Board index ‹ Animals

[Bearly There]

What was the point of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament? I read the book The Story: The Bible As One Continuing Story of God and His People, and referenced in a Study Bible, but I'm have difficulty understanding it.

[jimwalton]

Animals sacrifices had several "points" to them.

1. They were symbols of spiritual truths. Life was considered to be represented by blood, so sacrificing an animal was symbolic of giving oneself to God.

2. Sin caused death, and a very graphic way of representing that was to kill an animal (shed its blood) as a picture.

3. In the New Testament we read that Jesus shedding His blood was a picture of getting rid of sin and us having access to God's presence. Sacrificing an animal was a perfect picture of that.

4. It gave the people meat to eat. Meat was scarce in the ancient world, and to kill an animal was to lose its use for wool, milk, or more animals. So when they killed an animal in sacrifice to God, that meat was not wasted. The people would eat it. So it was a gift to God and a gift to them as well.

[Balloon Man]

> So when they killed an animal in sacrifice to God, that meat was not wasted. The people would eat it

This really depends on which kind of sacrifice you're speaking about. An olah (elevation offering) would be completely consumed. A chatas (sin offering) would be eaten by the kohanim. A todah (thanksgiving offering) was made into a meal for all those the bringer cared to invite.

[jimwalton]

Correct. What I said is still correct: The people would eat it.

[Balloon Man]

Some people eat some of it. The way you phrased it made it sound like you were saying all people were permitted to consume it in all cases, which is what I was coming to correct.

[jimwalton]

Thanks for the correction. I wasn't necessarily implying that, so I appreciate your clarification. I only meant that some people seem to think it was all just animal brutality with carcasses piling up everywhere , when in reality it was often more like a bar-b-q with people often getting to eat the meat and grain.