Dictionaries :: Thank Offering, or Peace Offering

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Thank Offering, or Peace Offering:

the properly eucharistic offering among the Jews, in its theory resembling the meat offering and therefore indicating that the offerer was already reconciled to and in covenant with God. Its ceremonial is described in Leviticus 3:1 … The peace offerings, unlike other sacrifices, were not ordained to be offered in fixed and regular course. The only constantly‐recurring peace offering appears to have been that of the two firstling lambs at Pentecost (Leviticus 23:19). The general principle of the peace offering seems to have been that it should be entirely spontaneous, offered as occasion should arise, from the feeling of the sacrificer himself (Leviticus 19:5). On the first institution (Leviticus 7:11-17) peace offerings are divided into "offerings of thanksgiving" and "vows or freewill offerings;" of which latter class the offering by a Nazarite on the completion of his vow is the most remarkable (Numbers 6:14). We find accordingly peace offerings offered for the people on a great scale at periods of unusual solemnity or rejoicing. In two cases only-(Judges 20:26; 2 Samuel 24:26).-peace offerings are mentioned se offered with burnt offerings at a time of national sorrow and fasting.