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Sacrifice Is It Biblical?

�Sacrifice or Obedience?� and decided that this needed more attention as to whither the author was correct or not. So I decided to do, as much of a comprehensive study on the subject as I possibly could with what I had at hand. The following is what I found.

The word �sacrifice� is mentioned 218 times in the King James Version; it is mentioned 180 times in the American Standard Version; 184 times in the New American Standard Version; 177 times in the Revised Standard Version; 219 times in the Living Bible; 166 times in the New International Version; and 185 times in the New King James Version.

Genesis 12:6‑7:

�And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.� (KJV)

Here we see that Abram (Abraham) built an altar but he made no sacrifice on it. H.J. Hendriks first discovered the hoax of Sacrificial Laws and this subject being relevant in the presentation of this study, we find: Genesis 12:6 states that the Canaanite was then in the land when Abram came into the land of Canaan. Animal sacrifice, and even human sacrifice, was an important rite in the religious practices of the Canaanites, and of the other ancient heathen and pagan peoples. The rite of animal sacrifice was incorporated into the religious practices of ancient Israel. There are numerous passages in the Bible which tell of the sacrifice of thousands of innocent and helpless animals to appease Yahweh for the sins of His people. But the Psalmist, speaking the Word of Yahweh to His people, Israel, declared:

�I will not reprove thee for they sacrifices nor thy burnt-offerings, to h ave been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills...Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most high.� (Psalm 50:8-10, 13-14)

Yahweh gave His Law to Israel at Mount Sinai. They agreed to keep the Law, and Yahweh made is covenant with them; but Israel of old often transgressed the Law, and Yahweh punished them for their sins. Instead of repenting of their sins and obeying the Law, ancient Israel sacrificed innocent animals without number to atone for their transgressions. Yahweh raised up the Prophets to call Israel to repentance, and to turn them back to His Law.

The Prophet Micah, writing the Word of Yahweh to Israel asked:

�Wherewith shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?� (Micah 6:6-7)

In these verses, the Prophet Micah asked a number of rhetorical questions, the answer that is usually implied by a� rhetorical question is �NO!� The Prophet then went on to show that the correct answer to each of the questions that he posed in versus 6 and 7 is truly �NO.� For he declared:

�He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Yahweh require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?� (Micah 6:8)

It states in Leviticus:

�And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone awhoring.�

Deuteronomy 32:17 states;

�They sacrificed unto devils, not to Yahweh, to gods whom they knew not.�

Again in 2 Chronicles 11:15:

�And Jeroboam ordained him priests for the high places and for the devils and for the calves which he had made.�

In the New Testament, Paul warns against this in 1 Corinthians 10:20 saying;

�But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to Yahweh: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.�

The rite of animal sacrifice was incorporated into the religious practices of ancient Israel. There are numerous passages in the Bible which tell of the sacrifice of thousands of animals to appease Yahweh for the sins of His people. But the Psalmist, speaking the Word of Yahweh to His people, Israel, declared:

�I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices nor thy burnt-offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills... Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most high.� (Psalm 50:8-10, 13-14)

Yahweh gave His Law to Israel at Mount Sinai. They agreed to keep the Law, and Yahweh made His covenant with them. But Israel of old often transgressed the Law, and Yahweh punished them for their sins.

Instead of repenting of their sins and obeying the Law, ancient Israel sacrificed animals without number to atone for their transgressions. Yahweh raised up the Prophets to call Israel back to repentance, and to turn them back to His Law.

