Gift offering
Encyclopedia
A meal offering or gift offering , also referred to as grain offerings, is a type of Biblical sacrifice
, specifically a sacrifice that did not include meat. In older English it is sometimes called an oblation
, from Latin.
of the Hebrew Bible
with the first instances being the minkhah offered by both Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. It is also used of Jacob's "present" to Esau in Genesis 32 and again of the "present" to the Egyptian ruler (in fact Joseph his son) in Genesis 43. In the King James Version of 1611 this was rendered as "meat offerings," since at the time the King James Version was written, meat referred to food in general rather than the flesh of animals in particular.
. Scholars believe that the term "gift offering" originally referred to all voluntary sacrifices, but that it later came to just refer to non-meat offerings.
The quintessential gift offering was one of grain (not just high quality flour
), frankincense
, and oil
. The grain could either be raw and mixed with oil, or mixed with oil and cooked into unleavened bread
, or cooked into wafers and spread with oil. According to tradition ten such cakes of bread had to be made for each offering. A portion of this was then burnt on the altar, along with the frankincense, while the remainder was allocated to the priests, who were to eat it within the sanctuary.
Korban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
, specifically a sacrifice that did not include meat. In older English it is sometimes called an oblation
Oblation
Oblation, an offering , a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God.-Bible usage:...
, from Latin.
Etymology
The Hebrew noun minkhah (מִנְחָה) is used 211 times in the Masoretic TextMasoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
with the first instances being the minkhah offered by both Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. It is also used of Jacob's "present" to Esau in Genesis 32 and again of the "present" to the Egyptian ruler (in fact Joseph his son) in Genesis 43. In the King James Version of 1611 this was rendered as "meat offerings," since at the time the King James Version was written, meat referred to food in general rather than the flesh of animals in particular.
Hebrew Bible
Gift offerings were often made on their own, but also accompanied the burnt offeringBurnt Offering
Burnt Offering was a punk fanzine based in and around Northampton, England, from 1979 to 1980.In keeping with the DIY style of the time, Burnt Offerings house style was a mixture of badly-typed articles, ransom note effect lettering and cartoon drawings...
. Scholars believe that the term "gift offering" originally referred to all voluntary sacrifices, but that it later came to just refer to non-meat offerings.
The quintessential gift offering was one of grain (not just high quality flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
), frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
, and oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
. The grain could either be raw and mixed with oil, or mixed with oil and cooked into unleavened bread
Flatbread
A flatbread is a simple bread made with flour, water, and salt and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened: made without yeast or sourdough culture: although some flatbread is made with yeast, such as pita bread....
, or cooked into wafers and spread with oil. According to tradition ten such cakes of bread had to be made for each offering. A portion of this was then burnt on the altar, along with the frankincense, while the remainder was allocated to the priests, who were to eat it within the sanctuary.