Definition: And the meat offering thereof [shall be] two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD [for] a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof [shall be] of wine, the fourth [part] of an hin.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Leviticus – it's a really important part of Jewish tradition about how to offer food to God. Here’s what it means in plain language: Basically, this verse describes a special offering for meat and drink that was designed to be pleasing to God. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Leviticus 23:13” : This is the title of the verse – it tells us where this instruction comes from. It's part of a larger set of laws given to Moses about how to properly worship and honor God. “And the meat offering thereof [shall be] two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil…” : This means that the offering would consist of two equal parts: “tenth deals” : This is a big deal! "Deals" refers to portions, and "tenth" means 10 out of 100. So this means each part is worth 10% of the whole offering. It’s a significant amount – it was a large, important portion. “fine flour mingled with oil” : This is crucial! It signifies that the food would be made from a very pure and special type of grain (flour) and mixed with precious oil. These ingredients were chosen because they represented something holy and divine. “…an offering made by fire unto the LORD [for] a sweet savour…” : This is where it gets even more symbolic. “an offering made by fire” : The fire represents God’s presence and power – a way to show reverence. “for [a sweet savour]” : This means the offering wasn't just about the food itself, but also about the experience of giving it – it was meant to be enjoyable and appreciated. God wants us to feel connected to him through our offerings. “and the drink offering thereof [shall be] of wine, the fourth [part] of an hin.” : This describes how the drink portion is also important: “of wine” : Wine was a valued drink in ancient times and often used in religious ceremonies. It represented celebration and joy. “the fourth [part] of an hin” : “Hin” refers to a measure – it’s a specific unit of measurement for wine. "Fourth" means they were giving out 4 parts of the wine, which is a significant amount. In simpler terms: This verse says that when offering food and drink to God, we should give them in two equal portions, using special ingredients (flour and oil), and making it enjoyable with a sweet taste (wine). It's a way of showing respect and acknowledging God's presence through our offerings. Why is this important? This law was designed to make God’s blessings felt more real and tangible for the people in ancient Israel. It emphasized that we should be grateful and offer something beautiful and meaningful as a testament to our relationship with Him. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Connect this verse to other biblical teachings (like sacrifice)? Give you a quick summary of the overall purpose of this law?