The Prophet Micah, writing the Word of Yahweh to Israel asked:

Micah 6:6‑8:

� Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?� (KJV)

�With what shall I come to the Lord? How bow before God the Most High? Shall I approach him with burnt-offerings? With calves, and the sons of year� Please the Lord with a thousand of rams? With ten thousand of rivers of oil/ Or give my First-born for my fault? The fruit of myself for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, frail man, what is right: And what does the Lord seek from you? To administer Justice aright, Love mercy, walk humbly with God!� (Ferror Fenton Version)

Micah 6:6‑8: �With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves?� Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,� The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good;� And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness,� And to walk humbly with your God?� (NASU)

�[Wherewith] shall I come before Yahweh? Bow myself to God on high? Shall I come before him with ascending-sacrifices? With calves of a year old? Will Yahweh [be pleased] with thousands of rams? With myriads of torrents of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath told thee, O son of the earth, what is good, What then is ║Yahweh║ seeking of thee, But To do justice, To delight in lovingkindness, And humbly (The root-meaning is evidently in secret, or secretly.� to walk with thy God? (The Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham)����������

Here we can see that Micah is referring back to the teachings of Moses, as his authority. Which is the second witness as we have been instructed to find.

Deuteronomy 10:12‑13: �And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?� (KJV)

�And now, Israel, what your Ever-Living God asks of you is; That you should fear your Ever-Living God, and walk in all His ways, and love Him, and serve your Ever-Living God, with all your heart, and all your life; and to keep the commandments of the Ever-Living, and all His institutions, which I have commanded you this day for your own benefit.� (Ferror Fenton Version)������� ����

Deuteronomy 10:12‑13: "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,� and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?� (NASU)

�Now therefore, O Israel, what is (Yahweh thy God) asking of thee, but to revere Yahweh thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul: to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I am commanding thee today, (for thy good).� (The Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham)�����������

Our Redeemer also referred back to Moses and the Prophets for the authority for many of His teachings. Likewise, Micah, the ever-faithful Prophet, hearkened back to Moses (The Law) as the necessary second witness to the word that he had received by inspiration. It must be remembered that not everything that is received by inspiration is of Yahweh! Since the word that Micah had received by inspiration was in accord with the Law (the second witness), Micah proclaimed it as The Inspired Word of Yahweh.

�Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.� (1 John 4:1) KJV

Unfortunately too many of our Israel people have not obeyed even these small commandments and have followed the false Judeo-Christian clergy who have bragged about having visions and revelations from on high; which, upon examination, are found to lack the confirmation of the necessary second witness; many of them have been caught lying and deceiving our people, yet they follow after them.

�But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.� (2 Peter 2:1-2) KJV

Peter was the head of the band of the twelve bona fide Apostles. If Peter received �visions and revelations,� it is certain that he confirmed them by seeking a second witness to the validity of each vision or revelation before he proclaimed it. And it is certain that Peter, like Micah of old, would have turned to the teachings of his Master, and to The Law and the Prophets for the necessary second witness. But Israel, in the main, has followed the teachings of false apostles who have boasted of �visions and revelations,� which, upon examination, are found to lack the confirmation of the necessary second witness.

Isaiah bore witness that few of our people listen to or follow today.

�Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith the LORD: BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; HE THAT SACRIFICETH A LAMB, AS IF HE CUT OFF A DOG�S NECK; HE THAT OFFERETH AN OBLATION, AS IF HE OFFERED SWINE�S BLOOD; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. YEA, THEY HAVE CHOSEN THEIR OWN WAYS, AND THEIR SOUL DELIGHEETH IN THEIR ABOMINATIONS. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but THEY DID EVIL BEFORE MINE EYES, AND CHOSE THAT IN WHICH I DELIGHTED NOT.� (Isaiah 66:1-4) KJV

�Thus says the Lord; �The Heavens are My Throne, and the Earth My footstool; What is this House which you built as for Me? And where is the Place of My rest? For My hands made all these, And all these, they are Mine,� Says the Lord, �BUT In HONOUR THE MEEK, AND THE GENTLE IN SPIRIT, WHO FEAR MY COMMANDS. HE WHO OFFERS AN OX, BUT WHO MURDERS A MAN, FOR A LAMB, WHO PRESENTS A HUNG DOG, WHO OFFERS SWINE�S BLOOD FOR A GUILT, For frankincense blesses an Idol; Such as these who select their own path, And whose soul in their falsehood delights; I too will delight in their woes, And their terror will bring upon them, For I called but I had no reply, I spoke, but they never would hear, BUT DID WRONG IN MY SIGHT, AND THAT WHICH I HATED THEY CHOSE.� (Ferror Fenton Version)

�Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? 2 "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "BUT TO THIS ONE I WILL LOOK, TO HIM WHO IS HUMBLE AND CONTRITE OF SPIRIT, AND WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD. "But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; HE WHO SACRIFICES A LAMB IS LIKE THE ONE WHO BREAKS A DOG�S NECK; HE WHO OFFERS A GRAIN OFFERING IS LIKE ONE WHO OFFERS SWINE�S BLOOD; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And THEY DID EVIL IN MY SIGHT AND CHOSE THAT IN WHICH I DID NOT DELIGHT." (Isaiah 66:1-4) NASU

�(Thus) saith Yahweh, [The heavens] are my throne, and [the earth] is my footstool: Where� then is the house which ye can build me? Or where� is my place of rest? For <all these things> hath mine own hand made, And all these things (came into being), Declareth Yahweh. BUT <for this one> WILL I LOOK AROUND, FOR HIM WHO IS HUMBLED AND SMITTEN (Or: �stricken,��wounded�), IN SPIRIT, AND SO CARETH ANXIOUSLY FOR MY WORD. [He that slaughtereth an ox] {is as one} WHO SMITETH A MAN, [He that sacrificeth a lamb] {is as one} WHO BEHEADETH A DOG, [He that causeth meal-offering to scend] {offereth it with} THE BLOOD OF SWINE, [He that maketh memorial of frankincense] {is as one} who blesseth iniquity: [They indeed] have chosen their own ways, And <in their own abominations> their soul hath found delight; [I also] will choose the things that vex them. And <the things they dread> will I bring upon them, Because I called and there was none� to answer, I spake and they hearkened not, BUT DID THAT WHICH WAS WICKED IN MINE EYES, And <of that wherein I delighted not> made choice.� (The Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham)�������

There can be no doubt that Isaiah was one of the great prophets in Israel. If Isaiah�s declaration is true, then, again, the sacrificial and ceremonial laws must be suspect as not being Yahweh�s law. But, on the other hand, if the sacrificial and ceremonial laws are truly Yahweh�s Law, then Isaiah was in error when he wrote the strongly worded statement that is found in Isaiah 66:1-4. And if this be true, then Isaiah also was a false prophet. It is impossible on the one hand, for the sacrificial and ceremonial laws and ordinances to be truly the Law of Yahweh, and on the other hand, for the dictum in Isaiah 66:1-4 to be His word as well. Both cannot be so. It is necessary to seek out other witnesses to ascertain the truth.

Yahweh spoke to King Saul through the Prophet Samuel; and commanded the king to destroy totally the Amalekites and all that they had. King Saul led the armies of Israel against the Amalekites. He had the men and the arms and the backing of Yahweh, which would allow him to destroy the Amalekites and all that they had, as Yahweh had commanded him to do. (1 Samuel 15:1-3)

But King Saul thought that he was a more competent diplomat than Yahweh. Ancient Israel was always under diplomatic and military pressure from the heathen and pagan nations that surround them. Saul reasoned that Agag, the King of the Amalekites, could be a useful diplomatic pawn in his hand whenever he might have to deal with the kings of any of the surrounding nations. He saved Agag�s life, and took him as a hostage. And Saul gave orders to his troops to take as spoil, the best of the sheep, cattle and oxen of the Amalekites.

Yahweh spoke again to Samuel. He sent Samuel to rebuke King Saul for disobeying His commands regarding the Amalekites. Samuel went to the King and rebuked him for his disobedience. But Saul pleaded with Samuel. He boasted that he had saved the best sheep and oxen of the Amalekites for a very special sacrifice to Yahweh. Samuel said to Saul:

�Hath Yahweh (omit: as great) delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, (omit: and) to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of Yahweh, he hath also rejected thee from being king.� (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

So we can clearly see that Saul thought that he could sacrifice and that could atone for the transgression of Yahweh�s Law. But many in Israel (Israelites, not Jews), like Saul and their brethren of old, believe that there is an easy remedy for the transgression of Yahweh�s Law. They believe that so-called �grace� will get them �off the hook� like the Catholics for their disobedience of His Laws. Grace is no more a valid remedy for sin than is animal sacrifice. The only remedy is REPENTANCE!

