with their meat and drink-offerings. And each of the seven days one goat for a sin-offering. And on the eighth day a holy convocation, with offerings of one bullock, one ram and seven lambs, with accompaniments, and one ram for a sin-offering. “These things shall ye do unto the Lord in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meat-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings” (Num. xxix. 12–39).
The service of the Tabernacle and its offerings were supplied by contributions of half a shekel per head on all that were numbered, from twenty years old and upwards. The rich were not to give more, nor the poor less. It was offered to the Lord to make an atonement for their souls (Exod. xxx. 14–16).
As indicated in the latter portion of the above quotation (Num. xxix. 39), besides these stated daily, monthly, and annual sacrifices, which were of a public or general character, there were—
1st. Voluntary offerings, which do not seem to have been specially enjoined, nor to have had reference to any particular sins, but arose from the voluntary will and devotion of the person offering, and the priest sprinkled the blood round about upon the altar; “and it was accepted for him to make an atonement for him” (Lev. i. 2–5); “an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the Lord” (ver. 9). It was required to be a male without blemish of the herd or of the flock, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons (vers. 2 and 10–17).
2nd. Peace-offerings, also for the most part voluntarily, in which the offerer shared with the priest the offering—a male or female of the herd without blemish, or a lamb or goat (Lev. iii. 1, &c.).
3rd. The Sin-offering for sins of ignorance afterwards brought to light (Lev. iv. 13, &c.).
4th. The Trespass-offering.—If any one sinned in hearing swearing and not uttering it, or in any uncleanness, or swearing, he was to take a lamb or a kid (a female), or two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, or, if too poor for any of them, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour, “and the priest shall make an atonement for him for the sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him” (Lev. v. 1–13).
In every case the offering was required to be perfect in its kind, and without blemish.
The sin-offering was more especially for atonement; but the voluntary and other offerings are spoken of as contributing thereto (Lev. i. 3): coming from the voluntary will of the people, they expressed the heart’s devotion, and bore a “sweet savour to God.”
But in the days when Isaiah wrote, and when great corruption prevailed, it is said, “Incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with” (Isa. i. 13). And Amos says, “I will not smell in your solemn assembly” (Amos v. 21). The people drew near with the lip, but the heart was far from God (Isa. xxix. 13); so the sacrifices bore with them no sweet savour of devotion to Him.