Burnt offering (Judaism)

The Altar of Incense, Altar of Burnt-Offering, and Laver from the Biblical Tabernacle; illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible

A burnt offering in Judaism (Hebrew: קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה, qorban ʿōlā) is a form of sacrifice first described in the Hebrew Bible. As a tribute to God, a burnt offering was entirely burnt on the altar. This is in contrast to other forms of sacrifice (entitled zevach or zevach shelamim), which was partly burnt and most of it eaten in communion at a sacrificial meal.[1]

During the First Temple and Second Temple periods, offerings took place twice daily offered on the altar as a burnt animal in the temple in Jerusalem that was completely consumed by fire.[2] The skin of the animal, however, was not burnt but given to the priests respective of their priestly division. These skins are listed as one of the twenty-four priestly gifts in Tosefta Hallah (or Tosefta Challah).[3][4]

  1. ^ Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi (2014). Jewish Study Bible (2 Rev(November 2014) ed.). [S.l.]: Oxford University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0199978465. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Twice a Day, Every Day: The obligation to offer two lambs daily". Orthodox Union. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ Jacob Neusner. The Comparative Hermeneutics of Rabbinic Judaism: Why this, not that?. p. 144.
  4. ^ "Tosefta Challah 2:8". Sefaria: a Living Library of Jewish Texts Online. Sefaria. Retrieved 28 August 2024.