“Find him as soon as you enter the city, before he goes up to the high place to eat; because the people won’t eat until he comes and blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards, the ones invited will eat. So go on up, because this is when you will find him.”-1 Samuel 9:13
Alrighty, I gotta quiz question for ya!
In verse 13 of 1 Samuel Chapter 9, Saul and his young companion had arrived at the feast just in the nick of time to witness Samuel bless the sacrifice…
So here’s my quiz question…
Out of the following basic Levitical sacrifices, which one is being referred to in this verse?
OLAH (Burnt Offering)
MINCHAH (Grain Offering)
HATTA-AT (Sin Offering)
ASHAM (Guilt Offering)
ZEVAH (Peace Offering)
Let me give you a hint…
It’s the kind of sacrifice that’s voluntary…
And it’s offered up when making a vow…
Or when giving thanks to God for some good fortune.
Have any idea?
Alright, let me give you an even bigger hint.
It’s the type of sacrifice that allows the worshipper to eat most of the meat after it’s burned up on the altar.
This is different than all the other kinds of sacrifices whereby the priests get to keep the bulk of the meat that isn’t burned up on the altar.
That’s why this particular sacrifice was often offered up at banquets where there were many guests.
Okay, have any idea which sacrifice I’m talking about?
After all those hints, I practically gave you the answer.
The answer is the ZEVAH…
And in English, when it’s specified, it’s usually translated as the “Peace” or “Gratitude” offering.
Again, it was the perfect type of sacrifice for the occasion being described in this chapter because there were honored guests and after the sacrifice the sacrificial animal would be eaten.
Now here’s the takeaway I want you to get from this.
The English translators of whatever Bible version you’re reading weren’t necessarily wrong by translating ZEVAH into “sacrifice” here in verse 19.
And it probably wouldn’t make a difference to 99% of the gentile believing population because their Torah knowledge is practically zero.
But imagine all of the flavor and nuance you miss if you don’t have a strong Torah foundation when reading the Scriptures!
It’s the difference between watching your favorite movie in black-and-white on a 50 year old TV set versus seeing it in an IMAX theater in 3D complete with popcorn and a nice cold drink.
That’s why I’m so passionate and adamant that you get a strong grounding in the first five Books of Moses before venturing off into any other part of Scripture…ESPECIALLY THE NEW TESTAMENT.
If you have a strong Torah foundation, you’ll be miles ahead of any pastor, preacher or teacher on the planet because they don’t understand Torah.
Remember, a strong foundation is EVERYTHING.
Ya feel me?
See ya next time.
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