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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Three
Chapter 9
The Manner Of Our Offering Sacrifices
1. I Will now, however, make mention of a few of our laws which
belong to purifications, and the like sacred offices, since I am
accidentally come to this matter of sacrifices. These sacrifices
were of two sorts; of those sorts one was offered for private
persons, and the other for the people in general; and they are
done in two different ways. In the one case, what is slain is
burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that name is given to
it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for
feasting those that sacrifice. I will speak of the former.
Suppose a private man offer a burnt-offering, he must slay
either a bull, a lamb, or a kid of the goats, and the two latter
of the first year, though of bulls he is permitted to sacrifice
those of a greater age; but all burnt-offerings are to be of
males. When they are slain, the priests sprinkle the blood round
about the altar; they then cleanse the bodies, and divide them
into parts, and salt them with salt, and lay them upon the
altar, while the pieces of wood are piled one upon another, and
the fire is burning; they next cleanse the feet of the
sacrifices, and the inwards, in an accurate manner and so lay
them to the rest to be purged by the fire, while the priests
receive the hides. This is the way of offering a burnt-offering.
2. But those that offer thank-offerings do indeed sacrifice the
same creatures, but such as are unblemished, and above a year
old; however, they may take either males or females. They also
sprinkle the altar with their blood; but they lay upon the altar
the kidneys and the caul, and all the fat, and the lobe of the
liver, together with the rump of the lamb; then, giving the
breast and the right shoulder to the priests, the offerers feast
upon the remainder of the flesh for two days; and what remains
they burn.
3. The sacrifices for sins are offered in the same manner as is
the thank-offering. But those who are unable to purchase
complete sacrifices, offer two pigeons, or turtle doves; the one
of which is made a burnt-offering to God, the other they give as
food to the priests. But we shall treat more accurately about
the oblation of these creatures in our discourse concerning
sacrifices. But if a person fall into sin by ignorance, he
offers an ewe lamb, or a female kid of the goats, of the same
age; and the priests sprinkle the blood at the altar, not after
the former manner, but at the corners of it. They also bring the
kidneys and the rest of the fat, together with the lobe of the
liver, to the altar, while the priests bear away the hides and
the flesh, and spend it in the holy place, on the same day; (23)
for the law does not permit them to leave of it until the
morning. But if any one sin, and is conscious of it himself, but
hath nobody that can prove it upon him, he offers a ram, the law
enjoining him so to do; the flesh of which the priests eat, as
before, in the holy place, on the same day. And if the rulers
offer sacrifices for their sins, they bring the same oblations
that private men do; only they so far differ, that they are to
bring for sacrifices a bull or a kid of the goats, both males.
4. Now the law requires, both in private and public sacrifices,
that the finest flour be also brought; for a lamb the measure of
one tenth deal, for a ram two, and for a bull three. This they
consecrate upon the altar, when it is mingled with oil; for oil
is also brought by those that sacrifice; for a bull the half of
an hin, and for a ram the third part of the same measure, and
one quarter of it for a lamb. This hin is an ancient Hebrew
measure, and is equivalent to two Athenian choas (or congiuses).
They bring the same quantity of oil which they do of wine, and
they pour the wine about the altar; but if any one does not
offer a complete sacrifice of animals, but brings fine flour
only for a vow, he throws a handful upon the altar as its
first-fruits, while the priests take the rest for their food,
either boiled or mingled with oil, but made into cakes of bread.
But whatsoever it be that a priest himself offers, it must of
necessity be all burnt. Now the law forbids us to sacrifice any
animal at the same time with its dam; and, in other cases, not
till the eighth day after its birth. Other sacrifices there are
also appointed for escaping distempers, or for other occasions,
in which meat-offerings are consumed, together with the animals
that are sacrificed; of which it is not lawful to leave any part
till the next day, only the priests are to take their own share.
Continue on to
Book
Three,
Chapter 10,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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