid insistence that the animal be unblemished, or on the gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
of the animal.
The fat of the animal was the portion allocated to the deity, and was burnt on the altar; the priests were allocated the breast and right shoulder, which was first waved around the altar (making this portion a wave offering); the remainder went to the offerer. The meat had to be consumed within a certain time limit; for praise offerings it had to be consumed on the day of the sacrifice, while for the other types of slaughter offering it had to be consumed by the day afterward; any leftovers had to be destroyed on the third day, outside the camp. The offerer was permitted to invite guests to consume the meal with him, along with strangers, paupers
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, servants, and Levites, as long as they were all ritually clean. The meals were treated as a joyful occasion, and would be accompanied with wine, as well as bread (both leavened and unleavened), oil, and salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
.
Origin
Exactly what the term peace (in sacrifice-of-peace offering) refers to is a matter of debate, as is whether the deity was seen as a guest at the meal or as the host. Some scholars hold that the sacrifice-of-peace offering was a covenant of friendship expressing community between God and the people, and among the people themselves; that these groups were at peace with one another. Others claim that it is an attempt to balance the books when positive events occur, attributed to God, by favouring God with a meal, or by fulfilling a vow previously made, as appropriate to the situation; that rehabilitation is achieved and the people restored to perfection (make perfect being a possible meaning of shelamim). In the latter of these possibilities, and partly in the former, the sacrifice is regarded as for God, and hence that the people are merely guests at the meal.However, what is generally considered the most likely explanation, is that sacrifice-of-peace offerings simply originated as meals, the consumption of which directly improved health (as opposed to starvation), and hence indirectly improved prosperity (shelamim being understood to mean prosperity/health). When sanctuaries outside Jerusalem began to be suppressed, and eventually outlawed by Josiah
Josiah
Josiah or Yoshiyahu or Joshua was a king of Judah who instituted major reforms. Josiah is credited by most historians with having established or compiled important Jewish scriptures during the Deuteronomic reform that occurred during his rule.Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight, after...
, the impracticality of going to Jerusalem to sacrifice an animal simply to consume meat, led to killing an animal for food
Shechita
Shechita is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds according to Jewish dietary laws...
gaining an independent existence from the sacrifice-of-peace offering.
The concentration of these sacrifices, the main offering given by private individuals, at a single sanctuary evidently resulted in such large numbers of offers that the space on the north side of the altar, where the animals were killed in the other types of sacrifices, became cramped, hence the specific permit for sacrifice-of-peace offerings were to be killed anywhere within the sanctuary courtyard. How exactly a portion of the resulting meat was given to God appears to have varied; though the regulations of the Priestly Code
Priestly Code
The Priestly Code is the name given, by academia, to the body of laws expressed in the Torah which do not form part of the Holiness Code, the Covenant Code, the Ritual Decalogue, or the Ethical Decalogue. The Priestly Code constitutes the majority of Leviticus, as well as some of the laws...
point to God's portion being burnt on the altar, Gideon
Gideon
Gideon was an Israelite judge who appears in the Book of JudgesGideon may also refer to:- Religion :* Gideon , a figure in the Book of Mormon* Gideons International, distributor of copies of the Bible- Media :...
is described in the Book of Judges
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
, a text which textual scholars
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
believe has a much earlier date than Leviticus, as pouring out broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
, made from the meat of the sacrifice, as a libation
Libation
A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering to a god or spirit or in memory of those who have died. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in various cultures today....
.