The Israelite
sacrificial system for penalty payments explained
STATEMENT OF
BELIEF – ADDENDUM – B Jan.15, 2020
The English word “Sacrifice” when
correctly translated from the Hebrew word is “ZBHh,” it means to kill an
animal for food, or to offer it (as a gift, or for payment). The word holocaust
comes from the Greek word “holokautos” and means “a ‘whole’ burnt
offering” or thing offered as payment, the whole of which is consumed by fire
and smoke (the thing going up). It is understood by many that adhere to the
modern fundamentals of Christian doctrine, that the death of an animal (by way
of the sacrifice) is presented for atonement or as a substitute to nullify the
sin(s) of an individual or group committed against society or against one’s
god. This understanding although commonly understood is completely incorrect.
It is false from a Biblical view point.
An animal (that is slaughtered)
placed on an altar and burnt (for a thing going up) by way of fire and smoke
was simply a primitive method of payment thought to right an offence; to
develop a higher good, or as an attempt to please or to seek an advantage (the
good graces) from an unknown superior power located somewhere in the heavens,
i.e. the sky above. It was the “loss to the owner” of the animal or item
offered that payment or restitution was thought to have been made, or for a
wrong to be corrected, or that a blessing (undeserved favor) would be received
by having done so. However, food items were not the only means of payment that
primitive man used to seek forgiveness for violating the local law, or to atone
for sins committed against society, or the act to develop an advantage (or a
blessing) from a superior power.
Once the Biblical Nation of
Israel developed from what was basically a nomadic tribal society and when land
was allocated to the various tribes, the National Identity would also require social, and civil order, rules and regulations, as was
recognized by Moses. In addition to YHWH’s
(Yahweh’s) 10 Commandments, statutes, ordinances, and judgments were developed
to regulate the new civil Nation. Payments for penalties and offences other
than food items (like gold and silver) eventually became more popular and
convenient. As the Israelite Nation continued to develop and to mature it was
no longer necessary or even practical to use slaughtered animals or other food
items to pay for civil and/or religious infractions of the law.
The animal slaughter system as a
payment was reduced with the destruction of the first Temple, since it became
difficult for priests to use the approved Temple slaughtering method for
animals as food for payment for violations under the ancient Israelite Laws. The
growth of the population and the stinking mess caused by the blood and guts and
disposal requirements of the ancient slaughter system, at times using hundreds
of animals a day, became an impossible system to maintain. At the time of
Yahshua (Jesus), and the Second Temple, considering all the problems of waste
disposal and the complete lack of food refrigeration facilities, things came
quickly to a head and the ancient system had to stop. This (we believe) was a
primary reason for the “over-throwing incident” of the Temple money tables by a
frustrated angry Yahshua, Matt. (21:12-13).
Side Note: This is a
good place to explain the original need to make atonement (at-one-ment) for
civil or religious violations of the Law(s) in the first place. The payments of
using animals, had nothing to do with pleasing Yahweh, since the Almighty
Sovereign Creator Power Life-Force Essence of all does not need or receive any
benefit from a dead animal or from any burnt food item offered to Him, nor did
He accept or need gold or silver offered by a priest trying to purchase
atonement by payment for someone else. It does not take a “rocket Scientist” to
understand that! Even in our age, penalties, or fines for violations or
infractions of the law “serve mostly” as a determent. A payment is a
“sacrifice” (a lesson) and provides a reason to help keep the violator on a
straight and correct path. Payments required from violators contribute to what
can be called “learned behavior” and are used in almost every society beginning
with childhood to correct and direct behavior. The intended result -
righteousness is rewarded but wickedness or bad behavior will have negative
consequences (the violator may be punished). With Yahweh, there are no free
rides for wickedness, and all men will be judged whether it is good or bad,
(Ecc. 12:14).
By the time Yahshua was walking on
the land, most of the Israelites (of the lost 10 ½ Tribes) were already
scattered and living well outside of the Promised Land and dwelling throughout
Western Europe under the names of the Jutes, Danes, Saxons, Angles, Vikings,
Celts, and Normans. Many of these white Indo-European ‘Caucasian’Adamic people
remained under pagan influences much of that time, and would not have cared
very much about what was happening in their Ancient “Promised Land.” The were the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yet the
believers among these dispersed Israelites were never worried that the Almighty
Sovereign Creator Power Life-Force Essence, their “God”
Yahweh could not forgive them for their sins without an animal
sacrifice, a Temple, or a priesthood to manage it for them. The reason why they
had no such fear was that throughout all of the Hebrew Bible it is very clear
that no animal sacrifice (blood payment) is necessary for the forgiveness of
sins, or that it was even an exclusive means for Yahweh’s relationship to
continue, or that atonement for Adamic man ever required the death of an
animal. The sacrifice of one’s children which was a practice in some primitive
pagan cultures in the early history of man (even by some early Israelites) was
absolutely always forbidden by Yahweh’s chosen Israelite people, but they
nevertheless did it anyway and it angered Yahweh. (Jer. 7:30-31).
