Day 3: Study Notes (Leviticus 2:7-16)
Parsha: Vayikra
Day #3: Leviticus 2:7-16
(Leviticus 2:7)
We learned in the second part of Parsha Vayikra about the Burnt Meal Offerings that are plain, baked, or cooked on a griddle. Today, our portion begins with another accepted preparation of the Meal Offering: prepared in a Pan.
As with the other accepted forms of preparation, the offering prepared in a pan has yet another set of instructions.
The Meal Offering in a pan is to be of choice flour, with oil mixed in.
- There are no specifics about leaven.
- There are no specifics of frankincense.
- (See Menachot 59, 74, and 75 for our sages' teachings) Specifically, in Menachot 74 and 75, the sages discussed the offerings prepared in pans as if they were loaves of bread. Not cakes. Not wafers. Hence the differentiation in preparation to the preparations discussed previously.
(Leviticus 2:8-10)
In these verses we learn from Hashem how He wants our meal offerings brought to Him. These rules, we learn, pertain to ALL meal offerings, no matter how they are prepared.
a. The Meal Offerings are to be brought to the priest.
b. The priest is to remove the Token Portion (discussed on Monday)
c. The priest is to burn the Token Portion and turn it into smoke--"a pleasing aroma to Hashem".
d. The remainder of the Meal Offering (after the Token Portion is removed) is given to Aaron and his sons (the Levitical priests) as the "most Holy Portion" from the LORD's offerings by fire."
In our previous discussion, be learned that the various elements of the Meal Offerings can represent the Jewish People:
a. Choice flour: Hashem has chosen the Jewish people as the choice firstfruits of His harvest (Jeremiah 2:3).
b. Oil on TOP: Like the Jewish people are anointed as Hashem's choice people, so their meal offering is anointed with oil.
c. Frankincense on TOP: we will learn later that other grain offerings (such as sin grain offerings) are not to contain frankincense. When burned, the frankincense adds an additional "pleasing aroma". Thus, the frankincense on the Burnt Meal Offering is especially pleasing to Hashem.
Tying the above facts with the fact that the Levites are the "Most Holy" portion of Hashem's people (since they are responsible for performing the work in the Holy Temple) and the substitute for the first-born of the Israelites (Numbers 3:11-13), it seems only fitting that the Levites would be given the most Holy Portion of the Meal Offering.
For, just as all of Israel are the "choice firstfruit of Hashem's harvest," so the Meal Offering is the pleasing "ram in the bush" offered and burned in place of the Jewish people. As such, just as the priests are the "ram in the bush" for the first-born, so their due portion of the offerings of the first-born (all of Israel) is the most holy portion.
(Leviticus 2:11-12)
We read the specification that is missing from some of the previously provided meal offering preparation instructions: There is to be NO LEAVEN nor Honey in ANY of the Meal Offerings.
Again, this command about NO LEAVEN hearkens to the Exodus and miracles of Hashem on Pesach.
- Honey connotes the Promised Land "flowing with milk and honey" and also Hashem's sweetness (think of the custom of eating apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah), which would become bitter if burned.
- Grain products with leaven or Honey mixed in "may be brought as an offering of choice products." Meaning leavened or sweetened grain offerings can be brought as a free-will offering, but NOT as burnt offerings.
(Leviticus 2:13)
We read about a second specification that is not mentioned in the commands of any of the previously mentioned preparation methods: SALT is to season EVERY MEAL OFFERING.
This command is so significant that Hashem calls it a SALT COVENANT: more than a command, or instruction, this addition of salt is an added eternal oath in the Ketubah and Peace Treaty that Hashem has signed, sealed, and delivered to His covenant Jewish people, the Jewish Nation of Israel.
(Leviticus 2:14-16)
Provides instructions for Meal Offerings that come from the first fruits (which is namely offered on Shavu'ot) of a person's harvest. These offerings must be either:
New ears parched with fire: think of the "New Nation of Israel" that was parched with the fires of Egypt.
Grits of fresh grain: think of the testing in the wilderness that "ground down" (at times) the new nation of Israel. Also, grits connote reminders of the manna that was provided as miracle food by Hashem to His Jewish peoples in the desert after the Exodus.
Oil is to be added into it. We will learn later that oil is burned to provide light in the holy Tabernacle. Oil also anoints and consecrates that which is holy unto Hashem. Thus, the oil on the pleasing burnt offerings anoints, consecrates, and provides extra light to the holy fires of Hashem that are aglow on the altar.
Frankincense is to be laid on it. As mentioned above, frankincense adds an extra pleasing aroma when burned. It is the pleasing odor of the bride in the Song of Songs. Thus, as the frankincense is burned, the pleasing aroma fills the air and raises the bride to the heavens where our Ishi resides.
These instructions are much like the plain Meal Burnt Offering.
The Priest is to take a Token Portion of this first fruit offering and turn it to smoke.
The Token Portion is to contain all three parts of the offering: The choice meal, oil, and ALL of the frankincense.
The command to burn all of the frankincense differentiates this offering from a regular Meal Offering.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis