|
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; 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.
|
|