Lev. 2: The Grain Offering

The grain offering is the second of the voluntary offerings described in Leviticus 2. The concept of a grain offering dates back to the time of Passover when Israel was still in Egypt (Ex. 29:41).

There were several different ways a grain offering could be brought as a sacrifice, but there were stipulations for each. For example, the grain offering had to consist of fine flour, and it had to be made without yeast. I don't know what the diffy is between fine flour and unfine flour. I think it has to do with how well the flour is ground, and to what degree. It takes more work and effort and expertise to make fine flour.

Also, what is yeast? Its a fungus. It has been known to cause infections. Of course your bread shouldn't have it. Sin is another fungus. And cause of infection.

Acceptable Grain Offerings

Unprepared Fine Flour
Rules for the Sacrificer

• Pour oil on it
  
• Put incense on it
• Bring it to Aaron's sons

Oven Baked
Rules for the Sacrificer

• Cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or
  
• Wafers made without yeast and spread with oil
  

Prepared on a Griddle
Rules for the Sacrificer

• Crumble it, and pour oil on it

Cooked in a pan
Rules for the Sacrificer

• Made of fine flour and oil

Rules for Aaron's sons (for any grain offering)

• Take a handful (called the memorial portion) and burn it on the altar
• The rest of the grain belongs to Aaron and his sons
  

Yeast and honey were forbidden to be offered by burning. It was fine to offer them as firstfruits, but not by burning. Yeast and honey...not to be burned. I wonder why that is...the significance. We discussed what yeast is. Honey could be made from bees or the nectar of flowers. Honey is good for baking, but I could see where it would be more acceptable as a firstfruits offering. Honey is important to pollination, and sacrificing honey is in turn a sacrifice of any plants cultivated using honey. Also, the land will be flowing with milk and it (Ex. 3:8). And Manna tasted like it (Ex. 16:31). There is a symbol that it is part of a promise. And...therefore should not be burned.

All grain offerings were required to be seasoned with salt. Leviticus 2:13 says in three different ways that salt must be a part of the grain offering.

If a grain offering is going to be a firstfruits offering, it must be crushed heads (Gen. 3:15) of new grain roasted in fire, and the priest will burn the memorial portion with incense. This reminds me of the dream Pharoah had back in Genesis 41:7. The lean (crushed) heads ate up the fat heads. Would the crushed heads be more a reminder of the famine, or the plenty?