Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, sacrifices play a pivotal role in the confirmation and establishment of covenants between God and His people. These covenants, which are divine agreements, often required a sacrificial act to signify the solemnity and binding nature of the promise. The practice of sacrifice as a means of covenant confirmation is deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern context and is consistently reflected throughout the Scriptures.The Covenant with Noah Following the flood, Noah's first act upon exiting the ark was to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God. Genesis 8:20-21 states, "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. Taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.'" This sacrificial act was integral to the establishment of the Noahic Covenant, wherein God promised never to destroy the earth by flood again. The Covenant with Abraham The Abrahamic Covenant is marked by several sacrificial acts. In Genesis 15, God instructs Abram to bring a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon. Abram cuts them in two and arranges the halves opposite each other. As the sun sets, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appears and passes between the pieces. Genesis 15:18 records, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates.'" The sacrifice here signifies God's unilateral commitment to His promises to Abram. The Mosaic Covenant The Mosaic Covenant, given at Mount Sinai, is also confirmed by sacrifice. In Exodus 24:5-8 , Moses sends young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. Moses takes half of the blood and puts it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkles on the altar. He then reads the Book of the Covenant to the people, who respond, "We will do everything that the LORD has said; we will obey." Moses then takes the blood, sprinkles it on the people, and says, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." The sacrificial blood serves as a seal of the covenant between God and Israel. The Davidic Covenant While the Davidic Covenant, as recorded in 2 Samuel 7, does not explicitly mention a sacrificial act at its inception, sacrifices are a significant aspect of David's relationship with God. David's establishment of Jerusalem as the religious center and his preparations for the building of the temple by Solomon are deeply intertwined with sacrificial worship, underscoring the covenantal promises of an everlasting dynasty. The New Covenant The New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and fulfilled in the New Testament, is confirmed by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus speaks of His impending death as the establishment of this new covenant. In Matthew 26:28 , Jesus says, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." The sacrificial death of Christ on the cross is the culmination of the sacrificial system, fulfilling and surpassing all previous covenants by providing a once-for-all atonement for sin. Throughout the biblical narrative, sacrifices are not merely ritualistic acts but are deeply symbolic, serving as tangible confirmations of God's covenants with humanity. These sacrifices underscore the seriousness of the divine promises and the commitment required from those who enter into covenant with God. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 15:9-17And he said to him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 24:5-8 Hebrews 9:19,20 Psalm 50:5 Library The Blood of Sprinkling Covenanting According to the Purposes of God. Manner of Covenanting. Against Heresies The Priesthood of Christ The Blood of the Testament The Works of Philo that have Come Down to Us. The Difference Between the Two Testaments. Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant. Of the Sacraments. Resources Will there be animal sacrifices during the millennial kingdom? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org Why did God require animal sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Sacrifices for Public Use often Provided by the State Sacrifices were Accepted when offered in Sincerity and Faith Sacrifices were Bound to the Horns of the Altar Sacrifices were offered by the Patriarchs Sacrifices were offered for Individuals Sacrifices were offered for the Whole Nation Sacrifices were offered in Faith of a Coming Saviour Sacrifices were offered: After the Departure of Israel from Egypt Sacrifices were offered: At all the Feasts Sacrifices were offered: Daily Sacrifices were offered: from the Earliest Age Sacrifices were offered: Monthly Sacrifices were offered: Under the Mosaic Age Sacrifices were offered: Weekly Sacrifices were offered: Yearly Sacrifices were Salted With Salt Sacrifices were Typical of Christ's Sacrifice Sacrifices without Obedience, Worthless Sacrifices: "Calves of the Lips" Signifying Praise Sacrifices: Always offered Upon Altars Sacrifices: Consisted of Clean Animals or Bloody Sacrifices Sacrifices: Consisted of The Fruits of the Earth or Sacrifices Without Blood Sacrifices: Could not Take Away Sin Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Burnt offering Wholly Consumed by Fire Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Peace offering Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Trespass offering for Intentional Sins Sacrifices: Divine Institution of Sacrifices: Fat of, not to Remain Until Morning Sacrifices: Generally the Best of Their Kind Sacrifices: Imparted a Legal Purification Sacrifices: No Leaven offered With, Except For Sacrifices: Offered to False Gods, are offered to Devils Sacrifices: Often Consumed by Fire from Heaven Sacrifices: On Great Occasions, Very Numerous Sacrifices: Required to be Perfect and Without Blemish Sacrifices: The Covenants of God Confirmed By Sacrifices: The Jews: Condemned for Bringing Defective and Blemished Sacrifices: The Jews: Condemned for not offering Sacrifices: The Jews: Condemned for not Treating With Respect Sacrifices: The Jews: Condemned for offering, to Idols Sacrifices: The Jews: Unaccepted In, on Account of Sin Sacrifices: The offering of, an Acknowledgment of Sin Sacrifices: The Priests: Appointed to offer Sacrifices: The Priests: had a Portion of, and Lived By Sacrifices: To be Brought to the Place Appointed by God Sacrifices: To be offered to God Alone Sacrifices: when Bloody, Accompanied With Meat and Drink offering Sacrifices: when offered to God, an Acknowledgement of his Being The Related Terms Burnt-sacrifices (4 Occurrences) Idol-sacrifices (3 Occurrences) Burnt-offerings (86 Occurrences) Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences) Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences) Peace-offerings (82 Occurrences) Heave-offering (55 Occurrences) Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences) Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences) |
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