THE FIVE OFFERINGS OF LEVITICUS
N.T. Ref. Rom. 12: 1-2, Heb. 10: 16-20, 1st Pet. 2: 5.
To understand the "offering system of appeasing God" we must first understand the "doctrine of substitution". First when mankind commits a "sin" it is an offence to God and it must be "paid for" in some manner. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin of breaking a direct command of God in Eden it required animals being slain by God to remove their skins to make garments to clothe them. This was the first offering of a sacrifice for man.
Twenty five hundred later at Mt. Sinai in the midst of the wilderness journey of Israel after God had given Moses the Law; the "five offerings of Leviticus" were instituted.
This required first a "Priesthood" and Aaron and his sons were selected. Later the entire tribe of Levi was chosen to officiate at all tabernacle functions. Certain facilities were ordered by God to be used as tabernacle furnishings in worship, the means of atonement for sin and other sacrifices made to God.
First there was the Tabernacle that was divided by a "woven veil" separating the "Holy place from the most holy , a courtyard for the Priests, the Jews,[only Jewish men could enter this area] Gentiles, [this court was where the Jesus found the "money changers and men selling doves and other items; recorded in Matt. 21: and Mk. 11] and women, an inner court and outer court.
Even Jesus who was the "Son of God" was born of the tribe of Judah and was not permitted into the Temple proper; that was reserved for the Levits. In addition to the "courts"; there were four chambers @ 60 ft. long located in the Four Corners of the "court of the women".
In the NE chamber the priests that had been ruled "unfit for service" in the Temple area because of blemishes of the flesh picked worm eaten and rotten wood that was destined for the Altars.
In the NW Chamber were the Lepers that had been "purified" washed them before presenting themselves to the Priests.
In the SW chamber the Priests who had been ruled "unfit for Temple service" because of blemishes of the picked out the rejected pieces of worm-eaten wood that were destined for the Altar. A major point to remember concerning sacrifices and offerings under the Covenant of Law: In both there must be a "VICTIM". Something or someone "MUST DIE". Under the Covenant of Grace the one presenting the sacrifice or offering "MUST DIE" to Sin or be dead to sin.
Paul teaches extensively on "dying or being or being dead to sin" in Romans chapter # 6: 1-14. And Peter writes in 1st. Peter 2: 24 "That we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness. See also Rom. 14: 8, Gal. 2: 19-21, 6: 14, Col. 3: 1-5.
Offerings:
# 1 Leviticus Chapter # 1; The whole burnt offering: This offering was a "sin offering". Facts; # 1 it could be taken from the herd, flock or fowls. A bullock, ram, turtledoves or pigeons. Bullock: young male oxen; "Generic" for "horned cattle". Ram: A male sheep with horns. Turtledoves: A ring tailed male dove. A symbol of peace or "The Holy Ghost. Pigeon: of the dove family.
# 2 The victim [the animal offered] must be "without blemish". Complete, whole, sound and healthful and not scared. It must be taken from his own flock or herd and brought to voluntary to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before [in the presence of] the LORD. [SPECIAL NOTE: The Hebrew word for "congregation" in the book of Leviticus and other OT books has a different meaning than our present English Language indicates. The word is the Hebrew word; S# 4150 "mow'ed" and means; "something or someone set or appointed or designated as sacred, i.e. season, place, sign that is ordained by God] It is used 223 times in the OT. Thus the “congregation” was not all that were present at a meeting; but those that were chosen by the LORD. [Jehovah]
#3 He shall "put his hand upon the head" of the burnt offering; [signifying the free personal gift] and it shall be accepted for him [no one else] to make atonement for him. [S# 3722 to appease, cover inside and out, purge, propitiate, reconcile. "Hebrew Yom Kippur"]
# 4 He shall "kill the bullock before the LORD, and the priests. Aaron's sons [Aaron the High Priest, his sons serving as priests] bring the blood and sprinkle the blood round about the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle.
# 5 He shall "flay" [to strip, remove the skin; this was a gratuity for the officiating priest] the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.
The sons of Aaron shall put the fire upon the altar and lay the wood in order upon the fire. [This was the first offering upon a new built altar. After this the "fire shall never go out. Chapter 6: 13.] And the priests shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat upon the wood that is on the fire on the altar.
But the "inwards and the legs" shall he [the priest] shall wash with water. [The inwards contain waste matter and the legs become soiled from walking in unclean places. All filth of the flesh must be removed before God will accept the sacrifice. See 2nd' Cor. 7: 1.]
The priest shall burn all upon the was supplied by an aqueduct that was 40 miles long; and bullock, the middle class brought the ram of sheep or goats and the poor bring the fowls. God never discriminates against anyone concerning the soul because of their being poor.
To flesh picked out the "worm eaten and rotten wood" that was destined for the Altars. In the SE chamber the Nazerites "polled their hair" and cooked their peace offering before presenting it to the Priest.
In the NW chamber the oil and wine for "drink offerings" were stored.
The musical instruments used by the Levites were stored in two rooms under the "court of women".
This Tabernacle and the Temple were furnished with the "Ark of the Covenant" in the "Holiest of Hollis. In the Holy place was the "Incense Altar, the Golden Candlesticks, Altar of incense and the Table of Shewbread. Outside the tabernacle there was the Altar of Burnt Offerings and the Brazen Laver used for the Priest's use for washing the sacrifice and themselves.
The Altar of the tabernacle was seven and one half feet square and four feet high and the fire burned continually. Lev 6:12-13 "And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out"
I think it good to examine the major differences in the wilderness Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. Before his death; David had purchased cedars out of Lebanon from Hiram King of Tyre for building the Temple. After his death Solomon continued the relationship with Hiram. He learned that Hiram was trained in the making of things made of brass. He also learned of the availability "great and costly stones" there that could be used in building the Temple.
Solomon raised a "levy" of 30'000 hewers of stone and 70,000 men as "burden bearers" plus 3,300 supervisors of the workers to hew the stone and transport it from Lebanon to Jerusalem.
When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem it was much more elaborate than the tabernacle and much larger in size. The dimensions of the portion that was "dedicated as the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holy was twice the size of the Tabernacle. It was 90 ft. long, 45 ft wide and 45 ft. high with the 90 ft divided by the "Holy Veil" making two "cubes of 45 ft each.
This portion was embedded in an octagon shaped building with eight sides with eight gates for entry; including the "Eastern Gate and the Gate called Beautiful. It was also surrounded with a porch that was 30 ft wide.
Within the main structure were the Courts of Priests, Jewish men, women and Priests. There were also various rooms for storing the materials to supply the entire Temple operation. The circumference of the Temple was over one half mile. There were two walls surrounding the Temple for protection. The outer wall was 25 ft. high and the inner wall was 15 ft. high.
The furnishings were the same as in Solomon's Temple but their sizes were dramatically changed. The Altar of Burnt Offerings was 48 ft. square at the base and tapered to 36 ft. square at the top. It was 15 ft. high and had a platform surrounding the Altar that was 3 ft. high and 9 ft. from the ground for the Priests to walk on. There were stair steps from drawing water from the hills of Hebron and three of Solomon's "pools". [springs]
This Laver was drained and cleaned each evening and refilled with "clean water" for use the next morning. The water that was removed from the Laver was deposited in the "Pool of Gehon" [actually a sediment pond that was @ three acres in size] by another aqueduct that was 12 miles long. After the "waste material" settled in the pool the water drained into the Kedron River below the city of Jerusalem.
After "composting" this manure was removed and used as fertilizer in the Kedron River Valley; making it one of the most fertile gardening areas in the East.
All of the Temple "offerings" were to show the horror of "committed sin" in the eyes of God and the great cost of sanctifying [making Holy] the people of God after the committing sin. Yet none of this could make "mankind perfect" see Heb 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God".
Heb 9:9-12 "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us".
Heb 10:1 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect".
The first Temple known as Solomon's Temple was built on Mt. Moriah; the place where Abraham took his son Isaac to offer as a sacrifice.
Work began on this Structure @ 969 BC and was completed 9 years later in 960 BC. This Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC. King Cyrus of Persia was "moved on by God" to allow and to assist in rebuilding the Temple for the Jews to worship in. This Temple was known as Zerubabbabel's Temple was completed and dedicated in 515 BC. It was defiled and partially destroyed in 175 BC by Antiochus Epiphanes who offered a "sow" as a sacrifice on the Altar of the LORD. It was restored and cleansed under the leadership of Judas Mccabee in 164 BC. This Temple was later defiled by using it as a "fortress for battle" and defense of Jerusalem.
With the birth and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, [Emanuel] the "Son of God" born of a virgin, condemned to death by the religious leaders of his time. Died on the Roman cross-resurrected the third day; The sacrificial system came to an end. See Heb. 9: 11-17 and Heb. 10: 1-10.
THE MEAT OR "CEREAL" OFFERING".
OFFERING # 2
LEVITICUS CHAPTER # TWO
This offering is an offering in dedication and devotion. It was to be made in connection with the "whole burnt offering of chapter # 1. If this offering was for or by the priest it was to be totally burnt and nothing eaten. See chapter # 6:19-23.
The word translated "meat" in chapter # 2 is S# 4503 "minchah" means "bestow, tribute, gift, present, sacrifice or oblation to God. This word is used 211 times in the OT and has nothing to do with the meat of an animal.
Note in verse # 1 the offering shall be of "fine flour"; S# 5560"coleth" grain chipped or ground into flour or meal. The complete understanding of this text is not found until verse # 14. There it is revealed that the "fine flour" actually comes from "ears of corn" the word here is S# 24"abiyb" tender young "ears of barley". [Not maize] This barley grain is ground into "fine flour".
# 1 If any will offer a "meat" offering unto the LORD, it shall be of fine flour and shall pour oil [olive oil" upon it and put frankincense [a white resin burned as incense] upon it.
# 2 He shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take a handful of the flour and some of the oil with "all of the frankincense". And after mixing together, the priest shall burn the "memorial" [a portion] of it on the altar, to be an offering made by fire as a sweet savour unto the LORD.
# 3 what is left of the offering shall be Aaron's and his son's. It is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
# 4 If you bring an oblation [gift] of a meat offering "baked in the oven"; It shall be unleavened cakes, mingled with oil or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. And if it be baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. You shall part it in pieces and pour oil thereon: It is a meat offering. If your "gift" shall be a meat offering baked in the frying pan it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
# 5 and when you bring these meat offerings unto the LORD and when it is presented to the priest he shall bring it to the altar. He will take a portion of it and burn it on the altar. It is a sweet savour unto the LORD. And what is left shall be Aaron's and his son's. It is most holy unto the LORD.
# 6 no meat offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven. You shall burn neither leaven nor any honey in any offering that you make unto the LORD.
Verse # 12 "first fruits offering"; the first born of the flocks and the first vegetables are gathered at harvest time. The Hebrew people thought of these as belonging to God in a special sense, They were dedicated or presented to God on the day of "first fruits" the 6th' day of the 3rd' month of the Sacred year "Sivan"[May 27, 2007] as part of the feast of Pentecost.
THE PEACE OFFERING
OFFERING # 3
LEVITICUS CHAPTER THREE
This offering was also called a "heave or wave" offering.
Part of the offering was to be eaten by the priest and part by the worshiper and his guests; The poor of the Parish. See Deut. 12: 18 and 16: 11.
God himself acts as host of the meal by communing with the worshiper and those with him. There were three kinds of peace offerings; # 1 an offering of thanks for divine blessings.
