Leviticus2

Leviticus chapter two details the regulations for the meat offering, which primarily consists of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. A portion is burned on the altar as a memorial, while the remainder is designated for the priests. The chapter also specifies various preparations, such as baked in an oven or pan, and prohibits leaven and honey, while requiring salt in all meat offerings.

The Offering of Fine Flour

1
"'Anyone who brings a grain offering to ADONAI is to make his offering of fine flour; he is to pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it. ​
2
He is to bring it to the sons of Aharon, the cohanim. The cohen is to take a handful of fine flour from it, together with its olive oil and all its frankincense, and make this reminder portion go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. ​
3
But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings for ADONAI made by fire. ​

Baked Grain Offerings

4
"'When you bring a grain offering which has been baked in the oven, it is to consist of either unleavened cakes made of fine flour mixed with olive oil or matzah spread with olive oil. ​
5
If your offering is a grain offering cooked on a griddle, it is to consist of unleavened fine flour mixed with olive oil;
6
you are to break it in pieces and pour olive oil on it -it is a grain offering.
7
If your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pot, it is to consist of fine flour with olive oil.
8
"'You are to bring the grain offering prepared in any of these ways to ADONAI ; it is to be presented to the cohen, and he is to bring it to the altar.
9
The cohen is to remove the reminder portion of the grain offering and make it go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.
10
But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings for ADONAI made by fire.

Required Ingredients and Prohibitions

11
"'No grain offering that you bring to ADONAI is to be made with leaven, because you are not to cause any leaven or honey to go up in smoke as an offering made by fire to ADONAI. ​
12
As an offering of firstfruits you may bring these to ADONAI, but they are not to be brought up onto the altar to make a fragrant aroma. ​
13
You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt -do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God, but offer salt with all your offerings. ​

The Offering of Firstfruits

14
"'If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to ADONAI, you are to bring as the grain offering from your firstfruits kernels of grain from fresh ears, dry-roasted with fire. ​
15
Put olive oil on it, and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
16
The cohen is to cause the reminder portion of it, its grits and olive oil, with all its frankincense, to go up in smoke; it is an offering made by fire for ADONAI.

Study Notes for Leviticus 2

Verse 1

The Hebrew word *minḥah* is better translated as 'grain offering' or 'tribute.' Unlike the burnt offering (ch. 1), this offering was voluntary and non-atoning, symbolizing dedication, thanks, and acknowledgment of God's provision.

Verse 2

The 'memorial portion' (*azkarah*) was the small part of the offering burned on the altar. Burning this portion acknowledged that the entire offering, including the part eaten by the priests, belonged ultimately to God.

Verse 3

Offerings designated 'most holy' (*qodesh qodeshim*) were required to be eaten by the priests within the sacred precincts of the tabernacle court, emphasizing their unique sanctity and separation.

Verse 4

The variety of preparatory methods (oven, pan, frying pan) suggests that the law provided flexibility, allowing individuals of different means and domestic capabilities to fulfill the requirements.

Verse 11

Leaven (yeast) often symbolized corruption or sin, while honey could cause fermentation. Their exclusion ensured the offering remained pure and uncorrupted when presented on the altar.

Verse 12

This verse provides an exception: while leaven and honey were prohibited from being burned on the altar (v. 11), they were permitted in the offering of firstfruits presented to the priests.

Verse 13

Salt was mandatory, symbolizing permanence, purity, and enduring faithfulness (the 'salt of the covenant'). It represented the unbreakable, purifying nature of the relationship between God and Israel.

Verse 14

This specific instruction details the offering of early, processed grain, emphasizing that the first and best of agricultural labor must be dedicated to the Lord.

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