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Gen. 26:25 (viii). An altar at Beer-sheba (the altar first, then the tent). Comp. 21:33.

( g ) Jacob.

Gen. 28:18 ff. (ix). A ‘pillar’ at Beth-el. Comp. 31:45; 35:14; Ex. 24:4; Is. 19:19: ‘pillars’ forbidden, Deut. 16:22. Comp. Gen. 35:7 (an altar: El-beth-el).

Gen. 31:54 (x). A sacrifice and feast at Mizpah: a ‘pillar’ and ‘heap’ set up. Comp. Heb. 26:30; Ex. 24:11; 2 Sam. 3:20.

Gen. 33:20 (xi). An altar at Shalem: El-elohe-Israel (comp. 35:7; Ex. 17:15).

Gen. 35:1 ff. (xii), 7 (xiii). An altar at Beth-el (El-beth-el). Comp. 28:18 ff.

Gen. 35:14 (xiv). A pillar at Beth-el (comp. 28:18). A drink-offering first mentioned.

Gen. 46:1 (xv). Sacrifices at Beer-sheba (26:25). The student will notice the wide range of details in these incidents.

( a ) There is mention of

Minchah (i); Ola=h (ii) (vii); Zebach (x) (xv); Nesek (xiv). Anointing with oil (ix).

( b ) The altar is said to be

‘built’ (ii) (iii) (v) (vii) (xiii); ‘made’ (iv) (xii); ‘set up’ (xiv). ( c ) A pillar is

‘placed’ (ix); ‘set up’ (xiv). ( d ) In other cases no altar or pillar mentioned: (i) (vi) (x). Compare also Gen. 21:33. Abraham planted ‘a tamarisk-tree’ in Beer-

sheba (R. V., lv,a&e , H869) and called there on the name of the Lord... (Amos

5:5; 8:14).

To these references may be added: Job 1:5; 42:8; Ex. 10:25. On the other hand there is no trace of the idea of

( a ) a vicarious substitution of the victim for the offer (not Gen. 22:13; comp. Mic. 6:7 f.); or of

( b ) propitiation. The thoughts of ( a ) gratitude and ( b ) tribute are dominant. There is no application of the blood before the Law. The perfect ‘naturalness’ of the record is most impressive. God is invited to share in the common feast: fellowship with God is realised by the worshipper.

In Ex. 18:12 (Jethro) we have the transition to the new order. Here the primitive conception of sacrifice is fully recognised when it was about to be replaced by a more definite typical teaching. The sacrifice of Jethro bears the same relation to the Levitical Law of sacrifice as the appearance of Melchisedek to the Levitical Law of Priesthood.

In Ex. 24:4-11 (the Covenant sacrifice) specific mention is made of ‘burnt-offerings,’ ‘peace-offerings,’ and of the sprinkling of the blood.

NOTE. On human sacrifices in Palestine. The following references will be useful in investigating how far human sacrifices were offered in Palestine:

(1) Among the non-Jewish peoples: Lev. 18:21; 20:2 ff.


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