# 2 A vowed or an “offering of commitment” in pursuit of making a request or a pledge to God.
# 3 A freewill offering in worship and praise.
If the oblation [ S# 7133 "qorban" a sacrifice of unity, reconciliation, a present to God] be a sacrifice of "peace offering". [ S# 8002 "shelem" a sacrifice in thanks, for reconciliation, alliance and friendship] If he offers it from the herd; whether it be male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Any and all offerings or sacrifices were required to be without blemish. In the OT animals, fowls and grain offerings were inspected for blemishes and approved by the priest.
Under the NT covenant of grace, dead animals are not offered as sacrifices but nothing less is expected of God for the "living sacrifices" of our bodies. See Rom. 12: 1-2. Our bodies are to be "presented living" Holy; NT: 40 hagios (hag'-ee-os); from hagos (an awful thing) [compare NT: 53, NT: 2282]; sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated): Strongs' dictionary.
NT: 40 hagios, hagia, hagion
1. Properly reverend, worthy of veneration: Luke 1:49
a. Used of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned, Acts 7:33;
b. Of persons whose services God employs
2. Set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his; followed by a genitive or a dative: Luke 2:23
3. Of sacrifices and offerings; prepared for God with solemn rite, pure, clean
4. In a moral sense, pure, sinless, upright, holy: 1 Peter 1:16.Thayer's dictionary.
When this requirement is met it is accepted and not before. The same procedure as in the whole burnt offering is used in this offering; except the victim can be either male or female. The laying on of hands for dedication, sacrifice to be killed at the tabernacle door. The blood sprinkled around the altar. The vital internal body parts of the sacrifice including the fat attached to the intestines, liver, caul, liver and the fat on the loins were to be trimmed off and burned on the altar.
If the sacrifice was from the flock or herd [sheep or goats] the same instructions were to be followed. The prime factor of this offering was; As in all other sacrifices, the animal must be without "blemish".
The rest of the meat was prepared for the "feast of communion" with God in control with the officiating priests, the Levites, worshiper and the poor of the congregation.
THE SIN OFFERING
OFFERING NUMBER FOUR
LEVITICUS CHAPTER FOUR
Lev. 4: 1 The LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
: 2 If a soul sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
First we must understand the meaning of the word sin.
There are several Hebrew and Aramaic words translated "sin" in the OT.
# 1 S# 819 "ashmah" an offence, committing a trespass, guilty, doing wrong. Used 19 times.
# 2 S# 2401 "chata'ah"; to sin or a sin offering.
# 3 S# 2402 "chata'ah; sin or the offence of sin.
# 4 S# 2398 "chata" (khaw-taw'); a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:
KJV - bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness), trespass.
# 5 2399 "chet" punishment for sin.
# 6 2486 "chaliylh" a profaned thing.
The word used in the Text is S# 2398. In this instance it means; If a soul [person] commit a sin. The definition of sin is; "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law". 1st. John 3: 4.
Then it is modified with "if it be through ignorance. The word for ignorance here is S# 7684 "shegagah", sin of error or inadvertence, inadvertent sin; an error The assumption was that a man would not with intent break the command of God; knowing that there was no remedy for "willful sin"; See Num 15:30-31. " But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD. And that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
David understood this when he wrote the prayer of Psalm # 51.
The same principle is carried forth into the NT. Heb.10: 26-31.
The "assembly of the Children of Israel are dived into a number of classes; The priest, the whole of the people, the rulers [S# 5308 chief, prince, Governor, King or one elected or appointed to office.] The common people. [Basically; the people of the land]
Verse # 3 reads; "If the priest that is anointed to do sin according to the sin of the people; Then let him bring for his sin a bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
In Modern English this verse means; before the "anointed priest" can officiate for the sins of the congregation; he must first present an offering for any ceremonial uncleanness. The anointed priest that is officiating at the altar at the door of the tabernacle is must bring a "young bullock"[not mature] without blemish unto the LORD. The same order of procedure as for the "whole burnt offering" is to be used.
