Sacred Persons, Places, and Offerings

Sacred Persons, Places, and Offerings.

The original purpose of the priest is not absolutely settled. He was probably the attendant on a heathen image, who uttered oracles on occasion, to instruct the worshipers. Gradually he became the offered of the sacrifice, and therein stood as a kind of mediator between God and the person seeking a message. The functions of priest were apportioned between the priests proper, who stood nearest God, and the Levites, who were practically their servants. Later still, the priestly duties were narrowed down to sacrifice only, leaving to the Prophets the matter of oracular speaking and teaching. The various steps to these different functions, and the special devotees in service about these places, are found in numerous cases mentioned in the Old Testament. See Levites, Priests.

The original purpose of the sacred offerings is wrapped in obscurity. For the non-bloody offering, the peace-offering, the burnt offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering there are specific regulations and significance. The condition of the offering itself, the process of offering, and the result of the same upon the giver are all laid down in the codified rules of the Pentateuch. Few if any of the things connected with the life of Israel are so fully treated in the Old Testament as the subject of "offering." See Sacrifice.

Like their neighbors, the Israelites had sacred feasttimes. These are seen very early in the history. Hints and more are found of the feasts of the new moon and the Sabbaths. The yearly feasts were the Passover, the First-Fruits, and the Tabernacles or Ingathering. Each of these had its special regulations as to time, duration, and attendants. Upon the centralization of worship at Jerusalem, certain modifications took place both in the accompaniments of the festival days and in the places where they were formerly held. As time went by the number of such days increased. See Festivals.

Israel was put under strict discipline in the matter of personal cleanliness, both in reference to worship and to every-day life Obedience to these demands secured immunity from certain diseases and prevented the spread of others. Such discipline attached a wholesome sacredness to worship and enhanced the value of human life and health. It prepared the nation to conceive of a holy God, and to render Him a clean service.

The preceding sections have indicated merely in outline the main subdivisions of Biblical Archeology on the basis of the latest investigators. They point the reader to certain skeleton facts, which may be clothed with flesh and blood by careful painstaking research on the Old Testament.

For archeology in post-Biblical times, see Badge, Bath, Ceremonies, Costume, Numismatics, Music, Synagogue, etc.

Judaic, Archeology and Biblical

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