Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection: Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible
Abstract
:1. Introduction: Scholarly Debate on Prophetic Attitudes towards Sacrifice
- (a)
- The critique delivered by Amos and Jeremiah was not limited to local sanctuaries; it concerned the central, royal sanctuaries in Israel (Bethel) and Judah (Jerusalem);
- (b)
- these two prophets did not advocate religious reforms; presumably, because they wanted to abolish the existing cult altogether;
- (c)
- they idealized Israel’s past, especially the time before the conquest of Canaan (Amos 5:25; Jer 7:22–23); presumably, because Israelite religion at this stage remained pure, free from the sacrificial cult, which had “Canaanite” origins and threatened to pervert the worship of the Israelite people;
- (d)
- both Amos and Jeremiah were persecuted by priests (see Amos 7:10–17; Jer 20:1–6); presumably, because they were against temple cult and priestly rituals;
- (e)
- in some prophecies they used formulations that implied a total rejection of the sacrificial cult.
2. Reciprocity and Rejection
3. Rejected Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible
- Genesis: 4:3–7 (Cain and Abel, see below)
- Leviticus: 10:1–3 (Nadab and Abihu)
- Numbers: 16:15–32 (Korah and his followers)
- 1 Samuel: 2:12–3:14 (the sons of Eli) and 15:1–26 (Saul)
- 1 Kings: 13:1–5 (Jeroboam)
- 2 Chronicles: 26:16–21 (Uzziah)
- Isaiah 1:10–17
- Jeremiah: 6:20 and 14:11–12
- Hosea: 8:11–13
- Amos: 4:4–5 and 5:21–24
- Malachi: 1:6–14
4. Cult-Critical and Cult-Affirming Prophecies: Amos and Jeremiah
4.1. Amos
- 21 I hate, I reject your festivals,
- and I do not delight in your assemblies.
- 22 Even if you bring me burnt offerings,
- and your grain offerings, I will not accept them.
- I will not even look at the communion sacrifices of your fatlings.
- 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs!
- I do not want to hear the music of your harps.
- 24 But let justice roll down like waters,
- righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:21–24; from Eidevall 2017a, p. 84)
4.2. Jeremiah
What is this to me—frankincense that comes from Sheba, and sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices do not please me.(Jer 6:20)
YHWH said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry, and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Instead, I am going to destroy them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”(Jer 14:11–12)
They will come from the towns of Judah and from the surroundings of Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and the lowland, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offering, communion sacrifice, grain offering, and incense, bringing thank offering to the house of YHWH.(Jer 17:26)
5. Concluding Remarks
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
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Eidevall, G. Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection: Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible. Religions 2018, 9, 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9120422
Eidevall G. Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection: Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible. Religions. 2018; 9(12):422. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9120422
Chicago/Turabian StyleEidevall, Göran. 2018. "Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection: Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible" Religions 9, no. 12: 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9120422
APA StyleEidevall, G. (2018). Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection: Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible. Religions, 9(12), 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9120422