Thankoffering

Thank-offering (זֶבִה תּוֹדָה, Le 22:29; or briefly תּוֹדָה, 2Ch 29:3; Ps 56:13; Jer 17:26; literally praise or thanksgiving, as often rendered), a variety of the peace-offering (hence the full expression זֶבִה תּוֹדִת הִשּׁלָמַים , Le 7:13,15), the other two kinds being the votive offering, specifically such (זֶבִה נֵדֶר), and the ordinary free-will offering (נדָבָה זֶבח). As its name implies, it was a bloody or animal sacrifice, and its specific character was the praise which it embodied towards God. Like all the other divisions of the peace-offering, it was entirely voluntary, being placed in the light of a privilege rather than a duty. It is intimately associated with the "meat-offering" (q.v.).

The nature of the victim was left to the sacrificer; it might be male or female, of the flock or of the herd, provided that it was unblemished; the hand of the sacrificer was laid on its head, the fat burned, and the blood sprinkled as in the burnt-offering; of the flesh, the breast and right shoulder (the former of which the offerer was to heave and the latter to wave) were given to the priest; the rest belonged to the sacrificer as a sacrificial feast (1Co 10:18), to be eaten, either on the day of sacrifice or on the next day (Le 7:11-18,384), except in the case of the firstlings, which belonged to the priest alone (Le 23:20). The eating of the flesh of the meat-offering was considered a partaking of the table of the Lord;" and on solemn occasions, as at the dedication of the Temple of Solomon, it was conducted on all enormous scale, and became a great national feast, especially at periods of unusual solemnity or rejoicing; as at the first inauguration of the covenant (Ex 24:5), at the first consecration of Aaron and of the tabernacle (Le 9:18), at the solemn reading of the law in Canaan by Joshua (Jos 8:31), at the accession of Saul (1Sa 11:15), at the bringing of the ark to Mount Zion by David (2Sa 6:17), at the consecration of the Temple, and thrice every year afterwards, by Solomon (1Ki 8:63; 1Ki 9:25), and at the great Passover of Hezekiah (2Ch 30:22). In two cases only (Jg 20:26; 2Sa 24:25) are these or any other kind of peace-offering mentioned as offered with burnt-offerings at a time of national sorrow and fasting. Here their force seems to have been precatory rather than eucharistic. The key to the understanding of this is furnished by Hengstenberg: "To give thanks for grace already received is a refined way of begging for more." As prayer is founded on the divine promise, it "may be expressed in the way of anticipated thanks." Among thank-offerings, in the most extensive sense, might be reckoned the presentation of the first-born (Ex 13:12-13); the first-fruits, including the fruit of all manner of trees, honey, oil, and new wine (Le 23:10-13; Nu 18:12; 1Ch 9:29; Ne 10:37;. 2Ch 32:5); the second tithe (De 12:17-18; De 14:23); and the lamb of the Passover (Ex 12:3-17). Leaven and honey were excluded from all offerings made by fire (Le 2:11); and salt was required in all (2, 13; Mr 9:49; Col 4:6). So also the Hebrews were forbidden to offer anything vile and contemptible (De 23:18; Mal 1:7-8). SEE PEACE OFFERING.

Bible concordance for THANK OFFERINGS.

See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

 
Topical Outlines Nave's Bible Topics International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online King James Bible King James Dictionary
 

Verse reference tagging and popups powered by VerseClick™.