13 And every oblation H7133 of thy meat offering H4503 shalt thou season H4414 with salt; H4417 neither shalt thou suffer the salt H4417 of the covenant H1285 of thy God H430 to be lacking H7673 from thy meat offering: H4503 with all thine offerings H7133 thou shalt offer H7126 salt. H4417
And thou shalt offer H7126 them before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and the priests H3548 shall cast H7993 salt H4417 upon them, and they shall offer them up H5927 for a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068
Ought ye not to know H3045 that the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 the kingdom H4467 over Israel H3478 to David H1732 for ever, H5769 even to him and to his sons H1121 by a covenant H1285 of salt? H4417
All the heave offerings H8641 of the holy things, H6944 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 offer H7311 unto the LORD, H3068 have I given H5414 thee, and thy sons H1121 and thy daughters H1323 with thee, by a statute H2706 for ever: H5769 it is a covenant H1285 of salt H4417 for ever H5769 before H6440 the LORD H3068 unto thee and to thy seed H2233 with thee.
Let your G5216 speech G3056 be alway G3842 with G1722 grace, G5485 seasoned G741 with salt, G217 that ye may know G1492 how G4459 ye G5209 ought G1163 to answer G611 every G1538 man. G1520
Ye G5210 are G2075 the salt G217 of the earth: G1093 but G1161 if G1437 the salt G217 have lost his savour, G3471 wherewith G1722 G5101 shall it be salted? G233 it is thenceforth G2089 good G2480 for G1519 nothing, G3762 but G1508 to be cast G906 out, G1854 and G2532 to be trodden under foot G2662 of G5259 men. G444
For G1063 every one G3956 shall be salted G233 with fire, G4442 and G2532 every G3956 sacrifice G2378 shall be salted G233 with salt. G251 Salt G217 is good: G2570 but G1161 if G1437 the salt G217 have lost G1096 his saltness, G358 wherewith G1722 G5101 will ye season G741 it? G846 Have G2192 salt G217 in G1722 yourselves, G1438 and G2532 have peace G1514 one G240 with G1722 another. G240
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Leviticus 2
Commentary on Leviticus 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Le 2:1-16. The Meat Offerings.
1. when any will offer a meat offering—or gift—distinguishing a bloodless from a bloody sacrifice. The word "meat," however, is improper, as its meaning as now used is different from that attached at the date of our English translation. It was then applied not to "flesh," but "food," generally, and here it is applied to the flour of wheat. The meat offerings were intended as a thankful acknowledgment for the bounty of Providence; and hence, although meat offerings accompanied some of the appointed sacrifices, those here described being voluntary oblations, were offered alone.
pour oil upon it—Oil was used as butter is with us; symbolically it meant the influences of the Spirit, of which oil was the emblem, as incense was of prayer.
2. shall burn the memorial—rather, "for a memorial"; that is, a part of it.
3. the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons'—The circumstance of a portion of it being appropriated to the use of the priests distinguishes this from a burnt offering. They alone were to partake of it within the sacred precincts, as among "the most holy things."
4. if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven—generally a circular hole excavated in the floor, from one to five feet deep, the sides of which are covered with hardened plaster, on which cakes are baked of the form and thickness of pancakes. (See on Ge 18:6). The shape of Eastern ovens varies considerably according to the nomadic or settled habits of the people.
5. baken in a pan—a thin plate, generally of copper or iron, placed on a slow fire, similar to what the country people in Scotland called a "girdle" for baking oatmeal cakes.
6. part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon—Pouring oil on bread is a common practice among Eastern people, who are fond of broken bread dipped in oil, butter, and milk. Oil only was used in the meat offerings, and probably for a symbolic reason. It is evident that these meat offerings were previously prepared by the offerer, and when brought, the priest was to take it from his hands and burn a portion on the altar.
11. ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord—Nothing sweet or sour was to be offered. In the warm climates of the East leavened bread soon spoils, and hence it was regarded as the emblem of hypocrisy or corruption. Some, however, think that the prohibition was that leaven and honey were used in the idolatrous rites of the heathen.
12. the oblation of the first-fruits—voluntary offerings made by individuals out of their increase, and leaven and honey might be used with these (Le 23:17; Nu 15:20). Though presented at the altar, they were not consumed, but assigned by God for the use of the priests.
13. every … meat offering shalt thou season with salt—The same reasons which led to the prohibition of leaven, recommended the use of salt—if the one soon putrefies, the other possesses a strongly preservative property, and hence it became an emblem of incorruption and purity, as well as of a perpetual covenant—a perfect reconciliation and lasting friendship. No injunction in the whole law was more sacredly observed than this application of salt; for besides other uses of it that will be noticed elsewhere, it had a typical meaning referred to by our Lord concerning the effect of the Gospel on those who embrace it (Mr 9:49, 50); as when plentifully applied it preserves meat from spoiling, so will the Gospel keep men from being corrupted by sin. And as salt was indispensable to render sacrifices acceptable to God, so the Gospel, brought home to the hearts of men by the Holy Ghost, is indispensably requisite to their offering up of themselves as living sacrifices [Brown].
14. a meat offering of thy first-fruits—From the mention of "green ears," this seems to have been a voluntary offering before the harvest—the ears being prepared in the favorite way of Eastern people, by parching them at the fire, and then beating them out for use. It was designed to be an early tribute of pious thankfulness for the earth's increase, and it was offered according to the usual directions.