8:63) no less than 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep were so offered. Private peace-

offerings were of a threefold kind (Lev 7:11): 'sacrifices of thanksgiving' (Lev 7:12),

'vows,' and strictly 'voluntary offerings' (Lev 7:16). The first were in general

acknowledgment of mercies received; the last, the free gift of loving hearts, as even the

use of the same term in Exodus 25:2, 35:29 implies. Exceptionally in this last case, an

animal that had anything either 'defective' or 'superfluous' might be offered (Lev 22:23).

Peace-offerings were brought either of male or of female animals (chiefly of the former),

but not of pigeons, the sacrifice being, of course, always accompanied by a meat- and a

drink offering (Lev 7:11, etc.). As every other sacrifice, they needed imposition of hands,

confession, and sprinkling of blood, the latter being done as in the burnt-offering. Then

the 'inwards' were taken out and 'waved' before the Lord, along with 'the breast' and the

'right shoulder' (or, perhaps more correctly, the right leg). In reference to these two

wave-offerings we remark, that the breast properly belonged to the Lord, and that He

gave it to His priests (Lev 7:30), while Israel gave the 'right shoulder' directly to the

priests (Lev 7:32). The ritual of waving has already been described, 60 the meaning of the

movement being to present the sacrifice, as it were, to the Lord, and then to receive it

back from Him.

The Rabbinical suggestion, that there was a distinct rite of 'heaving' besides that of

'waving,' seems only to rest on a misunderstanding of such passages as Leviticus 2:2, 9;

7:32; 10:15, etc. 61

The following were to be 'waved' before the Lord: the breast of the peace-offering (Lev

7:30); the parts mentioned at the consecration of the priests (Lev 8:25-29); the first omer

at the Passover (Lev 23:11); the jealousy-offering (Num 5:25); the offering at the close of

a Nazarite's vow (Num 6:20); the offering of a cleansed leper (Lev 14:12); and 't he two

lambs' presented 'with the bread of the firstfruits,' at the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev

23:20). The two last-mentioned offerings were 'waved' before being sacrificed. After the

'waving,' the 'inwards' (Lev 3:3-5, etc.) were burnt on the altar of burnt-offering, and the

rest eaten either by priests or worshippers, the longest term allowed in any case for the

purpose being two days and a night from the time of sacrifice. Of course, the guests,

among whom were to be the Levites and the poor, must all be in a state of Levitical

purity, symbolical of 'the wedding garment' needful at the better gospel-feast.

We close with a few particulars about meat-offerings. These were either brought in

conjunction with burnt- and peace-offerings (but never with sin - or with trespass-

offerings) or else by themselves. The latter were either public or private meat-offerings.

The three public meat-offerings were: the twelve loaves of shewbread, renewed every

Sabbath, and afterwards eaten by the priests; the omer, or sheaf of the harvest, on the

second day of the Passover; and the two wave-loaves at Pentecost. Four of the private

meat-offerings were enjoined by the law, viz: (1) the daily meat-offering of the high-

priest, according to the Jewish interpretation of Leviticus 6:20; (2) that at the

consecration of priests (Lev 6:20); (3) that in substitution for a sin -offering, in case of

poverty (Lev 5:11,12); and that of jealousy (Num 5:15). The following five were purely

voluntary, viz. that of fine flour with oil, unbaken (Lev 2:1); that 'baken in a pan'; 'in a

frying-pan'; 'in the oven'; and the 'wafers' (Lev 2:4-7). All these offerings were to consist

of at least one omer of corn (which was the tenth part of an ephah) (Exo 16:36). But any

larger number under 61 omers might be offered, the reason of the limitation being, that as

the public meat- offerings enjoined on the feast of Tabernacles amounted to 61, 62 all

private offerings must be less than that number.