Lev 2:1 | MHM | STEP | Leviticus 2:1: The Law of the Meat-Offering This passage gives the rules for the meat-offering, also called the grain-offering. Some meat-offerings were given with burnt-offerings or peace-offerings, as seen in Exodus 29:38, 39 and Numbers 15:4, 7, 9, 10 . But here, the law is about meat-offerings that are given by themselves, whenever someone wants to show devotion to God. The first offering in the Bible was a grain-offering, when Cain brought the fruit of the ground to God (Genesis 4:3 ). v. 1 : The meat-offering is special because it allows even the poor to give something to God. People who only have simple food like bread or cakes can offer it to God, just as the widow of Sarepta gave a little cake to Elijah first (1 Kings 17:12-13 ). By giving to God first, they can receive His blessing. This offering is also a way to thank God for providing food and to show dependence on Him. When people share their food with others, they honor God with a spiritual offering. In times of famine, the prophet Joel mourned that the meat-offering and drink-offering were stopped (Joel 1:9 ), and he said that the return of these offerings was a sign of God’s blessing (Joel 2:14 ). The offering must always be made with fine flour and oil, which were important foods in Canaan (Deuteronomy 8:8 ). Oil was used like butter is today. If the flour is not cooked, oil is poured on top ( v. 1 ). If it is cooked, the oil is mixed in ( v. 4 ). v. 1-2 : If the flour is offered uncooked, frankincense must be added and burned with it to make the altar smell sweet ( v. 1, 2 ). This sweet smell is like the good reputation of gospel ministers, who are described as a “sweet savour unto God” (2 Corinthians 2:15 ).

‏ Leviticus 2:1

Leviticus 2:1: The Law of the Meat-Offering

This passage gives the rules for the meat-offering, also called the grain-offering. Some meat-offerings were given with burnt-offerings or peace-offerings, as seen in Exodus 29:38, 39 ^a and Numbers 15:4, 7, 9, 10 ^b. But here, the law is about meat-offerings that are given by themselves, whenever someone wants to show devotion to God. The first offering in the Bible was a grain-offering, when Cain brought the fruit of the ground to God (Genesis 4:3 ^c).

v. 1: The meat-offering is special because it allows even the poor to give something to God. People who only have simple food like bread or cakes can offer it to God, just as the widow of Sarepta gave a little cake to Elijah first (1 Kings 17:12-13 ^d). By giving to God first, they can receive His blessing. This offering is also a way to thank God for providing food and to show dependence on Him. When people share their food with others, they honor God with a spiritual offering. In times of famine, the prophet Joel mourned that the meat-offering and drink-offering were stopped (Joel 1:9 ^e), and he said that the return of these offerings was a sign of God’s blessing (Joel 2:14 ^f).

The offering must always be made with fine flour and oil, which were important foods in Canaan (Deuteronomy 8:8 ^g). Oil was used like butter is today. If the flour is not cooked, oil is poured on top (v. 1 ^h). If it is cooked, the oil is mixed in (v. 4 ⁱ).

v. 1-2: If the flour is offered uncooked, frankincense must be added and burned with it to make the altar smell sweet (v. 1, 2 ^j). This sweet smell is like the good reputation of gospel ministers, who are described as a “sweet savour unto God” (2 Corinthians 2:15 ^k).