“For the life of a creature is in the
blood, and I have given it (the life of the animal) to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood (life of the animal) that makes
atonement (payment for an offence) for one's life." (Leviticus
17:11).
Leviticus 17:11 is often used as the
passage that appears to require a shed “blood” sacrifice during ancient
primitive times in order for Yahweh to forgive sins committed against him.
However, the entire context of this passage is a reference to “abstaining from
eating the blood of an animal” a practice when the animal was used as a
sacrifice for payment. Yahweh commanded the abstaining from eating or drinking
blood because many ancient primitive pagan religions of the time ate (or drank)
the blood of slaughtered animals. It was thought by them to be a way to
incorporate their gods (many of which were animals) into their own bodies. In
this convoluted way they thought they were "by eating god" receiving
power from its blood (this pagan practice is still used today by some primitive
African tribes). The Holiness (set-apartness) of the Israelites, and the direct
commandment to them from their Sovereign required them NOT to practice any
primitive pagan ways and not to mirror the beliefs of their pagan neighbors.
Furthermore, a payment for a penalty
by an Israelite who was using an animal (which, by the way, also benefited the
food needs of the priest and his family) would not be final without the
animal becoming a complete loss to the payer by its death. In other words,
unless there was an unredeemable loss by the death of a valuable prime first
class breeding animal, or the loss of important food products, or the loss of
some other item having important trading value to the violator, the payment for
any violation of the law would not have been made. In our present age we place
value on currency (that we use as money) or items of value such as gold or
silver. When payment for violation of the law is made we lose the purchasing
power of the currency or money, or item of value, or even freedom, and that
becomes (the sacrifice) because it is lost. In extreme cases the violator may
even loose his freedom by being jailed, or lose his life (such as in the case
of a conviction for a capital offense like murderer). However, in the ancient
nomadic tribal society, as was found by early National Israel, the moving of
prisoners throughout the country in mobile jails was not a viable option, so
sacrificial payments for violations of law using various items was at that time
the normal accepted procedure, as well as the punishment of death.
The whole quotation from Leviticus 17
reads: “Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any
blood-- I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off
from his people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given
it (the animal) to you to make atonement (a payment) for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood (death of the animal, by its loss)
that makes the atonement (payment) for one's life. Therefore I say to
the Israelites, `None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien (non-Israelite)
living among you eat blood. Any Israelite or any alien living among you who
hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover
it with earth, because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I
have said to the Israelites, You must not eat the blood of any creature,
because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut
off.”. . .
Some might still insist that shed
blood was needed for atonement (at-one-ment, a payment) in order for Yahweh to
forgive sin. However, there are many examples in the Hebrew Bible where other
items besides the death of animals were used to make atonement for law violations.
If someone was poor and unable to afford an animal (for a payment) Yahweh
allowed them to use flour (which is not an animal, and does not involve any
blood). If the poor were not even able to offer a payment of flour or food,
forgiveness would only be available for the wealthy. Yahweh would never exclude
poor people from obtaining forgiveness for violations of law, or for violations
against Him on the basis of wealth, or their ability to pay.
. . . .“If, however, he cannot afford
two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin (violation) a
tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He must not put oil or
incense on it, because it is a sin offering. He is to bring it to the priest,
who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar
on top of the offerings made to Yahweh by fire. It is a sin offering. In this
way the priest will make atonement (payment) for him for any of these
sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven.” To repeat, it is
the “loss” that makes the payment. NOT the item it’self. . it is the loss that makes payment!
The majority of the items offered (in
most places) belonged to the priest, as with the grain offering. (Leviticus
5:11-13). Here, in the middle of the commandments concerning the sacrifices for
sin, the Hebrew Bible tells us we do not need dead animals for the forgiveness
of sin. The idea that one needed an animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin
(violation of the law, civil or criminal) is not Biblical.