Verse # 4 the "bullock" is to be brought to the "door of the tabernacle" of the congregation. This is a public event that is accomplished in view of the congregation.
The # 1 thing that the priest does after arriving with the bullock; He places his hand "on the head" of the sacrificial animal. This accomplishes two things; first he commits the "sins" of the congregation to the sacrifice. Number two the priest "feels" the flesh of the living, breathing animal and realizes that he is about to take the life of the animal because of sin.
Next he "kills the sacrifice and then he must "dip his finger" [S# 676 to immerse; should read plural] into the blood and sprinkle the blood before the vail of the sanctuary. [In front of the vail inside the tabernacle separating the Holy Place from the "Holiest of Holies. This must be done seven times. The priest must then take some of the blood and "anoint the horns of the altar of sweet incense" with that blood. The remaining blood shall be poured out at the bottom of the "altar of burnt offerings" that is just "outside the door" of the tabernacle.
Then he will "strip the body" of the fat of the inwards, the kidneys and the gaul above the liver with the kidneys and burn them upon the altar of burnt offerings. The rest of the body of the animal including the head and the skin he shall "carry outside the camp to a "clean place" where the ashes of other burnt sacrifices are put; And there he will burn the remains upon the wood with fire.
Verse # 13-21 Now the priest is "ceremonially clean" and he can act in behalf of the people.
If the "whole congregation collectively commit a "sin through ignorance" and this sin be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the LORD and is guilty. When this sin is known, then the congregation must offer a "young bullock" for the sin, before the tabernacle. And the elders of the congregation will lay their hands upon the head of the bullock, and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. The anointed priest shall bring the blood of the slain animal to the tabernacle of the tabernacle and repeat the procedure that he had just completed for himself. It then has become a "sin offering" for the congregation.
Verse # 22-26 the order again changes; it is now directed toward the rulers who have sinned and done this through ignorance of any of the commands. [Note the words "somewhat, against and concerning things" in the King James version have been added and was not in the original text. It again simply says that "when a person in authority commits a sin against the commandments of God" he must bring "male kid of his goats without blemish to the place for killing "the burnt offering" and kill it there. The priest shall proceed to take the blood as in the other offerings. When this is completed the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin and it shall be forgiven him.
Verses # 27-35 the message now changes to the "common people".["people of the land; see Ch. 20: 2-4 and 2nd. Kgs. 11: 18. Those that were not Royalty, Priest's or appointed to office.] The charge is no different from those of "higher rank" except the type of sacrifice. This time the sacrifice will be a "female kid of goats". In chapter # 3 for the "peace offering" the choice was either male or female of the herd. The "sin through ignorance" was the reason of the sacrifice. The sprinkling of blood and the fat is the same as the other sacrifices. The end result was that "his sin that he had committed was forgiven him".
THE TRESPASS OFFERING
OFFERING NUMBER FIVE
CHAPTER NUMBER FIVE
The "Trespass" [S# 817 "asham" an offence, fault or guilt incurred through "wrong doing" not covered by the other offerings.] This offering represents the serious aspect of being associated with or in company with those that "break the commandments of God.
This offering was instituted after the rebellion of Korah against Moses in Numbers 16: 1-49. This sin was so serious before God that he commanded the "earth to swallow up" all the offenders.
First their four specific trespass sins named in Leviticus.
# 1 "If a soul hears "a voice of swearing" [cursing, making an oath, even hearing swearing without uttering a word.] Or knows of a person who is guilty of swearing.
