Leviticus 3:1

_AND IF HIS OBLATION BE A SACRIFICE OF PEACE OFFERING, IF HE OFFER IT OF THE HERD; WHETHER IT BE A MALE OR FEMALE, HE SHALL OFFER IT WITHOUT BLEMISH BEFORE THE LORD._ If his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, х_ ZEBACH_ (H2077) _ SHªLAAMIYM_ (H8002)] - a sacrifice of peace or thanks. The original word "peace" expresses either a state of happiness and prosperity, or of mutual agreement and amity among two or more parties. The offerings spoken of in this chapter are supposed by different writers to have reference to the one or the other of these two significations of the word. "Peace" being used in Scripture to denote prosperity and happiness generally, a peace offering was a voluntary tribute of gratitude for health or other benefits. In this view it was eucharistic, being a token of thanksgiving for benefits already received; or it was sometimes votive,

1._And if his oblation be a sacrifice. _He now proceeds to a different class, viz., to the sacrifices, which were testimonies of gratitude in celebration of God’s blessings; part of which was burnt with fire, part was claimed by the priests, and the rest remained to the offerers themselves. As to the word שלמים, _shelomim, _I have briefly given my opinion elsewhere; (253) the common translation of it is certainly unsuitable, “the sacrifices of peace-offerings:” and the statement of others is far-fetched, that they are called “sacrifices of perfections,” because it was unlawful for the unclean to touch them. Since, however, the Hebrews include in the word “peace,” safety, and all good success, I have thought that its plural number might aptly be translated “prosperities:” on which account, David calls the libation which used to be made in this sacrifice, “the cup of salv

1-5 The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner. They were called peace-offering, because in them God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace, our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock....

CHAPTER III _The law of the peace-offering in general_, 1-5. _That of the peace-offering taken from the flock_, 6-11; _and the same when the offering is a goat_, 12-17. NOTES ON CHAP. III Verse Leviticus 3:1. _PEACE-OFFERING_] שלמים _shelamim_, an offering to make peace between God and man; Leviticus 7:38, and Genesis 14:18....

The peace-offering (like the burnt-offering, Leviticus 1:3, and the Minchah, Leviticus 2:1) is here spoken of as if it was familiarly known before the giving of the Law. “Peace-offering” seems preferable to “thank-offering,” which occurs in several places in the margin of our Bible. “thank-offering” appears to be the right name for a subordinate class of peace-offering....

EXPOSITION THE PEACE OFFERING. The peace offering, though the instructions here given respecting it precede those relating to the sin offering (for a reason to be stated hereafter), is the last in order of the sacrifices when they were all presented together. First, the sin offering taught the need of, and symbolically wrought, propitiation and atonement; next the burnt offering represented the absolute surrender of man's will to God's will; then the meat offering, by its gift of homage, declared the loyal submission of the offerer; and then followed the peace offering, symbolizing the festive joy which pervades the souls of those who are in communion with God. the essential characteristic of the peace offering is the feast upon the sacrifice, participated in symbolically by God (by means of the part consumed on the altar, and the part eaten by his ministers) and actually by the offerer...

AND IF HIS OBLATION [BE] A SACRIFICE OF PEACE OFFERING,.... The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it, the "sacrifice of holinesses", or "sanctifications"; so called, not because they were more holy than other sacrifices; for they were what the Jews c call the lighter holy things, in distinction from the most holy things, such as the meat offerings were, Leviticus 2:10 but as Ainsworth suggests, either because none but holy persons might eat of them, Leviticus 7:19 though this also was enjoined in other sacrifices, or because hereby the name of God was sanctified. These offerings were either by way of thanksgiving for favours received, or for free devotion, or as a vow, and in order to obtain for himself that offered and family health and safety, peace and prosperity, see...

PEACE-OFFERING The peace-offering. The whole work of Christ in relation to the believer's peace is here in type. He made peace, (Colossians 1:20) proclaimed peace, (Ephesians 2:17) and is our peace, (Ephesians 2:14). In Christ, God and the sinner meet in peace; God is propitiated, the sinner reconciled - both alike satisfied with what Christ has done. But all this at the cost of blood and fire. The details speak of fellowship. This brings in prominently the thought of fellowship with God through Christ. Hence the peace-offering is set forth as affording food for the priests (Leviticus 7:31). Obser

3. THE PEACE OFFERING CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The ox (Leviticus 3:1)_ 2. The sheep or goat (Leviticus 3:6) This is the third “sweet savour offering,” and is closely linked with the burnt offering, but it differs from it, especially, in that part of it was to be eaten. The peace offering also had the character of a thank offering (Leviticus 7:11). As it was offered on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, it cannot therefore be separated from Christ offering Himself as the burnt offering. Leviticus 7:11 contains the law of the peace offering and tells of the eating of the peace offering, which is not mention

III. PEACE OFFERINGS. This properly follows ch. 1, and describes the ritual of the next great class of sacrifices, the peace offerings. These are familiar in the narrative parts of the OT, and the Book of the Covenant. The root of the Heb. term for peace offering denotes not simply peace in our sense, but being quits with another. In the OT generally, the peace offering is a common meal, wherein God, priest, and worshippers sit down, as it were, together, in token that there is nothing which separates them, and that all causes of displeasure on the part of God are at an end. This offering is often spoken of as sacrifice par excellence (_cf._ 1 Samuel 11:15; 1 Kings 1:19). It often takes the form of a family or communal commemoration, of a joyous and festal character ...