Leviticus 7:15 deals with the proper way to consume the shelamim, or peace offering, specifically when it's offered as a thanksgiving. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving...": This refers to a specific type of peace offering brought as a thank you to God for a blessing or deliverance.
"...shall be eaten on the day of his offering.": This is the key point. The entire portion of the thanksgiving peace offering designated for the offerer and those sharing with them had to be consumed on the very same day it was sacrificed. It could not be left until later.
"He shall not leave any of it until the morning.": This reinforces the previous point. Nothing of the designated portion of the thanksgiving peace offering could be saved or eaten the next day. It had to be completely consumed within the same day.
In essence, the verse dictates immediate and complete consumption of the thanksgiving peace offering.
Why this rule?
There are a few possible interpretations for this requirement:
Perishability: In the ancient world, without refrigeration, meat would spoil quickly. This might have been a practical health measure to prevent foodborne illness.
Freshness and Gratitude: Eating it immediately highlights the urgency and sincerity of the thanksgiving. It emphasized the joy and immediacy of the gratitude to God. The celebration and communion with God and fellow participants was meant to be fully enjoyed on that very day.
Preventing Desecration: Allowing it to sit overnight could be seen as disrespectful or allowing it to become unclean. Eating it completely ensured it was consumed while it was still considered sacred.
Community Sharing: The rule likely encouraged sharing the offering with others in the community, ensuring that none went to waste and that others could partake in the celebration of thanksgiving. A single person wouldn't be able to eat a whole offering, so they would need to invite others to share.
Context within Leviticus:
It's important to note that this strict rule applied only to the thanksgiving peace offering. Other types of peace offerings (vow or freewill offerings) had slightly different rules about when they could be eaten. This demonstrates the specific emphasis on the immediacy of gratitude in the thanksgiving offering.
Leviticus 7:15 deals with the proper way to consume the shelamim, or peace offering, specifically when it's offered as a thanksgiving. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving...": This refers to a specific type of peace offering brought as a thank you to God for a blessing or deliverance.
"...shall be eaten on the day of his offering.": This is the key point. The entire portion of the thanksgiving peace offering designated for the offerer and those sharing with them had to be consumed on the very same day it was sacrificed. It could not be left until later.
"He shall not leave any of it until the morning.": This reinforces the previous point. Nothing of the designated portion of the thanksgiving peace offering could be saved or eaten the next day. It had to be completely consumed within the same day.
In essence, the verse dictates immediate and complete consumption of the thanksgiving peace offering.
Why this rule?
There are a few possible interpretations for this requirement:
Perishability: In the ancient world, without refrigeration, meat would spoil quickly. This might have been a practical health measure to prevent foodborne illness.
Freshness and Gratitude: Eating it immediately highlights the urgency and sincerity of the thanksgiving. It emphasized the joy and immediacy of the gratitude to God. The celebration and communion with God and fellow participants was meant to be fully enjoyed on that very day.
Preventing Desecration: Allowing it to sit overnight could be seen as disrespectful or allowing it to become unclean. Eating it completely ensured it was consumed while it was still considered sacred.
Community Sharing: The rule likely encouraged sharing the offering with others in the community, ensuring that none went to waste and that others could partake in the celebration of thanksgiving. A single person wouldn't be able to eat a whole offering, so they would need to invite others to share.
Context within Leviticus:
It's important to note that this strict rule applied only to the thanksgiving peace offering. Other types of peace offerings (vow or freewill offerings) had slightly different rules about when they could be eaten. This demonstrates the specific emphasis on the immediacy of gratitude in the thanksgiving offering.