The Sacrifices - Specific Examples

There are additional qorbanot commanded in Scripture but they are almost entirely made up of variations and combinations of qorbanot that have already been described.

Here are some examples:

Anointing of the Priests

Leviticus 6:20-30 describes the qorban minchah for the anointing of the priests:

• A tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular minchah half in the morning and half in the afternoon. (Lev 6:20)
• The flour is to be prepared with oil on a griddle. Once it is baked it is brought and completely burned up as a soothing aroma to the LORD. (Lev 6:21)
• The anointed priest shall offer it. (Lev 6:22)
• It shall not be eaten. (Lev 6:23)

Lepers Who Are Healed

Leviticus 14 describes a unique ceremony for a leper [metzorah] who has been healed of leprosy [tzara'at]. Note that ceremony does not heal the leper: it is offered after the priest determines the leprosy has already been healed (Leviticus 14:3). This two-step ceremony is used for "cleansing" the person who is already healed. This "first step" of cleaning leprosy is also used for houses (Leviticus 14:49-53) on which G-d puts a mark of leprosy [tzara'at] (Leviticus 14:34).

• On the day the priest examines the metzorah and determines the tzara'at has been healed the priest gives orders [to a second priest?] to take two live clean birds, cedar wood, a scarlet string, and hyssop. (Lev 14:4)
• One bird is slain in an earthenware vessel that is held over running water. (Lev 14:5)
• The second bird, the cedar wood, scarlet string, and the hyssop are dipped in the blood of the bird that was slain. (Lev 14:6)
• The blood of the slain bird is sprinkled seven times on the person who had leprosy and the person is pronounced clean. (Lev 14:7)
• The live bird is released over the open field (Lev 14:7)
• The person then washes their clothes and shaves off all their hair and remains outside the camp for an additional 7 days. (Lev 14:8)

For a person who has been cleansed of leprosy the second step of the ceremony is performed eight days later:

• The guilt offering and the log of oil are waved before the LORD and the guilt offering is slain where the sin offering is slain. (Lev 14:13)
• The priest takes some of the blood of the guilt offering and places it on the right earlobe, the right thumb, and big toe of the right foot of the person to be cleansed. (Lev 14:14) (Interestingly enough this is similar to the ceremony for anointing a priest into the priesthood: see Lev 8:23-24.)
• The priest then pours some of the oil into the palm of his left hand and uses his right-hand finger to sprinkle some of the oil seven times before the LORD. (Lev 14:15-16)
• The priest takes some of the oil and places it on the right earlobe, the right thumb, and big toe of the right foot of the person to be cleansed. (Lev 14:17)
• The remainder of the oil in the priest's right hand is placed upon the head of the person to be cleansed. (Lev 14:18)
• Then the chata'at (Lev 14:19), the olah and the minchah are offered (Lev 14:20).

Cleansing of Uncleanness

Leviticus 15 describes various situations that would cause a person to be unclean.

One scenario is an issue or discharge from a man's body. Once the discharge ceases the man is to wash his clothes and immerse in water and remain unclean until evening (Leviticus 15:10). He is to remain unclean for seven days then offer two pigeons or two turtle doves: one of a sin offering [chata'at] and one for a burnt offering [olah] (Leviticus 15:14-15)

Another scenario is a menstrual discharge from a woman's body. Once the discharge ceases the woman is to remain unclean for seven days then offer two pigeons or two turtle doves: one of a sin offering [chata'at] and one for a burnt offering [olah] (Leviticus 15:29-30)

Day of Atonement

There are several offerings that are made on the Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur]. The details of the high priest's service for Yom Kippur fill Leviticus chapter 16. The list below only identifies the sacrifices.

Unleavened Bread

During the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Chag HaMatzot], an "offering by fire" [isheh] (Leviticus 23:8) but a specific type of offering is not described.

First Fruits

After Passover comes First Fruits and a one-year-old male lamb without defect is to be offered as an olah (Leviticus 23:12) along with a minchah of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil and a drink offering of a fourth of a hin of wine. (Leviticus 23:13)

Pentecost

Pentecost (in Hebrew called Shavuot) has the requirement of two leavened loaves of bread for a wave offering (Leviticus 23:17). Along with the bread, seven one-year-old male lambs without defect are offered with a bull and two rams are presented as an olah with their minchah and drink offerings. (Leviticus 23:18)

One male goat for a chata'at and two one-year-old male lambs for a sh'lamim are also a part of the qorbanot for this festival. (Leviticus 23:19)

Feast of Booths

The seven-day Feast of Booths (in Hebrew called Sukkot) has the requirement of a daily offering by fire.