1. The general name, from the Hebrew word SHELEM , means to make up, supply that which is lacking, wanting, deficient.
A. It also called the 'offering of completion.'
B. It was one of the sweet savor sacrifices.
a. Most joyous of all sacrifices.
b. The fat of the peace offering was called the food of the offering made by fire unto YHWH. - Lev. 3:11 - OR IT IS GOD'S FOOD.
c. The rest of the animal is given man as the bread of God Lev. 21:21.
d. Thus, the entire sacrifice is a festive banquet - celebrating a season of happy fellowship with God.
C. Main object consists of a sacrifice which terminates in a festive sacrificial meal.
a. To express an attitude of restored peace, friendship and fellowship with God.
b. Therefore, it comes at the end of a sacrificial repertoire.
c. Psalms 116:17- "I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Elohim."
d. Anyone presuming to eat the peace offering without all sins and impurities already removed by a sin or trespass offering: "that soul shall be cut off from the people." - Lev. 7: 19-21.
e. Even ceremonial impurities disqualified one from this banquet.
2. The Peace-Offering is ancient.
A. In pre-Mosaic days its use underscored the basic concept of sacrifice.
B. In New Testament times, even the pagans had a peace offering (1st Cor. 10:20-21).
THE THREE TYPES OF PEACE OFFERINGS
1. There are three basic kinds of Peace Offerings.
A. The Thank-Offering - Hebrew word Horah. - Lev. 7:11-14.
B. The Vow-offering - Hebrew word Neder - Lev. 7:16
C. The Free-will offering - Hebrew word - Nidabah - Lev. 7:16 and Judges 20:26.
2. The choice of animals allowed for the peace offering.
A. Cattle from the herd - Lev. 3: 1-5.
B. Sheep and goats from the flock - Lev. 3: 6-16.
C. Could either be male or female - the male preferred.
D. The pigeon and the dove excluded - not large enough for a banquet!
E. The feast could sometimes last over a two day period. Lev. 7:17.
3. The three different peace offerings had restrictions and liberties peculiar to their sacrificial intent.
A. A Thank-Offering being the highest form - had to be without blemish - Lev. 3:1.
1) It was presented with a loaf of bread for a heave offering - unto YHWH and then given to the Priest.
2) The flesh must be eaten on the day it was offered - Lev. 7:15.
3) All remaining scraps must be burned - but not on the altar.
B. The Vow Offering was of a lower grade but still had to be without blemish. (Lev. 22:20)
1) The leftovers may be eaten on the second day.
2) But - the leftovers MAY NOT be eaten on the third day.
3) Perhaps because the flesh begins to see corruption on the third day. - John 11:39 - Acts 2:31.
C. The Free-Will offering was the lowest form and did not require a perfect animal. - Lev. 22:23.
1) Anything superfluous or lacking in his parts was allowed.
2) Only those defects which did not affect its value as food.
3) As with the burnt offering, expiation is not the intent of this sacrifice.
4) Any animal that was blind, broken or maimed, with sores, scurvy, or scabs was excluded. v.22.
5) The sacrifices all typify Christ and therefore must be physically perfect.
6) Any animal with its stones bruised or castrated was
excluded. v. 24
4. Any person not in a covenant relationship with God is not allowed to offer sacrifices nor to eat of those of the true Israelite. - Lev. 22:25
A. No foreigner could even provide the animal to be sacrificed.
B. The reason: their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them - Lev.22:25.
C. This seems to indicate that they are not in a covenant relationship with God - thus they do not qualify for this sacrifice- that speaks of intense fellowship between God and the worshiper.
The Ritual of the Peace Offering has Six Stages.
1. The presentation (see the burnt offering).
2. Laying on of hands (see the burnt offering).
3. Killing the victim by the worshiper (see the burnt offering)
4. Sprinkling the blood by the priest (the worshiper can go no farther).
5. All the fat is removed and fumed to God on the altar.
A. In the burnt offering the whole animal was smoked to God but in the peace offering, only the fat was - this is God's portion - Lev. 3:3.
B. God claims the fat from all sacrifices.
1) In the burnt offering there was no need to remove the fat since the entire animal went to God.
2) In relation to the sheep, the demand was the same except the fat tail entire - Lev. 3:9.
C. The best and richest part belongs to God.
1) Fat is a symbol of abundance and richness - fat stands near to the blood as the representative of life. (A sign of the animals health and vigor).
2) Here are some verses that indicate the value of fat.
Gen. - 27:28 - 45:18 - Deut. 32:15 - Job 36:16 - Psa. 36:8; 65:11; Isa. 25:6; 55:2; Romans 11:17.
6. The Distribution of the sacrificial animal.
A. The Wave breast was removed and given to the priestly family of Aaron and his sons - Lev. 7:31, 34-36.
1) Aaron and sons not directly involved but received part of the meat.
2) The waving was done by the offerer laying his hand on top of the officiating priest placing his hand underneath the breast.
3) In was then moved and waved toward the altar and returned.
4) Such waving was symbolic as to the breast really belonging to the altar and therefore, to God.
5) Thus, God - not the worshiper gives it to the high priest.
6) It was then taken to Aaron's home and eaten.
B. The Heave thigh - was removed and given to the officiating priest.
1) As compensation for his priestly functions, Lev. 7:32-33.
2) The thigh was heaved toward heaven - to show that it was God's and back to the priests.
3) Thus God was seen as the donor- He was the priest's providence - Exodus 29: 26-28.
4. Deut. 18:2 - the Levities shall have no inheritance among their brethren: YHWH is THEIR INHERITANCE. Josh. 13:14
5. It is the same practice we find in the meal offering with the same motive.
C. All the rest of the sacrifice was given by God to the offerer (minus the fat and breast and thigh) as a sacrificial banquet.
1. The place of the banquet was before YHWH thy God in the place which the Lord thy God. Duet. 12: 5-7.
2. The prohibition is clarified - not within thy gates or home - Deut. 12: 17-18.
3. This was ordained to prove that God was the host and the offerer was the guest!
4. The offerer is now recognized as having standing in God's house and a seat at God's table.
5. Those who can eat at the banquet are: the offerer, his family, his servants, any Levite that is within his gates (Deut. 12:18),
The sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow that is within in his gates - Deut. 16:11