Topical Bible: Offerings: Meat: Offered With the Sacrifices

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Old Testament, offerings played a central role in the religious life of the Israelites, serving as a means of worship, atonement, and thanksgiving. Among these offerings, the meat offering, also known as the grain offering, was a significant component that accompanied various sacrifices. The Hebrew term for this offering is "minchah," which can be translated as "gift" or "tribute," and it primarily consisted of fine flour, oil, and frankincense.

Biblical Instructions and Components

The instructions for the meat offering are detailed in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 2:1-3 states: "When anyone presents a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD."

The meat offering was unique in that it was a bloodless sacrifice, emphasizing the dedication of the fruits of human labor to God. It was often offered alongside burnt offerings and peace offerings, symbolizing the worshiper's gratitude and devotion.

Types of Meat Offerings

1. Unleavened Cakes or Wafers: These were made of fine flour mixed with oil and baked or fried. Leviticus 2:4 describes this type: "If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it must consist of fine flour, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil."

2. Grain Offering on a Griddle: This was a simpler preparation, as noted in Leviticus 2:5-6 : "If your offering is a grain offering prepared on a griddle, it must be of fine flour mixed with oil, unleavened. Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering."

3. Grain Offering in a Pan: This offering involved cooking the mixture in a pan, as described in Leviticus 2:7 : "If your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it must consist of fine flour with oil."

Symbolism and Purpose

The meat offering symbolized the dedication of one's labor and sustenance to God, acknowledging Him as the provider of all needs. The use of fine flour, oil, and frankincense represented purity, richness, and the pleasing aroma of a life dedicated to God. The absence of leaven and honey in these offerings, as instructed in Leviticus 2:11 , "No grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD," further emphasized the call to holiness and separation from corruption.

Accompaniment to Other Sacrifices

The meat offering was often presented alongside other sacrifices, such as the burnt offering and the peace offering. Numbers 15:3-4 outlines this practice: "and you present an offering made by fire to the LORD from the herd or flock, either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill or festival offering, then the one presenting his offering to the LORD shall also bring a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil."

This accompaniment underscored the comprehensive nature of worship, integrating both the atonement for sin and the expression of gratitude and fellowship with God.

Priestly Portion

A portion of the meat offering was reserved for the priests, as a provision for their service in the tabernacle. Leviticus 2:10 states: "But the remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD." This allocation supported the Levitical priesthood, who had no inheritance of land and relied on the offerings of the people for sustenance.

In summary, the meat offering was a vital aspect of the sacrificial system, reflecting the worshiper's devotion and reliance on God. It served as a tangible expression of gratitude and a reminder of the holiness required in approaching the divine presence.

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 15:3-16
And will make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet smell to the LORD, of the herd or of the flock:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices.
... 3. The sacrifices for sins are offered in the ... Other sacrifices there are also appointed
for escaping ... for other occasions, in which meat-offerings are consumed ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the manner of.htm

Leviticus.
... (b) the bloodless offerings-the meat, or meal, offering. ... (1) Make a list of the several
offerings and become familiar with what is offered, how it is ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii leviticus.htm

Matt. xxvi. 6, 7
... that if He accepts not whole burnt offerings, neither the ... For like as the Father
suffered a savor of meat, and smoke ... a pillar to God, and oil was offered in the ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxx matt xxvi 6.htm

Celebration of Constantine's Decennalia.
... ordered the celebration of general festivals, and offered prayers of ... God, the King
of all, as sacrifices without flame ... 3148] Unburnt offerings, meat offerings. ...
/.../chapter xlviii celebration of constantines decennalia.htm

High Priest
... Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob, offered themselves their ... on the Sabbath, the
burnt-offerings ordered at ... the First Fruits; to receive the meat-offering of ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

Letter Xlvii. (AD 398. )
... the air itself, but to some idol or false god, whereas sometimes offerings are cast ...
If any one be in doubt regarding meat, whether it has been offered to an ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xlvii a d 398.htm

Acts XXI
... of purification, when an offering should be offered for each ... with their burnt-offerings,
sin-offerings, and meat-offerings, [522] and ... We refer to sacrifices. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

Jerusalem Made the Capital City
... its place in the tent that David had built for it, he offered burnt-offerings and
sacrifices ... both men and women, a roll of bread, a portion of meat, and a ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jerusalem made the capital city.htm

Altar and Temple
... and of every one that willingly offered a freewill ... seventh month began they to offer
burnt offerings unto the ... masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a ... vows, and beside all your freewill
offerings, which ye ... feast proper, by the number of sacrifices offered on it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm