Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

LEVITICUS- CHAPTER TWO

Verses 1-3:

The "Meat Offering," minchah, consisted of bread made from wheat flour and oil, with salt and frankincense. The term occurs 209 times in the Old Testament, and is translated: gift (7 times), oblation (6 times), offering (33 times), present (28 times), sacrifice (5 times), and meat offering (132 times).

Minchah denotes a gift offered to a superior. The sacrifices of Cain and Abel were their minchah to God, Ge 4:3, 4. The present Jacob sent to Esau was his minchah, Ge 32:13. Joseph’s brethren offered him a present, a minchah, Ge 43:11. These passages show that the minchah was a gift of homage, and symbolizes the offerer’s loyal obedience to the superior to whom he presents the gift. The term, in the Levitical regulations, refers to unbloody sacrifices, in contrast to the animal sacrifices.

The conditions under which an Israeli offered the "Meat Offering," were:

1. The sacrifice must be either (1) uncooked wheat flour mixed with oil, salt, and frankincense, or (2) flour made into an unleavened cake or loaf, with oil, salt, and frankincense, or (3) roasted grains with oil, salt, and frankincense.

2. The offerer must bring the sacrifice to the tabernacle court, and give to the priests as their portion a minimum of one omer, or a maximum of sixty-one omers. The officiating priest must take either the ingredients of the bread, or a portion of the cake, and burn it with the frankincense, as a memorial upon the altar of burnt offering. Then, the offering was to be shared by the other priests, and must be eaten in its entirety within the tabernacle

precincts.

The bread-cakes of the "Meat Offering," typified Jesus as the living Bread which came down from Heaven, Joh 6:33. This Bread satisfies both God and man. Jesus and His teachings constitute the only food which will satisfy and sustain and strengthen the Lord’s church. That a portion of the sacrifice was offered upon the whole burnt offering typifies that this relationship with Christ is upon the basis of His total sacrifice of Himself for sin.

Verse 4:

"Oblation," gorban, something presented as a religious sacrifice (NT Mr 7:11).

This text describes the "Meat Offering" or food offering which consisted of baked bread, either loaves or wafers. This likely refers to the baking process in which the oven was first heated, then the raw dough placed on stones in the oven, or upon the hot outer surface of the oven.

Verses 5, 6:

This text refers to the grain-food offering baked or cooked upon a griddle. This offering was to be divided into pieces, with oil poured upon it.

Verses 7-11:

This text refers to still another manner of cooking the food offering: baking (cooking) in a frying pan. The same recipe was to be followed as for the other methods of cooking.

The food offerings were to be made "unto the Lord." But they were to be presented to the priest, who would in turn offer the proper portion upon the altar of burnt offering. The rest of the offering belonged to Aaron and his sons, symbolic of all Aaron’s descendants in perpetuity.

Two ingredients were specifically forbidden in the "meat offering" oblation: (1) honey, and (2) leaven. These were not forbidden to be offered in other sacrifices, however. The firstfruits of honey were to be offered to the Lord, Ex 22:29. Leaven was used in the two "wave loaves," offered as firstfruits in the feast of Pentecost, Le 23:17. The prohibition of these ingredients covers only those sacrifices burnt upon the altar. One probable reason is that the fire would cause them to froth and smell in an unsightly manner. Leaven throughout the Bible typifies sin. Any sacrifice made upon the altar of burnt offering (the ashes of the Whole Burnt Offering), must be free from any taint of sin, as this typifies the sinless Son of God.

Verses 12-16:

The "Meat Offerings," minchah, were to include salt as an essential ingredient. Salt typifies spiritual character, Mt 5:13; Mr 9:49; Lu 14:34; Col 4:6. It is a symbol of a covenant which cannot be broken, see Nu 18:19; 2Ch 13:5. In the ancient world, it was customary that one extend hospitality even to his enemy. And if that hospitality included the eating of food seasoned with salt, this constituted a perpetual bond which prohibited either of the two parties from harming the other.

The text refers to the minchah consisting of parched grain. The same formula was to be followed as for the other methods of offering.