Read the questions below and the text and write down your answers. I'll provide my answers and analysis at the bottom
1. Where does the offering come from?
2. Who is the "he" in verses 3-6?
3. What different actions must "he" take? How long do you think this would take?
4. What role does the priest play? What is the significance of that?
5. What is the purpose of this whole procedure (hint: look to the end of verse 9)
My answers are below the image...
The burnt offering is something that came from the sacrificee's own livestock. An animal that to some extent, would be familiar to them and not just purchased at the local Bull-Mart. The He in verses 3 through 6 is not the priest, it is the sacrificee. The person who is offering the sacrifice.
Take a moment to think about what this person would need to do. Have you ever cut a bull into pieces? Most of us today have never cut on an animal in our lives. But one look at my local meat-cutter and I can imagine that cutting this animal would be time consuming and a bloody mess.
As I am cutting this animal and getting blood all over myself the priest is arranging my sacrifice on the altar for me and then he is the one who will actually burn the sacrifice till it is completely consumed.
Final Question... why this whole procedure.... I love the phrase, "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." Does God enjoy the smell of burning fat and meat for its own sake? I don't think so, but yet he is still pleased. Think about that for a while and then read my next post where I will share my take-aways from this important part of ancient Jewish life.
2 comments:
Paul read it again
the laws of sacrifice were laid down before moses went up the mountain, thus ensuring when most of the israelites were scrabbling over "manna", the soon to be levites were dining royally.
That's interesting. I'm not sure I see the significance of the timing whether it was before Moses went up Sinai or after he returned. ( It seems to me that it was upon his return after receiving these instructions from God while he was there.)
The other thing that I'm not following is how the Levites were dining royally. According to Leviticus, the burnt sacrifice was totally consumed so there would be no meat left for the priests.
One thing that I hadn't really thought about before that you highlighted is the fact that the primary food during this time was manna. So, that makes the offering an even more significant one than I at first had realized. Thanks for that insight.
p.s. I seem to recall that there are some other sacrifices where the Levites did receive a portion. I'll have to do some research and follow up on that.
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