The Hebrew word mazlêg, represented by H4207, is a term for a fleshhook or fork. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses in the Bible. The word comes from an unused root that means "to draw up," which aptly describes the function of this specific utensil.
In the biblical narrative, H4207 is consistently used to describe an instrument for religious service. It is specified as one of the vessels for the altar, to be made of brass for the tabernacle (Exodus 27:3, Exodus 38:3) and later for Solomon's temple 2 Chronicles 4:16. These fleshhooks were listed among the holy vessels to be transported with the altar Numbers 4:14. For the temple, the plans provided by David designated pure gold for the fleshhooks 1 Chronicles 28:17. A specific use is detailed in 1 Samuel, where a priest's servant would use a fleshhook of three teeth to retrieve a portion of the boiling sacrificial meat from a pot as part of the priests' custom in Shiloh 1 Samuel 2:13-14.
Several related words, often appearing in the same lists of sacred items, provide context for the use of the fleshhook:
- H3257 yâʻ (shovel): This implement is listed alongside the fleshhook as one of the essential utensils for the altar service Exodus 27:3.
- H5518 çîyr (pot): This is the type of vessel in which a sacrifice would be boiling, and from which the fleshhook would draw out the priest's portion 1 Samuel 2:14.
- H1731 dûwd (kettle): This is another vessel for cooking or boiling offerings, into which the priest's servant would strike the fleshhook to take what it brought up 1 Samuel 2:14.
- H3627 kᵉlîy (vessel, instrument): This general term is used to encompass the fleshhooks, shovels, and other items, identifying them collectively as the prepared apparatus for the service of the altar Exodus 38:3.
The significance of H4207 is tied to its function within Israel's system of worship.
- Instrument of Sacrifice: The fleshhook was a necessary tool for handling the holy sacrifices, playing a direct role in the sacred rituals prescribed for the tabernacle and temple Exodus 38:3.
- Designated Sanctity: The specific instruction that the fleshhooks be made of brass or even pure gold underscores their dedicated and holy purpose, setting them apart from common implements 1 Chronicles 28:17.
- Priestly Provision: Its use illustrates the established custom for the priests' provision, as it was the instrument used to draw out their allotted share from the offerings of the people 1 Samuel 2:14.
In summary, H4207 refers to the fleshhook, a specialized utensil integral to the sacrificial rites of the tabernacle and temple. Though mentioned infrequently, its inclusion in divine instructions for altar vessels, its construction from sanctified materials like brass and gold, and its functional role in the priestly service highlight the precision and order required in Old Testament worship. It represents a small but significant piece of the sacred equipment used in the sacrificial system.
TRV