The grain offering and an Israelite (Leviticus 2)

The grain offering was given to the Lord as an acknowledgement that all their provisions came from him and an as expression of thankfulness to him for his kindness. The term used is minha, which means a gift or a tribute (for example, it is translated ‘present’ when used by Jacob in Genesis 43:11 and ‘tribute’ when given by various kings to Solomon in 1 Kings 5:1). It was a reminder to the offerer that he was a subject of a higher authority to whom gratitude should be expressed as a demonstration of loyalty.

A grain offering could be offered at any time in addition to the prescribed offering at the Feast of Weeks and other specified occasions. Those additional offerings were voluntary by which the Israelite worshipper spontaneously showed his delight dependence on and an ongoing submission to the Lord. Yet his obedience could not only be expressed by spontaneous offerings – he also had to obey specific divine commandments concerning his offering as part of the Feast of Weeks.

Further, this offering reminded the Israelite worshipper that he was involved in a totally different religion from the surrounding peoples. This was depicted in the absence of leaven and honey, which were used in pagan sacrifices. Inevitably there were some similarities between the offerings of the Israelites and the neighbouring peoples. Therefore items were omitted that pointed to the reality of being different. Nevertheless, in other offerings, leaven and honey were allowed, so it is not correct to say that leaven always depicts evil.

The grain offering also informed the Israelite worshipper that he was responsible for providing the priests with food and other provisions. Priests did not have land as their inheritance, therefore they had to look to other Israelites to provide. One way of doing this was through the grain offering. This giving to the priests was an essential part of the Israelites’ worship of God and was not an add-on to his worship. The point made earlier about the combination of voluntary and specific applies here as well. Priests would receive a share from the specified offerings at the Feast of Weeks, but they would also receive a portion from the voluntary grain offerings.

Part of the grain offering was burned on the altar as a memorial offering. This may mean that the worshipper had remembered God, but it is more likely that it signified that the offerer wanted the Lord to continue to remember him and supply his future needs.

Moreover, the grain offering had to include salt. Salt was used in the making of covenants and some scholars suggest that it came to be included in the grain offering through the practice of those making a covenant concluding it by sharing a meal in which salt was taken. What is clear is that salt was a reminder of the covenant between God and Israel, and its inclusion was a confession of the unique relationship that existed between God and the worshipper – a relationship of Redeemer and redeemed, of Guide and travellers, and of Provider and the needy.