Drink offering
The drink offering (Hebrew ְנֶסֶך, nesekh) was a form of libation forming one of the sacrifices and offerings of the Law of Moses.
Etymology
The Hebrew noun nesekh is formed from the Qal form of the verb nasakh, "to pour," hence "thing poured." The verb and the noun frequently come together, such as nasakh [aleha] nesekh, literally "pour [on it] a poured thing" as in the only pre-Exodus use, that of Jacob's libation at a pillar in Genesis 35:14. The etymology "poured thing" explains the existence of the rarer secondary use of the verb nasakh for "cast" (an idol), and the noun nesekh for a "thing poured" (also an idol).[1]
Hebrew Bible
The drink offering accompanied various sacrifices and offerings on various feast days. Usually the offering was of wine, but in one instance also of "strong drink" (Numbers 28:7).[2] This "strong drink" (Hebrew shekhar שֵׁכָר, Septuagint sikera σίκερα as Luke 1:15, but also methusma in Judges 13:4 and Micah 2:11) is not identified.
Mishnaic tradition
The
In the Temple at Jerusalem, they were not permitted to bring wine that had been sweetened or smoked or cooked and if they did so it was invalid.[7] By a rabbinic injunction, an unsealed flagon of wine prepared by an Israelite, but which had been kept under watch or in store by a heathen, is considered a forbidden libation (Hebrew: יין נסך), which must be discarded. The kashrut requirements for wine are designed to prevent the accidental or intentional use of wine previously dedicated or blessed for idolatrous use. However, an unsealed flagon of wine that had been cooked or of conditum (both of which prepared by an Israelite), since both are unfit for the altar, even though they had been watched or kept in store by a heathen, can still be consumed by an Israelite.[9]
Ancient Near East parallels
In Akkadian texts, and Ugaritic epics there are references to libations, and sometimes the same verb stem N-S-K "to pour" is used. Psalm 16:4 gives reference to a "drink offering" of blood among pagans, but generally in ANE religions libations were also of wine.[10]
Rabbinical interpretation
In the Talmud the view of Rabbi Meir was that the blood of the sacrifices permits the drink offering to the altar (B. Zeb. 44a).[11]
Other offerings
An
References
- Brown Driver BriggsHebrew Lexicon nesek
- ^ Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible 2000 p357 "Beer was also consumed widely in the ancient Near East as early as the Early Bronze Age. ... A drink offering (Heb. nesek) was poured out to the Lord at the sanctuary during many of the festival offerings (e.g., Num. 28:7-8, 10 "
- JSTOR 3622261., citing Samuel Klein(1922), Eretz Yisrael: Geography of Israel for High Schools and for the People (ארץ ישראל -- גיאוגרפיה של ארץ ישראל לבתי ספר תיכוניים ולעם), Menorah: Vienna, p. 93 (in Hebrew).
- OCLC 741051578.
- ISBN 0-19-815402-X., s.v. Menahot8:6
- ISBN 965-440-007-3.)
- ^ ISBN 0-19-815402-X., s.v. Menahot8:6
- Midrash Hagadolon Numbers 28:7
- Avodah Zarah30a)
- Aqhat, II, 6, 29 f.; cf. also II, 2, 18 f., 28. ^ The drink offering plays a particularly important role in fertility cults.28 In Israel there were ..."
- ^ Jacob Neusner A history of the Mishnaic law of holy things 1978 p77 "Meir's view is that the blood of the sacrifices permits the drink-offering to the altar (B. Zeb. 44a) . Sages point out that the drink-offering may come later ( = Meir, G.)"