Category: Tzav
Just a Barbeque?
Vayikra (Leviticus) 6:1-8:36 | Yirme’yahu 7:21–8;9:22–23
We have various teachings designed to regulate the sacrificial system in Parashat Tzav. Although there was never an explicit command to do so, it was always understood that the sacrifices were to be offered with sincerity. They were never there just so people could merely go through the motions of slaughtering animals for the ritual sake. They were always intended to function just as the Hebrew word for sacrifice suggests, to bring one near to God. The sacrifices were meant to be covenant gestures celebrating the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
Yet in Jeremiah’s day, the sacrificial system had certainly become a system of religious rituals for many, devoid of real meaning. Judah’s disobedience to the covenant had turned her observance of the covenant sacrifice into a mockery. It might be compared to a man who is openly unfaithful to his wife and yet thinks he can appease her by sending her flowers on their anniversary. God is less than flattered by sacrifices brought by unfaithful and unrepentant sacrificers.
The prophet Jeremiah responds with an angry rebuke from God. This is not one of the happiest passages in the Bible. Jeremiah is in the midst of preaching a sermon, pronouncing a severe judgment upon the house of Judah (and any of the house of Israel who had taken residence among them). Although they were going through the form of offering sacrifices, in reality they were not pleasing the Lord. The Holy One desired holy living from them.
In the sarcastic rebuke of Jeremiah 7:21, the prophet mentions two kinds of sacrifices, the burnt offerings and the others. Burnt offerings, represented by the Hebrew word olot, were supposed to be totally consumed in fire. The idea was for both the smoke and the ensuing aroma to “rise up” (this is the root meaning of oleh) to God. However, the other offerings were meant to be eaten by either the offerer or the p...
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