One of the most baffling to the modern reader of the Torah is the system of korbanotthe sacrifices that were made in the Temple of Jerusalem.
When the reader comes to the book of Leviticus, especially in the torah portion Vayikrá, find extensive sections devoted to describe animal sacrifices, rituals with blood, fire on the altar and complex rules of the priesthood.
This generates questions are inevitable:
- Why does the Torah devote so much space to sacrifice?
- What was the real purpose of the korbanot?
- What is the spiritual meaning were they?
- How do you understand today after the destruction of the Temple?
To understand these issues it is essential to understand that the korbanot they were not simple religious rituals. In biblical theology, the sacrificial system represented a complete model of rapprochement between the human being and God.
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What it truly means to “korban”
The Hebrew word korban comes from the root קרב (karav), which means approach.
For this reason, the sages of Israel explained that the sacrifice was not primarily the destruction of the animal, but a spiritual process, whose aim was to to bring the human being to God.
In the biblical vision, the sin causes a rupture in the relationship with the divine. The korbanot they functioned as a means of spiritual restoration.
This system was operated during two periods of the fundamental history of Israel:
- the First Temple (X century a. C. – 586 a. C.)
- the Second Temple (516 to. C. – 70 d. C.)
The temple service was in charge of the priests called kohanimunder the authority of the Kohen Gadol or high priest.
How it worked the ritual sacrificial
The ritual of a korban it followed the process carefully established in the Torah.
Main stages of the sacrifice
- Selection of the animal
The animal should be healthy and without defects. - Laying on of hands
The offerer laid his hands on the animal, identified symbolically with him. - Degüello ritual
The animal was slaughtered according to the procedure known as shejitá. - Reception of the blood
The priest collected the blood in a special container. - Spray it on the altar
The blood was placed or sprinkled on the altar. - Burning of specific parts
Some parts of the animal were burned on the altar.
The main altar, called mizbeaj, was the center of the service sacrifice in the temple.
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The five main types of korbanot
The Torah describes five fundamental categories of sacrifices within the system korbanot.
1. Olá — burnt offering
The olah was the sacrifice completely consumed by the fire of the altar.
Its main features were:
- the animal is burned completely
- no one ate part of the sacrifice
- represented absolute surrender to God.
Could be offered:
- bulls
- sheep
- goats
- pigeons or doves.
This sacrifice symbolized total dedication and consecration spiritual.
2. Minchah — the offering vegetable
The minchah it was a sacrifice that did not include animals.
It's prepared with:
- fine flour
- olive oil
- incense.
A part of the offering is to be burned on the altar, and the remainder was consumed by the priests.
This sacrifice had a special significance because it allowed even the people with the least resources to participate in the service of the temple.
Represented gratitude and daily dedication to God.
3. Shelamim — the sacrifice of the peace offerings
The sacrifice shelamim it was an offering of communion.
The meat of the animal is divided into three parts:
- one part to the altar
- a portion for the priests
- one part to the offeror.
This sacrifice was consumed in a sacred meal.
Among its variants were:
- all, sacrifice of thanks
- neder, sacrifice for vote
- nedavá, a freewill offering.
The symbolism era central the harmony between God, the priests and the people.
4. Jatat — the sin offering
The jatat was offered for sins committed without intention.
Depending on who committed the error, the sacrifice varied.
The Torah distinguishes between:
- the high priest
- the community of Israel
- a leader of the people
- an ordinary individual.
The ritual related to the blood in this sacrifice was especially developed.
Its purpose was to restore spiritual balance altered by sin.
5. Asham — the gift of guilt
The asham is offered when the sin entailed responsibility, moral or economic.
Some cases included:
- misuse of assets sacred
- deception or fraud
- a false oath.
In addition to the sacrifice, the guilty person had to return what was stolen, and add a Additional 20 % as compensation.
This sacrifice combined atonement spiritual and restitution material.
Other sacrifices are important in the system of korbanot
The daily sacrifice
The korban tamid it is offered every day.
It consisted of two lambs:
- one in the morning
- another in the afternoon.
This sacrifice of maintaining the continuous service of the temple.
Sacrifices of festivities
In the days special sacrifices were offered additional so-called musaf.
These were held in:
- Shabbat
- Rosh Jodesh
- the festivities of the bible.
The sacrifice of Passover
During the feast of Passovereach family was offered a lamb which is then consumed at the passover meal.
This sacrifice reminded him of the liberation from Egypt.
The spiritual meaning of the blood
One of the core elements of the system of korbanot is the blood.
The Torah says:
“Because the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17).
For this reason:
- the blood offered to God
- it was forbidden to consume it.
The blood represented life itself surrendered to the Creator.
Interpretations about the philosophy of the sacrifices
Throughout jewish history emerged in different interpretations on the meaning of the korbanot.
Rational interpretation
The philosopher Maimonides he argued that the sacrifices were a concession in teaching.
In the ancient world, sacrifices were common. According to this interpretation, the Torah became the practice to lead them to the worship of the one God.
Traditional interpretation
The commentator Nachmanides rejected that explanation.
According to his interpretation, the sacrifice symbolically represents the sinner.
The bidder acknowledges that he deserved the punishmentbut the animal occupies its place in the ritual.
Mystical interpretation
The kabbalistic tradition, especially the Zóharproposes a different view.
According to this perspective, the sacrifices produced a repair to be spiritual in the universe.
Between their central ideas are to be found:
- restoration of the balance between the sephiroth
- spiritual elevation symbolized by the smoke of the altar
- transformation of the animal instinct of the human being.
From this approach, the altar of the temple functioned as a point of connection between the physical world and the spiritual dimensions.
The end of the sacrificial system
The system korbanot it ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 ce. C., during the war against Rome.
From that moment on, rabbinic judaism developed new forms of spiritual relationship with God.
The sages established three pillars which replaced the sacrificial system:
- prayer
- the study of the Torah
- the works of justice.
The Talmud teaches that the daily prayers correspond symbolically to the sacrifices that were offered in the temple.
Conclusion
The system korbanot it was one of the central elements of the worship of the bible.
More than mere animal sacrifices, represented a complex spiritual system integrated:
- repentance
- gratitude
- repair moral
- communion with God.
Although the temple no longer exists, the concept of spiritual approach which expresses the word korban remains a fundamental part of the jewish tradition.
Ultimately, the profound message of the sacrificial system is that the true sacrifice is not the animal on the altar, but the inner transformation of the human being.