There are additional passages of
non-animal sacrifices (payments not requiring slaughtered animals): “So
Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had
already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made
atonement (payment) for them,” (Numbers 16:47).
In the following passage jewelry is
offered for atonement, but no animal dies, and no blood is shed: “So we have
brought as an offering to Yahweh the gold articles each of us acquired,
armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces…” to make atonement
for ourselves before Yahweh,…” (Numbers 31:50).
It is obvious, that animal
slaughtering is not required for forgiveness! Another example is that Isaiah
had his sins removed by a live coal: “Then one of the seraphs flew to me
with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
With it he touched my mouth and said, see, this has touched your lips; your
guilt is taken away and your sin atoned (paid) for….” (Isaiah
6:6-7).
Some will still say that without a
Temple, there cannot be any kind of animal sacrifice. This is true; that is why
Yahweh gave many different methods of atonement (payments for violations of the
law) to the ancient Israelites. There was a time in Israel's history when they
became all too consumed with the sacrificial (payment) ceremonies. For this,
Yahweh rebuked them. He reminded them that keeping His Laws were more important
than the slaughtering ceremonies.
“For when I brought your forefathers
out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not give them commands about burnt
offerings and sacrifices (penalty payments), but I gave them this command: Obey
me, and I will be your Alueim (Mighty One) and you will be my
people. Walk in all the ways I command you that it may go well with you.”
(Jeremiah 7:22-23).
Out of all the methods Yahweh gave to
us for atonement (payment), slaughtering animals was the weakest, because it
only made atonement (payment) for one kind of sin. Some may point out several
verses that show that there needs to be a payment for sin, and often point out
the verses that show that payment does atone for sin. But they seem to leave
out just what sins are covered by these slaughtering, and that is, only
UN-intentional sins:
"Yahweh said to Moses, "Say
to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden
in any of Yahweh's commands--" (Leviticus 4:1-2).
If the whole Israelite community sins
unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahweh’s commands, even
though the community is unaware of the matter, they were guilty, (Leviticus
4:13).
When a leader sins unintentionally
and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of Yahweh his Aloah (Power),
he is guilty, (Leviticus 4:22).
If a member of the community sins
unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahweh's commands, he is
guilty, (Leviticus 4:27).
When a person commits a violation and
sins unintentionally in regard to any of Yahweh's holy things, he is to bring
to Yahweh as a penalty payment a ram from the flock, one without defect and of
the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt
offering, (Leviticus 5:15).
He is to bring to the priest as a
guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper
value. In this way the priest will make atonement (payment) for him for the
wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven…, (Leviticus
5:18).
Now if you unintentionally fail to
keep any of these commands Yahweh gave Moses…, (Numbers 15:22).
The priest is to make atonement
(payment) before Yahweh for the one that violated by sinning unintentionally,
and when atonement (payment) has been made for him, he will be forgiven. One
and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a
native-born Israelite or an alien. (Numbers 15:24-29).
But if someone were to commit a sin
intentionally, he would be punished! But anyone who sins defiantly, whether
native-born or alien blasphemes Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from
his people (Numbers 15:30).
For some intentional sins, the
punishment for Israelites was severe:
While the Israelites were in the desert,
a man was found gathering wood on the Shabbat/Sabbath day. Those who found him
gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they
kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then
Yahweh said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him
outside the camp." So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned
him to death, as Yahweh commanded Moses.” (Numbers 15:32-36).
Yahweh is a righteous judge. For
intentional sins to be atoned for there had to be repentance and restitution
and often punishment because the sins were committed on purpose!
A thief must certainly make
restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft... If
a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they
graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from the best of his own
field or vineyard... If a fire breaks out and spreads into thorn-bushes so that
it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who
started the fire must make restitution... But if the animal was stolen from the
neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner...If a man borrows an animal
from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, he
must make restitution…., (Exodus 22:3, 5, 6, 12, and 14).
Whoever kills an animal must make
restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. (Leviticus
24:21).
Say to the Israelites: When a man or
woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to Yahweh, that person is
guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution
for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has
wronged.
(Numbers 5:6-7).
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a
society where, if a criminal stole and stripped your car, he would have to
replace it, and then give you 20% in addition to what it was worth? There were
other methods used to receive atonement (payment) that were superior to the
sacrificial system. This is what Yahweh truly desires from us, Teshuvah, which
means “repentance and return” to Yahweh.
..if my people, who are called by
my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land, (2 Chronicles 7:14).
