Welcome back. Obviously, I have been on quite the hiatus. I've been doing a lot of study, focusing on that, as opposed to actually writing. I regret this break occurred right smack in the middle of my Sacrifices series. But the past is the past, and all I can do from this point is to move forward. I pray you will forgive my lapse.
As it has been over 4 months since my last post on this topic, (or any topic) let's do a brief review.
The entire sacrificial system was instituted by God to allow mankind to draw near to Him, to approach Him. To stand before the Almighty in the Temple was to experience the joy of being near God. I saw this meme the other day and want to share it with you.
Not to digress, but stop and consider the enormity of that for a moment. The privilege of having a relationship with Yeshua haMashiach, Jesus Christ, the Savior, still astounds me. We have that ongoing relationship because His Holy Spirit lives within us who belong to Him.
Before Pentecost, that level of access to God was not available. The sacrificial system was God’s ordained avenue for man to approach Him, to draw close to God.
We have studied two types of offering thus far (out of 5), the burnt offering, which was completely burned up and whose aroma was a pleasing offering to God, and the peace offering, which was the only completely voluntary offering, the only one not commanded. While the whole burnt offering animal was completely consumed by fire, the peace offering was treated differently. Part of the animal was burned on the altar, part of it was consumed by the priests and the rest was eaten by the giver and his family in a joyful communal meal.
Today, we will focus on the third type of offering, and that is the grain offering, also known as the Korban Mincha, a word that means “gift”. None of these first three types of offering we are studying (burnt, peace, grain) were offered as atonement offerings or as put another way, sacrifices for sin. They were brought to the LORD in His holy dwelling place (Tabernacle/Temple) as ritual gifts offered to God out of a glad and willing heart. All three of these types of offerings were voluntary.
We first see mention of sacrifice of grain offered by Cain, (of all people!) in Genesis 4:2-4.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. 3So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock.
And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
You may have heard the above passage exegeted (interpreted) to elevate the meat offering above the grain offering. Obviously, this story pre-dates Leviticus, where God gave His commands about the various types of offerings. However, if you read it carefully, you will find that Cain was rejected for bringing “some”, while Abel brought “the best”. Big difference, and a key theme in the korbanot later instituted in Leviticus. In all cases, God commanded that “the best” was to be brought, and only the best. Plus, “heart attitude” in bringing the offering was of paramount importance. (Reflect on the story Jesus told of “the widow’s mite”, in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44.)
Leviticus 2 gives the details on the grain offering, the korban mincha.
It could be offered by itself, as a "stand-alone" offering; or, it could be offered in conjunction with another type of offering. In the case of the very poor, it could be offered in lieu of a more expensive meat offering. And, the Torah specified that every Olah (burnt) or Shalem (peace) offering was to be accompanied by a grain offering. The same was true for the offerings made at the Jewish festivals.
The grain offering, the least expensive and the simplest korban to bring, was primarily of either wheat or barley flour (the Omer, brought on the second day of Passover was barley flour because the wheat harvest was not yet ripe), It was required the grain or the baked bread be unleavened. (The grain or bread was, however, salted. More about that in the next post.) Leaven was not allowed on the altar, as it was widely considered a “type” or picture or representation of sin. For this reason, the bread was usually offered after having been baked, to prevent natural leavening from occurring.
The korban mincha could be offered three times a day in alignment with the Temple’s routine of sacrificial services and with daily prayers. In fact the name of this offering is the same as the name for the afternoon prayers, offered by the priests (kohanim) at the Temple. The grain was combined with oil and frankincense. The priest would offer small handfuls of the grain on the altar and would use the rest of the offering for his family. If a baked product was offered, the priest would offer the “memorial portion” (“three fingers worth”) on the altar and keep the rest for his own sustenance. The offerer did not partake of the grain offering.
As another reminder, the Levitical priests were supported by the various korbanot (offerings) brought by the people. In addition, the people obeyed God's command (Exodus 25-27:19) to bring them terumah (supportive offerings of wine, grain, produce, etc.) God ordained it this way so that these men could provide for their families while devoting themselves whole-heartedly to the study of God, the teaching of His statues, and the operation of the Tabernacle (and later the Temple.) Interestingly, Levites did not make war, as did the other tribes. They were not awarded a separate land allotment in the Promised Land, but were, rather, allotted certain cities/areas within each tribe's allotment. The Levites were the Army of God, and He was their provision.
Note that in the King James Version, the grain offering is referred to as a “meat offering”. However, in the 1600s, when that translation was written, “meat” did not refer to “flesh”, as it does today. The word meant “food in general”.
If you read Leviticus 2 when I mentioned it earlier, you saw reference to salt and its inclusion in this sacrifice. In the next post, I want to share with you about salt and its importance in the sacrificial system.
Sources:
"Making Sense of Sacrifices, Part 3", by Dr. Jennifer Scrivner, Beth HaShomer Ministries
“The Happy Meal: the obligation to bring meal offerings as directed”, by Jack Abramovitz. https://outorah.org/p/6007/
An Introduction to Masechet Menachot, by Rabbi Jay Kelman. https://www.torahinmotion.org/discussions-and-blogs/an-introduction-to-masechet-menachot
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