# 2 If a person "touches an unclean thing"; a dead animal, beast or cattle or a creeping thing.
# 3 If a persons touches any uncleanness of another person.
# 4 If a person swears [makes an oath] to do evil or good. They are guilty of a sin of trespass.
The offering for the "trespass" was a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of goats. If the penitent could not afford the lamb or kid he would bring two turtledoves or two pigeons; one for the sin offering and one for the burnt offering. If the penitent could not bring the turtledoves or pigeon they would bring a tenth part of an "ephah" of fine flour. Before the sin or trespass offerings could be accepted there must be shown the evidence of "true repentance".
From Edershein's "The Temple and its services";
"All Cases Repentance Was Necessary However, in reference both to sin- and to trespass-offerings, the Rabbinical principle must be kept in view--that they only atoned in case of real repentance. Indeed, their first effect would be 'a remembrance of sins' before God (Heb 10:3). All sin-offerings were either public or private (congregational or individual). The former were always males; the latter always females, except the bullock for the high-priest's sin of ignorance (Lev 4:3), and the kid for the same offence of a 'ruler' (Lev 4:22). They were further divided into fixed, which were the same in the case of rich and poor, and varying, which 'ascended and descended' according to the circumstances of the offerer.
'Fixed' sacrifices were all those for sins 'through ignorance' against any of the prohibitory commands. (Of which the Rabbis enumerate 365); * For sins of deed, not of word; or else for such which, if they had been high-handed, would have carried the Divine punishment of being 'cut off' (of which the Rabbis enumerate 36).
The trespass offering was provided for certain transgressions committed through ignorance, or else, according to Jewish tradition, where a man afterwards voluntarily confuse himself guilty. The Rabbis arrange this class into those for a doubtful and for a certain trespass. The former were offered by the more scrupulous, when, uncertain whether they might not have committed an offence which, if done high-handed, would have implied being 'cut off,' or, if in ignorance, necessitated a sin-offering. Accordingly, the extreme party, or Chassidim, was wont to bring such a sacrifice every day! On the other hand, the offering for certain trespasses covered five distinct cases, * which had all this in common, that they represented a wrong for which a special ransom was to be given".
Heb 9:14-25 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purge. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others.
Ellen G. White 1827-1915; Wrote in the book; "Desire of Ages" When Jesus was hanging on the cross and the earthquake struck the land. A High Priest was preparing to sacrifice a lamb and had the knife at the throat of the lamb and dropped the knife when the earth quaked. The lamb escaped and ran free. The veil of the Temple was "rent" and there was "no more sacrifices for sins" made in the Temple at Jerusalem.
It was revealed that the "Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat" that had been the center of the sacrificial system in the first Temple had never been in Herod's temple.
As I close this account of the Temple and the Sacrificial System I want to go back to the events of the dedication of the Temple in 1st. Kings chapter # 9.
Solomon had finished the prayer of dedication and the LORD answered by saying; I have heard your prayer and I have hallowed [made Holy] this house you have built. I have accepted this offering and I have "put my name there for ever". My eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually, the time was @ 1004 BC. Verses 4-5 continue with promises of good things to Solomon if his descendants were faithful.
Verse # 6-9 contain the promise that "If you shall at all from following me; or your children will not keep my commandments and server other gods; Then will I cut off Israel from the land which I have given them and I will cast you out of my sight. And you will be a proverb and a byword among all people.
The Prophet Micah in his prophecy of @ 710 BC spoke: Mic 3:10-12 "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest"
Jeremiah @ 100 years later quoted this prophet in ch. 26: 18.
Ezekiel. Prophesied concerning this people @ 594 BC Ezek 7:18-22 "They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed; Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it".
Daniel spoke of the final end of Israel when Jesus would be slain in chapter # 9 @ 538BC.Dan 9:26-27 "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. And for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate".
When the disciples showed Jesus the "buildings of Herod's Temple in Matthew 24:, Mark 13:, and Luke 21: He pointed out the fact that all of this greatness would soon be destroyed and "not one stone would be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down. This occurred in 70 AD when the Roman armies marching under General Titus besieged the city destroyed the Temple and left death and destruction every where.