But if from there you seek Yahweh
your Aloah (Power), you will find him if you look for him with all your heart
and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 4:29).
He prays to Aloah and finds favor
with him, he sees Aloah's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by Aloah to
his righteous state,
(Job 33:26).
Turn from evil and do good; seek
peace and pursue it,
(Ps 34:14).
Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit, (Ps 34:18).
It is true repentance and prayer that
Yahweh wants from us, NOT sacrifice!
“You do not delight in sacrifice, or
I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices
of Aloah are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O Aloah, you will
not despise.”
(Ps 51:16-17).
Remember, the Psalms were written to
sing praises to Yahweh in the Temple, right where the sacrifices themselves
were to be performed. They understood quite well Yahweh's attitude towards the
sacrifices:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not
desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did
not require.”
(Ps 40:6)
Take words with you and return to
Yahweh. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the bulls of our lips,” (Hosea 14:2).
Note: Many English translations
intentionally mistranslate this passage. The Hebrew is quite clear,
"Pa-reem S'fa-tay-nu, the bulls of our lips." Instead they
mistranslate the Hebrew as if it said, "Pay-rote S'fa-tay-nu, the fruit of
our lips." This means that for the specific purpose of misrepresenting
what the Bible says that Yahweh accepts prayer in place of sacrifices, thereby
they have changed the word of Yahweh!
“He who conceals his sins does not
prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy ......”
(Proverbs 28:13).
Another superior payment method was
charity:
“Through love and faithfulness sin is
atoned for; through the fear of Yahweh a man avoids evil.” (Proverbs. 16:6).
“To do what is right and just is more
acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice......” (Proverbs 21:3).
“For I desire
mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of Aloah rather than burnt offering.” (Hosea 6:6).
The following quotations all come
from I Kings 8, in which King Solomon dedicates the only Temple in the world to
the One True Sovereign. It was in this very Temple that the sacrifices (penalty
payments) were to take place. Yet even at the dedication of this very Temple,
Solomon knew that one need only pray to Yahweh for forgiveness, after
repenting, and He would forgive:
“...and when a prayer or plea is made
by any of your people Israel-- each one aware of the afflictions of his own
heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple--then hear from heaven,
your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he
does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men).....” (1 Kings
8:38-39).
The Non-Israelites were also to pray
directly to Yahweh for the forgiveness of their sins, and without the need of
any sacrifice!
“As for the foreigner who does not
belong to your people Israel, but has come from a distant land because of your
name -- for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your
outstretched arm -- when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from
heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that
all the peoples of the land may know your name and fear you, as do your own
people Israel and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.” (1 Kings
8:41-43).
Notice here, that Yahweh allowed the
Non-Israelites to pray directly to him, without the need of a mediator. Yahweh
never did exclude anyone from Him. All He asks for is a contrite heart, and the
willingness to follow Him!
Remember, still, that the whole of
the sacrificial (penalty payment) system was centered at the Temple.
Solomon continues:
When they sin against you -- for there
is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over
to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if
they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent
and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, `We have sinned, we
have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all
their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and
pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have
chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your
dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And
forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they
have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy…. (1
Kings 8:46-50).
If you repent, and walk in
righteously Yahweh will save you from your sin!
Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18).
And he will restore your
righteousness! Even though you have sinned!
“He prays to Aloah and finds favor
with him, he sees Aloah's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by Aloah to
his righteous state.”
(Job 33:26). Aloah = Hebrew for “Mighty One, Power, Strength, the singular form
of “Alueim.”
Yahweh has clearly shown us that sacrifice of animals, a man like
Yahshua (Jesus) or other items of value are NOT necessary for atonement or forgiveness. Yahweh has made it abundantly clear to Israel what we are to do…!
Even in the New Testament, if Jesus (Yahshua) was given the “power” to forgive
“sins” just
by saying so (according to Matt. 9:5-8), would not that have been a much better was to forgive
the sins of men, then going
through the death experience of being executed on a cruel stake by
the Romans?
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise,
and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth
to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up
thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his
house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God,
which had given such power unto men.” Mat 9:5-8.
Conclusion:
“With what shall I come before Yahweh
and bow down before the exalted Mighty-One? Shall I come before him with burnt
offerings, with calves a year old? Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of
rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (The answer
is NO!)
(What is the answer?) -“He
has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does Yahweh require of you? Only to do Justice, and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with your
Mighty-One.” Micah 6:6-8.
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