Offering in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is an Offering?
OFFERING or OBLA'TION
Gen 4:3, Lev 2:7. Offerings or sacrifice among the Jews formed the most essential part of religious worship. They indicated confession, self-dedication, expiation, and thanksgiving. The books of Leviticus and Numbers are our principal sources of information on the subject. The offerings were either bloody or bloodless, and taken from the animal and vegetable creation. Of animals only tame ones were used, as oxen, goats, and sheep. To these must be added the dove. Lev 5:11. etc. From the vegetable kingdom, wine, flour, etc., were set apart. Human sacrifices or offerings were especially forbidden. Lev 18:21; Rev 20:2. In the act of offering, the offerer, after bringing the victim to the altar, laid his hand on its head. Lev 1:4; Lev 4:4, etc. He then slew it. Lev 1:4, himself, or the priest for him. 2 Chr 29:24. The blood was received by the priest, who either sprinkled or poured it upon objects. The victim was then flayed and cut in pieces. Lev 1:6, 1 Kgs 15:8, some or all of which, according to the kind of offering, were burnt on the altar. In the case of some of the offerings the victim was lifted up or waved, in token of its presentation to Jehovah. The first offerings of which record is made are those of Cain and Abel. Gen 4:3-8. Both the animal and the vegetable kingdoms contributed on this occasion. The second offering is that of Noah, Gen 8:20, after the Flood. The various offerings were the burnt-offerings, meat-offerings, peace-offerings, and the sin- and trespass-offerings. The burnt-offering was to be a male without blemish, of the herd and of the flock, offered voluntarily at the door of the tabernacle, the hand of the offerer being upon the head of the victim. Lev 1:2-4. The design of the burnt-offering was an atonement for sin. Lev 1:4; comp. Heb 10:1-3, Rev 1:11. It was presented every day, Ex 29:38-42, on the Sabbath, Num 28:9-10, and on the great day of atonement. Lev 16:3, and the three great festivals. Num 28:11-31; Num 29. The meat-offering consisted of flour, or cakes, prepared with oil and frankincense. Lev 2:1; Lev 6:14-23. It was to be free from leaven and honey, but was to have salt. Lev 2:11, 2 Kgs 11:13. With this was connected the drink-offering, which was never used separately, but was an appendage of wine to some sacrifices. Ex 29:41. A meat-offering was presented every day with the burnt-offering. Ex 29:40-41. The first-fruits, offered at Pentecost, Lev 23:17-20, and at the Passover, Lev 23:10-14, were called wave-offerings; those offered in harvest-time, Num 15:20-21, heave-offerings. Peace-offerings were eucharistic in their nature, and were offered in thanksgiving or at a special dedication of something to the Lord. Lev 3; Lev 7:11-21. The animal as well as the vegetable kingdom contributed to this class of offerings. The sin- and trespass-offerings were expiatory. It is difficult to determine exactly how they were distinguished. The first seem to have more especial reference to universal sinfulness, the second to specific acts of sin. Both alike testify to the consciousness of sin and the felt need of atonement. Sin-offerings were presented by the high priest for personal offences, for national sins, and on the great day of atonement, when he confessed the sins of the whole nation with his hand on the scapegoat's head, and the goat was driven off into the wilderness. Lev 16:1-34, etc. These offerings all had a typical significance, especially the expiatory offerings. While they ever reminded the people of God's holiness and of their own sinfulness, which demands expiation, they also prefigured the atonement of Jesus Christ, on whom was laid the iniquity of us all, and "his own self bare our sins on the tree."

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'offering' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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