Basic HTML Version
means “to busy oneself”: “Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man
unto his own house.” Finally, Hab. 2:2 uses this verb to mean “to read quickly,” or
fluently: “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
B. Noun.
$
means “running; course.” This noun, which occurs only 4 times in biblical
Hebrew, represents both the mode of running (2 Sam. 18:27) and the course one runs
(Jer. 23:10).
S
SACRIFICE
(
&
, 2077), “sacrifice.” This root with the meaning “to sacrifice” is
represented in other Semitic languages: Akkadian, Ugaritic, Phoenician, Aramaic, and
Arabic.
#
continued to be used in Mishnaic Hebrew, and its use is greatly reduced
in modern Hebrew, since there is no temple. The word is used 162 times in the Hebrew
Old Testament and in all periods. The first occurrence is in Gen. 31:54: “Then Jacob
offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat
bread, and tarried all night in the mount.”
The basic meaning of
is “sacrifice.” When a “sacrifice” had been slaughtered
by the priest, he then offered it to God. The purpose was not just to create communion
between God and man; rather, the “sacrifice” represented the principle that, without the
shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Lev. 17:11; cf. Heb. 9:22). In the act of
“sacrifice” the faithful Israelite submitted himself to the priest, who, in keeping with the
various detailed regulations (see Leviticus), offered the “sacrifice” in accordance with
God’s expectations. The “sacrifices” are the Passover “sacrifice” (Exod. 12:27),
“sacrifice” of the peace offering (Lev. 3:1ff.), “sacrifice” of thanksgiving (Lev. 7:12), and
“sacrifice” of the priest’s offering (
% ;
Lev. 7:16). The
was not like the burnt
offering (
), which was completely burnt on the altar; and it was unlike the sin
offering (
), where the meat was given to the priest, for most of the meat of the
was returned to the person who made the “sacrifice.” The fat was burned on the
altar (Lev. 3:4-5), and the blood was poured out around the altar (3:2). The person who
made the
had to share the meat with the officiating priest (Exod. 29:28; Lev.
7:31-35; Deut. 18:3).
In view of the fact that the people shared in the eating of the
, the “sacrifice”
became a communal meal in which the Lord hosted His people. Zephaniah’s message of
judgment is based on this conception of “sacrifice”: “Hold thy peace at the presence of
the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he
hath bid his guests” (Zeph. 1:7). The Israelite came to the temple with the animal to be
sacrificed. It was butchered, boiled, and eaten in the area of the sanctuary (1 Sam. 2:13).