The usual and basic sacrifice of a Yahwist was the sacrifice of an animal. There was also an offering of bread, more precisely, specially baked flat cakes, which, however, never became the main...
The usual and basic sacrifice of a Yahwist was the sacrifice of an animal. There was also an offering of bread, more precisely, specially baked flat cakes, which, however, never became the main one. Much here is, of course, explained purely historically: the Jews were originally a nomadic people, unfamiliar with agriculture and therefore without surplus bread. Besides, as a rule, it is farmers who offer the fruits of the earth in sacrifice to God or to the gods; people usually share with God or with higher powers what they themselves mainly eat.
To us today it sometimes seems that God must certainly be offered something special and unheard-of, something strange even to us, but in antiquity people looked at the matter more simply: they shared what they themselves had, but they shared the best of what they had. The way one shares with a best friend invited into the house. There was, however, something else that gave priority to animal offerings. This something is connected with the closeness of human beings to the animal world.
It is no accident that during God's creation of the world it was precisely the animals, the livestock, or more exactly domestic livestock if the corresponding Hebrew word is translated literally, that were created on the same day as the human being. After all, we are speaking of the sanctification of the person in the process of the sacrificial meal, and the sacrificial meat is first sanctified by God. That by means of which a person is sanctified must be something close to the person even physically; meanwhile, by nature a human being is still an animal, not a plant.
The life, or in biblical language the "soul," of the animal is in the blood, as is the "soul" of fallen humanity: after the fall it too goes into the blood, becoming like the "soul" of an animal. The animal and the fallen human being share a common life; it is similar in many ways for both. And the fallen human being also received from God the right and authority to eat these very animals. That is why sanctified meat is the simplest way to sanctify human nature.
A person only has to eat the sanctified meat, and the matter is done. That is, of course, if the person turns to God with prayer; it is not accidental that before slaughtering the sacrificial animal, the one bringing the sacrifice lays his hand on its head. Laying on his hand, the person prays, either a prayer of thanksgiving or a prayer of repentance, depending on what sacrifice is involved: a peace offering or a sin offering. With a bread cake, or with any other fruits of the earth, this will not work. Therefore the cakes were offered in sacrifice, but as if in addition to the main thing: to what sanctifies the person, giving him the possibility of full communion with God.
2 Directions concerning the meal - offerings.
2:1 A meal - offering - (Not meat - offering, an ancient false print, which has run thro' many editions of our bible.) This was of two kinds, the one joined with other offerings, Num 15:4, Num 15:7, Num 15:10, which was prescribed, together with the measure or proportion of it: the other, of which this place speaks, was left to the offerer's good will both for the thing, and for the quantity. And the matter for this offering was things without life, as meal, corn, or cakes. Now this sort of sacrifices were appointed,
2:2 He shall take - That priest to whom he brought it, and who is appointed to offer it. The memorial - That part thus selected and offered; which is called a memorial, either
2:3 Sons - To be eaten by them, Lev 6:16.Most holy - Or such as were to be eaten only by the priests, and that only in the holy place near the altar.
2:4 In the oven - Made in the sanctuary for that use.
2:6 In pieces - Because part of it was offered to God, and part given to the priests.
2:11 No leaven - Namely, in that which is offered of free - will; for in other offerings it might be used, Lev 7:13, Lev 23:17. This was forbidden, partly to mind them of their deliverance out of Egypt, when they were forced thro' haste to bring away their meal or dough (which was the matter of this oblation) unleavened; partly to signify what Christ would be, and what they should be, pure and free from all error in the faith and worship of God, and from all hypocrisy, and malice or wickedness, all which are signified by leaven.Nor any honey - Either,
2:12 Ye may offer them - Or either of them, leaven or honey.They shall not be burnt - But reserved for the priests.
2:13 Salt - To signify that incorruption of mind, and sincerity of grace, which in scripture is signified by salt, Mar 9:49, Col 4:6, and which is necessary in all them that would offer an acceptable offering to God. Or in testimony of that communion which they had with God in these exercises of worship; salt being the great symbol of friendship in all nations is called, either,
2:14 First - fruits - Of thine own free - will; for there were other first - fruits, and that of several sorts, which were prescribed, and the time, quality, and proportion of them appointed by God.
2:16 Made by fire - The fire denotes that fervency of spirit, which ought to be in all our religious services. Holy love is the fire, by which all our offerings must be made: else they are not of a sweet savour to God.