Leviticus 2 part 2 - Lev. 1-2 - BURN IT ALL UP

LEVITICUS LESSON 2 PART 2

If you haven' listened to Lesson 2 Part 1 here's the link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/leviticus-2-lesson-1-lev-1-2-burin-it-all-up/?token=4e58b98c5da23e559726199bf8d9c9b0

 

Why the bull then the goat/sheep and then a turtledove or pigeon?  As we study further into Leviticus we’ll see that God is clearly doing something awesome.  He is making it easy for anyone, rich or poor, to participate in a Burnt Offering to “come close” to the Lord.  One can do a search on the internet and find the following.

• The Bull (Most Expensive): for the rich or more powerful people of the community.
• The Lamb / Sheep (Moderate Cost): The standard offering for an average household or individual guilt/sin offering.
• The Pigeon or Turtledove (Least Expensive): Designated specifically as a gracious provision for the poor. If a person could not afford a lamb, God permitted them to bring pigeons or doves.  Pigeons could be freely caught in the wild. For example, Mary and Joseph offered pigeons (or turtledoves) at the temple during Jesus' dedication because they lacked the funds for a lamb.

Historical Estimates

Modern historians and biblical economists have estimated relative values in ancient Near Eastern currency to modern equivalents:

• Bull / Ox: Highly valuable capital asset; modern equivalent estimates up to $1,200.
• Lamb / Sheep: Worth a fraction of a large bovine; modern equivalent estimates range from $150 to $300.
• Pigeon / Dove: Plentiful and cheap (or able to be caught wild); modern equivalent estimates range from $5 to $10.

[1] https://biblehub.com/topical/o/offering_of_birds.htm

[2] https://heartstounderstand.com/2022/09/27/animal-sacrifices-by-value/

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-sacrifices.html

[4] https://weirdanimalworld.com/animals-sacrificed-in-the-bible/

 

The Role of Pigeons and Bread and Honey

Bread and honey were sacred, daily offerings laid out on temple altars to sustain the gods and nourish the souls of the dead in ancient Egypt.

See https://www.agricultureforlife.ca/post/food-offerings-in-ancient-times-honouring-gods-and-ancestors

• The Foundation of Life: Bread (called aish, meaning "life") and beer formed the literal and symbolic core of the Egyptian diet and offering rituals, representing the very first items presented to deities.
• The Sweetness of the Gods: Honey was highly prized and associated with nefer—the concept of goodness, beauty, and perfection—making it a fit luxury for temple ceremonies.
• Divine and Funerary Offerings: Pharoahs and priests daily placed fine loaves, beer, and honey-sweetened cakes (sometimes made with tiger nuts or dates) before gods like Amun-Ra. Similar provisions and honey-baked bread were placed inside tombs to feed and preserve the ka (soul) in the afterlife.

In ancient Egypt, thousands of pigeons and doves were used as temple offerings and ritual sacrifices to feed the gods, symbolize fertility, and serve as pure provisions for the afterlife.   The sheer volume of pigeon sacrifices is documented in historical texts. According to the Great Harris Papyrus—the longest surviving papyrus from Egypt—Pharaoh Ramses III donated 6,510 doves and 57,810 pigeons to the Temple of Amun alone. Ironically, while tens of thousands of pigeons were funneled into temples every year to appease the gods, Egyptian priests were strictly forbidden by religious decree from eating pigeon meat. Because pigeons were viewed as sacred symbols of fertility and love, the living clergy had to maintain purity by abstaining from eating them, keeping the birds strictly reserved as a "food of the gods".

Finally, here’s some final thoughts on Jesus and the Hebrew word, Qorban קָרְבָּן which is a Hebrew word that means “something brought near.”  It comes from the Hebrew verb karav (קָרַב), which means "to draw near" or "come close".  So, a Qorban קָרְבָּן is something we bring near as a "closeness gift" meant to bring a person into closer fellowship with God.

Jesus was our true Qorban.  He was the final sacrifice.  Instead of temporary animal offerings, Jesus offered Himself on the cross.  In Him we are brought near just as Paul wrote in Eph. 2:13.  Paul wrote that we believers who were once far away are brought near through Christ's blood. 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban

[2] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7133.htm

[3] https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Vayikra/Korban/korban.html

[4] https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-sacrifice-qorban/

[5] https://readingacts.com/2014/10/25/jesus-and-purity-part-2-qorban/

[6] https://biblehub.com/topical/k/korban.htm

[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/corban.html

[8] https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Mark%207%3A11

[10] https://www.biblicalunitarian.com/articles/jesus-christ-our-approach-offering

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?

(John - on the Nile at Luxor Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0