2:1 a person The Hebrew word used here, nephesh, is commonly translated as “soul,” but it can also be used as a generic, neutral term meaning “anyone.” Most of the ot uses of the word in this generic sense appear in Leviticus and other passages with a priestly perspective.

Old Testament Anthropology

offering The Hebrew phrase used here is qorban minchah (v. 1) although this same action is sometimes referred to just with the Hebrew word minchah (v. 8). Both terms have a basic sense indicating a gift or offering.

Types of Offerings in the Old Testament Table

finely milled flour See note on 6:15.

oil The grain offerings all included oil (shemen in Hebrew)—probably olive oil. For the offering of uncooked fine flour, the oil was poured on the flour. For the others, either the oil was mixed in the flour before baking or the oil was smeared on the bread after cooking.

frankincense A fragrant resin from a type of tree (the boswellia), which is native to the southern Arabian peninsula and northeastern Africa. In the ancient world, this substance was used as a perfume and as a spice. It was a valuable and expensive luxury good. In the ot, frankincense is an ingredient in the incense burned in the tabernacle (Exod 30:34) and is added to some of the grain offerings (Lev 2:1, 15–16).

2:2 token portion The Hebrew word used here, azkarah, is derived from the Hebrew word zakhar (often translated as “to remember”). The word is only used 7 times in the ot—6 times in Leviticus and once in Numbers. Azkarah always occurs in a religious context, typically designating the representative portion of an offering that is burned on the altar. A related noun zikkaron is sometimes used for memorial objects (Num 16:40; Josh 4:7).

2:3 remainder While the burnt offering was fully consumed by fire on the altar, only a representative amount of the grain offering was burned up. The rest of the grain offering was for the priests to eat. The total quantity of flour or bread appropriate for a grain offering is not specified, but other texts set a standard of a 10th of an ephah (Lev 5:11; 6:13).

a most holy thing All the offerings are holy (qodesh), but certain offerings are designated as “most holy” (qodesh qadashim). Grain offerings, purification (sin) offerings, and guilt (trespass) offerings are described as most holy (6:17, 29; 7:1). This designation meant that the offering could only be eaten by the priests (7:6; 14:13).

2:4 something oven-baked The Hebrew word used her, tannur, refers to an oven made of mud or clay, which was open on top. Since 11:35 commands that a tannur that has been made unclean be broken, the oven was probably cheap to replace.

ring-shaped unleavened bread The required preparations for the grain offerings varied, but all of them had to be unleavened. The Hebrew word challah designates this first kind of oven-baked bread. The word comes from a root meaning “pierce,” so the bread is often understood as either a ring-shaped loaf, open in the center, or as perforated. See note on v. 11.

2:5 flat baking pan This term for a cooking plate is rare. Out of five occurrences, three are in Leviticus with reference to cooking a grain offering (vv. 5; 6:14; 7:9).

2:7 a cooking pan A cooking term only used here and in 7:9 with reference to preparing the grain offering. The distinction between pan and griddle is likely one of depth. The griddle would have been flat and the dough on top of it; the pan would have been deeper and the dough inside it.

2:9 token portion The representative amount of the offering that was burned on the altar (see note on v. 2). The rest was for the priests.

an appeasing fragrance Whatever is offered on the altar can be called a “food offering” (isheh). The burned portion of the sacrifice is intended to produce an aroma that will be satisfactory to Yahweh. See note on 1:9.

2:11 of yeasted food Leaven (yeast) and honey were probably prohibited because they involved fermentation. Fermentation was associated with decay and would change the makeup of the offering. Both yeast and honey were permissible for firstfruit offerings, which were not always offered on the sacrificial altar (v. 12).

honey The Hebrew word devash used here may refer either to honey made by bees (Judg 14:8) or honey (or syrup) made from fruits such as dates or grapes. This prohibition likely refers to fruit honey (or syrup) since offerings of firstfruits were agricultural produce. Honey is also mentioned regularly in biblical lists of the agricultural products of ancient Israel and Canaan (Deut 8:8; Ezek 27:17; 2 Chr 31:5).

2:12 choicest portion The firstborn of people and animals could be redeemed (Exod 13:2–16; Num 3:12–16).

they must not be offered on the altar While leaven and honey are prohibited from the altar, they are permissible for an offering of firstfruits.

the salt of your God’s covenant This phrase could simply underscore that the use of salt was obligatory. However, the references to a covenant of salt in Num 18:19 and 2 Chr 13:5 appear to have a broader meaning. The use of salt as the main preservative in the ancient world could have motivated figurative usage where salt symbolized the preservation of the covenant.

2:14 firstfruits The Hebrew term used here is bikkurim. The noun is always used in the plural and always refers either to the first-ripe produce or to foods prepared from the first-ripe produce. The term is generic for the first produce from any kind of agriculture—including grains, fruit trees, wheat fields, grapes, and figs (see Num 13:20; Neh 10:35; Exod 34:22; Nah 3:12).

an ear of new grain roasted by fire A firstfruits offering that could be burned on the altar had to be made from newly ripe ears of grain that had been fire-roasted, crushed, and mixed with oil and frankincense.

2:16 shall turn into smoke its token portion A representative amount from the firstfruits offering made from first-ripe grain was burned on the altar just like the other grain offerings (compare Lev 2:2, 9; see note on v. 2).