OLAH vs ZEVACH |
EXAMPLE: Ex18-12a OLAH has specific meaning: The OLAH sacrifice
EXAMPLE: Ex18-12b ZEVACH has specific meaning: The SHLAMIM
BACKGROUND
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It is well known that there were sacrifices in the temple. There
were in fact 3 types of sacrifices. Examples of these types are
- OLAH was ANIMAL SACRIFICE & NOTHING EATEN by OWNER
- SHLAMIM was ANIMAL SACRIFICE & EATEN by OWNER
- MINCHAH was PLANT SACRIFICE & NOTHING EATEN by OWNER
There were a variety of other sacrifices. SIN and GUILT
offerings had characteristics similar to the OLAH. Every
ANIMAL sacrifice had brought with it WINE LIBATIONS. These
wine libations had characteristics similar to MINCHAH.
TEXT
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The BIBLE at various points speaks about OLAH & ZEVACH.
ZEVACH is a generic word meaning to SLAUGHTER. OLAH is also
a generic word meaning to go UP. We thus have two possibilities
#1
--
The PHRASE OLAH & ZEVACH is GENERIC:
The PHRASE OLAH and ZEVACH refers to ANY TYPE OF SACRIFICE
#2
--
The phrase OLAH & ZEVACH is SPECIFIC. OLAH refers to that
sacrifice called OLAH (even though the other sacrifices also
go up). ZEVACH refers to SHLAMIM sacrifices which like profane
meat were SLAUGHTERED & EATEN.
Which is it? *1
THE LIST
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The proper procedure in this case is not to use logic but
to review verses which use this idiom OLAH & ZEVACH. THe
LIST below brings 5 verses.
-- In 2 of these verses OLAH & ZEVACH has no special
significance. It seems to mean sacrifice
-- But in the last 3 verses the verse is clearly ENUMERATING
types of SACRIFICES. Thus in Dt12-27, for example, we are
told that OLAH and ZEVACH are treated in different manners:
The BLOOD is always poured on the altar but the meat of
ZEVACH is eaten while the meat of OLAH goes to heaven.
Hence it is reasonable to infer that OLAH & ZEVACH are
used specifically not generally.
THE RASHI
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Having inferred that OLAH & ZEVACH are specific Rashi proceeds
to comment on the other verses; OLAH means the OLAH
sacrifice while ZEVACH means the SHLAMIM sacrifice.
Here is the list
|
VERSE |
TEXT OF VERSE with OLAH and ZEVACHIM |
ex18-12 |
Jethro brought OLAH and ZEVACHIM to God |
lv17-08 |
A person who brings OLAH or ZEVACHIM outside temple... |
------- |
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lv23-37 |
You bring SACRIFICES on holidays:OLAH,MICHAH,ZVACH,NSCH |
nu15-03 |
Bring a NESECH when you bring SACRIFICE:OLAH, or ZVCH |
Dt12-27 |
OLAH--blood,meat to God; ZVACH-blood to God, meat to you |
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COMMENTS |
*1 One can NOT use an argument of TOO MANY WORDS. For example
the BIblical phrase THE ACCOUNT OF EACH DAY AND DAY simply
means THE DAILY ACCOUNT (The phrase DAY AND DAY has no
special significance). In other words there are many
Biblical phrases which use 2 words and have the same
meaning as one word. So we dont know if OLAH & ZEVACH
refers to SACRIFICES or to OLAH SACRIFICES & SHLAMIM
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