Definition and Purpose:
Ablution, in the context of burnt offerings, refers to the ceremonial washing or cleansing of the sacrificial animal parts before they are offered on the altar. This practice is part of the broader Levitical sacrificial system outlined in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Leviticus. The ablution of burnt offerings symbolizes purification and the removal of impurities, ensuring that the offering is acceptable to God.

Biblical References:
The primary biblical reference for the ablution of burnt offerings is found in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This verse highlights the requirement for washing specific parts of the animal before they are placed on the altar.

Procedure:
The process of ablution involved washing the entrails and legs of the sacrificial animal with water. This was done after the animal had been slaughtered and its blood had been drained. The washing was a necessary step before the priest could proceed with burning the offering on the altar. The act of washing served both a practical and symbolic purpose, ensuring cleanliness and representing spiritual purification.

Symbolism:
The ablution of burnt offerings carries significant symbolic meaning within the sacrificial system. It represents the need for purity and holiness in approaching God. The washing of the animal parts signifies the removal of defilement and the preparation of the offering to be a "pleasing aroma" to the LORD, as described in Leviticus 1:9. This symbolism extends to the broader theme of purification found throughout the Levitical laws, emphasizing the importance of holiness in worship and service to God.

Theological Significance:
The ablution of burnt offerings underscores the concept of holiness and the necessity of purification in the worship of God. It reflects the broader theological theme of separation from impurity and the pursuit of righteousness. The practice serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual cleansing and the importance of presenting oneself and one's offerings in a state of purity before the LORD.

Related Practices:
The ablution of burnt offerings is part of a larger system of ritual washings and purifications found in the Old Testament. Other related practices include the washing of hands and feet by the priests before entering the tabernacle (Exodus 30:19-21) and the purification rites for individuals who have become ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 14-15). These practices collectively emphasize the importance of cleanliness and holiness in the worship and service of God.Leviticus 1:9,13
But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD.
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Leviticus 9:14
And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them on the burnt offering on the altar.
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2 Chronicles 4:6
He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
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The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their ... [216:3] As the sacrifices,
offerings, and other ... applied, in many ways, as the means of ablution. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Pagans.
... of the assembly, the profusion of the offerings, and the ... was also led to the Ganges
for ablution, where she ... wives, thirty-seven of whom were burnt with him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm

The City of Benares.
... and the surrounding country are being burnt, and the ... they are not engaged in mere
ablution, so important ... the priesthood comes mainly from the offerings of the ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter vii the city of.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... out by little dividing walls of burnt bricks, to ... at such times as were customary,
the offerings and prayers ... they had to perform an ablution before recommencing ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

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