Kerygma and Catechesis: En-Gedi Scroll Deciphered

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

En-Gedi Scroll Deciphered

A team of researchers have unlocked an early Hebrew scroll from Leviticus by the use of an incredible new technology. An excavation found a burned lump of animal skin scrolls in a jar, but a new technology enabled scientists to uncover the writing of the book, revealing the earliest copy of Leviticus found. Only a few lines were recovered, but this technology enabled an almost impossibly burnt scroll to come back to life. See video below for the scientific imaging technique.

The portion of Leviticus Lev 1:1-9, and Leviticus 2:2-11 covers three important voluntary offerings that Israelites brought in worship. The first, the full burnt offering, is covered in verses 1: 1-9, the second is the grain offering, 2: 2-11, and the third is the peace offering, 3:1-7. There are two important words to focus on, "offering" and "sacrifice." "Offering" comes from the root word which means "to draw near." The word "sacrifice" denotes something that is set apart for the Lord, sanctified, or made holy. The purpose of the offering was to draw near to God in order to bring reconciliation or peace between God and the offerer. It was the role of the priest alone to bring the blood and sprinkle it on the sides of the altar (1:5), without this blood there would be no atonement for sin. The grain offering, unlike the burnt offering, did not require death, it came as an offering from the produce of the soil and was mixed with olive oil a symbol of God's Spirit. This offering symbolized the dedication to God of one's life, especially our labor and resources. The third, is the peace offering or the "well-being" offering. This offering included a sacrificial meal, parts of the offering were given to the priest (7:30-34) and the rest was eaten by the offerer, and their family and friends. This offering could be made as a thanksgiving offering as well.

Offerings were brought voluntarily, and come from a heart of gratitude and from a covenant relationship with God. We know that as humans we constantly struggle with faults and defects that result in our hurting God and others. We are not perfect, nor will we ever be, and we are often blinded by our own destructive behaviors, completely oblivious as to how it affects those around us. Too often, Christians believe that once they come to faith, sin is a thing of the past, that Christians are "new creatures" and so therefore should no longer display any of the old past behaviors and sin. The Levitical system of offerings and sacrifices demonstrates that on the contrary, God instructed Israel to have in place a vehicle by which reconciliation to God and others is possible. By offering ourselves to God, and by recognizing and confessing our daily sin, we are able to be forgiven, and in turn to forgive others. If so great a debt is forgiven to us by God, how can we not turn and forgive those around us of the things they have done to hurt us? Refusing to forgive our sisters and brothers who sin against us is the same as turning away from the grace and mercy that God gives to us.

Today, our offerings are part of our worship to God. Christians recognize that Jesus, in the mystery of the atonement, gave his own life, freely and voluntarily as an offering to God for the salvation of humanity, we also recognize that our response of giving of ourselves in grateful thanksgiving. Jesus made it possible for us to be reconciled and forgiven by God and in turn to forgive others. Our Christian lives should be marked by the grateful giving of ourselves to God and others. We bring offerings, monetary, or of our talents and time, we bring bread and wine to the table, in an act of thanksgiving for the salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. Most importantly, we bring of ourselves as a gift to God humbly submitting to God's gracious rule in our lives. Many churches are entering the season where stewardship receives some additional focus. As we do, let us recall the significance of the "offerings" in the Old Testament and refocus on the meaning of our own offerings to God today.

Column I: Leviticus 1:1–9
1 1וי̊ק[ראאלמשהוי]̇דב̊ריהוהא̇ל̇יומ̊א[הל] 2 מוע[דלאמר2ד]בראלבניישראלוא̊מ[רת] 3 א̇ל̇ה[םאדם]כייקריבמכםקרבןליהו̊ה[מן] 4 הבהמה ̇מ̇ן ̇הבקר [ו]מן הצאן תקריבו ̊א ̇ת 5 קרבנכם 3אם עלה קרבנו מן הבקר זכ ̇ר 6 תמיםיקריבנואלפתחאהלמועדי̇קריב 7 א̇תולרצנולפנייהוה4ו̇ס̊מךידועלראש 8 ה̇ע[ל]הונרצהלולכפר[עליו5ושח]טאתבן 9 ̇ה̊ב̇ק̇רלפנייהוהו̇ה̊קר[יבובני]אהרן 10 [הכ]̊הניםאת̊ה̇דםו[ז]ר̇ק[ואתהדם]עלהמזבח 11 [סבי]ב אשר פ ̇תח אהל ̊מ[ועד 6והפשי]ט את 12 [העל]̊הונ̇ת[ח]אתהלנתח[יה7ונתנובני]אהרן 13 [הכה]̊ן אש על ̇המזבח ̇ו[ערכו עצים על ]האש 14 8[וערכ]ו ̇ב ̇ני ̊א ̇הרן הכה[נים את הנתחי] ̇ם את (see source below)