Topical Bible: Offerings: Meat: To be Eaten in the Holy Place

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In the Old Testament, the concept of offerings is central to the worship and religious practices of the Israelites. Among these offerings, certain sacrifices involved the consumption of meat, which was to be eaten in designated holy places. This practice is rooted in the laws given by God to Moses and is detailed in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers.

Biblical Foundation

The instructions for consuming offerings in the holy place are primarily found in the book of Leviticus. The priests, who were descendants of Aaron, were given specific portions of the sacrifices as their share, which they were to eat in a holy place. This was a provision for the priests, as they had no inheritance of land among the Israelites.

Leviticus 6:16-18 states: "Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. It must not be baked with leaven; I have given it as their share of My offerings made by fire. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. Any male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come from the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Whatever touches them will become holy."

Types of Offerings

1. Sin Offering and Guilt Offering: These offerings were considered most holy. The priests were to eat the meat of these offerings in the holy place, specifically in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. The consumption of these offerings signified the priests' role in bearing the iniquity of the congregation and making atonement for them.

2. Peace Offerings: While the peace offerings were shared between the offerer, the priests, and God, the portions designated for the priests were to be eaten in a clean place. Leviticus 7:31-34 explains that the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution were given to the priests as their due.

3. Grain Offerings: Although not meat, grain offerings were also consumed by the priests in a holy place. These offerings were often prepared with oil and frankincense and were a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Significance of the Holy Place

The requirement to eat these offerings in a holy place underscores the sanctity and reverence associated with the sacrificial system. The holy place, often the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting or later the Temple, was set apart for divine service and worship. Eating in this location emphasized the holiness of the offerings and the consecration of the priests who partook in them.

Priestly Privilege and Responsibility

The consumption of offerings in the holy place was both a privilege and a responsibility for the priests. It provided for their sustenance, as they were devoted entirely to the service of the Lord and did not have land to cultivate. At the same time, it was a solemn duty, as they were participating in the sacred rites of atonement and reconciliation between God and His people.

Regulations and Restrictions

Strict regulations governed the consumption of these offerings. Only the priests and their male descendants were permitted to eat the most holy offerings. Any violation of these regulations could result in severe consequences, as the holiness of the offerings was not to be profaned.

In summary, the practice of eating offerings in the holy place was an integral part of the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system. It highlighted the holiness of God, the sanctity of the offerings, and the unique role of the priests in mediating between God and the Israelites.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 10:13
And you shall eat it in the holy place, because it is your due, and your sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 18:9,10
This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Leviticus.
... (b) the bloodless offerings-the meat, or meal, offering. ... 6. Instructions to priests
concerning the offerings, 6:8-7 end. ... 1. Pure food, animals to be eaten, Ch. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii leviticus.htm

Scriptural Types.
... to God's favor, then self-consecration, then holy communion in ... of the house where
it was eaten as a ... and friendship, was prescribed for all meat offerings (Lev.2 ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their ... there is reason to conclude
that food eaten on the ... and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... After, however, having eaten and then slept for a few ... The meat prepared for the
sacrifice was not put all ... of the altar, and on these the offerings were laid to ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... of all food that is eaten, and thou ... burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings,
and incense ... his ordinances, whether in presenting offerings unto him ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand
... of the Passover and of the Holy Supper, of ... Mishnah puts it, while all other
meat-offerings were of ... opsarion,' which properly means what was eaten along with ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxix the miraculous feeding.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... Thus, if one kind of food was eaten as an addition ... omit to do so, and sit down to
meat without this ... was to prevent the eating of sacred offerings in defilement ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... they seemed to me to eat little but meat, and even ... where fire was lit, to burn the
offerings placed in ... never used the bowls again from which these had eaten. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

Profanations of Good and Truth
... a beautiful skin, or like nuts eaten by worms ... and speech, and thus profane holy things ...
is the multitude of sacrifices unto Me, meat offerings, incense, sabbaths ...
/.../spiritual life and the word of god/part thirdprofanations of good and.htm

On Helping the Poor.
... any of it, or be forced to buy with it either meat or drink ... sacrifice kept too long
a thing not fit to be eaten, and commands ... [2950] 2 Kings 8.[Offerings to God ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on helping the poor.htm