Sacrifice, in OT

An act that involved offering to God the life of an animal. It expressed gratitude for God's goodness or acknowledgment of sin. It was also associated with establishing a covenant.

Sacrifice was an integral part of worship

See also Genesis 46:1; Exodus 10:24–26; Judges 13:19; 1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Kings 3:4

Sacrifices were a means of offering thanks to God

Genesis 4:4 Abel; Genesis 8:20 Noah delivered from the flood; Exodus 18:12 Jethro after God had delivered the Israelites; Judges 11:31 Jephthah; 1 Samuel 6:15 after the safe return of the ark; Ezra 3:3, Ezra 8:35; Psalm 27:6, Psalm 54:6, Psalm 107:17–22

Sacrifices were offered at regular religious festivals

Leviticus 23:5–8 Passover; Leviticus 23:18–20 the Feast of Weeks; Leviticus 23:23–25 the Feast of Trumpets; Leviticus 16:6–10, Leviticus 23:26–32; Leviticus 23:33–36 the Feast of Tabernacles

Special occasions were marked by sacrifices

1 Kings 8:63 the dedication of Solomon's temple; 2 Chronicles 29:31–33 after Hezekiah had purified the temple; Ezra 3:2–3 the Jews who returned from the Babylonian exile; Ezra 6:17 at the completion of the second temple

Sacrifices as signs of individual and national penitence

Leviticus 4:1–3, Leviticus 4:13–14; Judges 2:1–5, Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:8–9; 2 Samuel 24:10–25

The place of sacrifice

It was divinely chosen

Deuteronomy 12:13–14 See also Leviticus 17:3–5; Deuteronomy 12:2–6

Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see; you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Rival places of sacrifice caused the Israelites to sin

1 Kings 12:28–29, 1 Kings 12:32; 2 Chronicles 15:17, 2 Chronicles 31:1 Under Hezekiah the high places were destroyed.

God condemned certain sacrifices

Sacrifices to other gods

1 Kings 11:7–8 See also Numbers 25:1–3; 2 Kings 16:4, 2 Kings 16:15; Psalm 106:28; Isaiah 57:7, Isaiah 65:3, Isaiah 65:7; Jeremiah 19:4

At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

Human sacrifices

Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31; 1 Kings 16:34; 2 Kings 3:26–27, 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 17:31, 2 Kings 21:6; Ezekiel 20:31

Sacrifice to the LORD may be rejected

If it is a substitute for obedience

1 Samuel 15:20–22; Jeremiah 7:21–22; Hosea 8:11–13; Amos 4:4; Mark 12:33

If it is a substitute for justice and mercy

Isaiah 66:2–3; Micah 6:7–8; Matthew 9:13

If it is imperfect

Malachi 1:13–14

Blessing is promised when right sacrifices are offered

Genesis 22:15–18; Psalm 4:5, Psalm 50:14–15, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 51:17