Leviticus 1 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

14(...continued)conformity with its actual meaning, and that the text itself should be allowed to determine themeaning of the noun, not the Greek translation with its o`lokau,twma, “whole / completeburning.” The Hebrew noun occurs some 288 times in the Hebrew Bible, at:Genesis 8:20,Noah, upon emerging from the barge / ark, builds an altar of slaughterings forsacrifice (x;BeÞz>mi) to the YHWH, tl{ß[o l[;Y:ïw:, “and he brought up / caused to ascendofferings-up” of clean animals and birds, evidently in thankfulness for deliverance fromthe flood; YHWH smells the pleasing smell and determines in His heart to never againsend such a destruction on the earth. Nothing is said concerning eating the sacrifices,or their being wholly consumed in the fire of the altar.Genesis 22:2,3, 6, 7, 8, 13, God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac,‘~v' WhleÛ[]h;w>hl'ê[ol., “and bring him up / cause him to ascend there for an offering-up.” Abrahamobeys, taking with him hl'ê[o yceä[], “woods of an offering-up,” i.e., wood to burn his sonwith; he takes along a knife and fire to complete the offering-up, but no sheep or goatwhich Isaac knows is necessary for an offering-up. Abraham assures Isaac that Godwill provide the sheep or goat. Abraham builds an altar of sacrifice, arranges the woodupon it, then binds Isaac and places him upon the wood on the altar, obviously with theintent of slaughtering Isaac with his knife, and burning his body as an offering-up. ButYHWH’s messenger / angel orders him not to slaughter his son, for now God knowsthat Abraham trembles in awe before Him (in perfect obedience to this impossibly difficultcommand). Abraham sees a ram caught in a bush by its horns which he takes, andbrings it up / causes it to ascend hl'ê[ol., le(olah, “for an offering-up,” in the place ofIsaac. Abraham has not withheld his son from YHWH, and so YHWH promises himinnumerable descendants who will overcome their enemies, and be the means ofblessing for all the earth. The offering-up here is a test of faith, a means of showingGod / YHWH that nothing he has / owns will be withheld from YHWH.Exodus 10:25, Moses demands that Pharaoh supply the departing Israelites with ~yxiäb'ztAl+[ow> , slaughtered (animals for) sacrifices and offerings-up, which they will “make”for the YHWH their God in their wilderness-pilgrimage. Obviously, “offerings-up” are anintegral part of Israel’s worship, but nothing is said concerning their purpose.Exodus 18:12, Yithro, Moses’s father-in-law takes ~yhi_l{ale( ~yxiÞb'z>W hl'î[o, an offering-upand slaughtered sacrifices for God, and all of Israel’s leaders eat a meal with himbefore God; certainly implying that the animals of the offering-up and the slaughteredsacrifices were eaten, but this is not made explicit.Exodus 20:24, Israel is instructed to build an earthen altar wherever they go, wyl'ª[' T'äx.b;z"w>^ym,êl'v.-ta,w> ‘^y“t,l{[o-ta, “and you shall slaughter for sacrifice upon it yourofferings-up and your well-being offerings.” The offering-ups and well-being offerings(continued...)11