The story of Saul�s disobedience of Yahweh�s commands is in 1 Samuel 15:1-35. In the passage, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, quoted above, the words �as great� and the word �and� shown in the two sets of parentheses are printed in italics in good editions of the King James Version of the bible. The words printed in italics indicate words that are not found in the Hebrew manuscripts of the book, the words being added by the translators. In some cases the added words are necessary to adequately convey the sense of the passage, but in other cases the words were added to make the passage say what the translators thought the passage should say.

Saul, like so many of his fellow Israelites, had been duped by the sacrificial system into believing that the offering of animal sacrifices could atone for the transgression of Yahweh�s Law. But many in Israel today (Israelites), like Saul and their brethren of old, believe that there is an easy remedy for the transgression of Yahweh�s Law. They believe that so-called grace will get them �off the hook� for their disobedience of Yahweh�s Laws. Grace is no more a valid remedy for sin than is animal sacrifice. The only remedy is REPENTANCE!

Before passing on to other witnesses regarding the question of sacrifice, it is necessary to emphasize the question that Samuel, the Prophet of Yahweh, asked King Saul:

�Hath Yahweh delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Yahweh?� (1 Samuel 15:22)

Again, the implied answer to this rhetorical question is �NO!� The Prophet Samuel told Saul in no uncertain terms that Yahweh does not delight in sacrifice, that what He wants is OBEDIENCE.

Yahweh in a flesh body, and called Christ, said:

�But go ye and learn what that meaneth, In will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners TO REPENTANCE.� (Matthew 9:13) KJV

�God , however, and learn what this means: I DESIRE MERCY, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE: (Hosea 6:6) for I have not come to invite righteous men, but sinners.� (Ferror Fenton Version)�������� ���

"But go and learn what this means: "I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13) NASU

�But go ye, and learn what this meaneth, [mercy] I desire, and not {sacrifice} (Hosea 6:6); For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.� (The Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham)

In the four instances presented here, Christ said that He stood with the Prophets in asserting that Yahweh DOES NOT WANT SACRIFICE, but that He wants His people to show compassion in their dealings with one another.

The Word �compassion� is probably a better translation of the Greek text than is the word �mercy.� Note that on both occasions He said, �I will have mercy (compassion), and NOT sacrifice.� In the two instances quoted, Yahweh said, in effect, that He stood with the Prophets in asserting that Yahweh does �not want sacrifice,� but that He wants His people to show compassion in their dealings WITH ONE ANOTHER.

The Book of Hosea is also concerned with Yahweh�s dealings with His unfaithful wife, Israel. For he said: �For I DESIRED MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE; AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD MORE THAN BURNT OFFERINGS.� (Hosea 6:6) KJV

Hosea�s claim that God does NOT want sacrifice. In the two passages, Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7, referred to in the paragraph above, Yashua quoted, in effect, the words of Hosea 6:6. Thus He confirmed the Word as given by Hosea, that Yahweh does NOT WANT His people to indulge in the practice of sacrifice.

If what both the Redeemer and Hosea said concerning the subject of sacrifice is truly in accord with God�s will and purpose, then the so-called sacrificial and ceremonial laws and ordinances were NOT given by Yahweh! But on the other hand, if the sacrificial laws were truly a part of God�s Law, then neither the Prophet Hosea nor the Redeemer were speaking the truth about the subject of sacrifice. It is impossible, on the one hand, for the sacrificial and ceremonial laws and ordinances to be truly the Law of Yahweh, and on the other hand, for the dictum of Hosea in Hosea 6:6, which was confirmed by The Master in Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7, to be Yahweh�s Word as well. Both cannot be so. Other witnesses are yet to be called.

The Redeemer of Israel, taught from the Psalms; for example, in the Sermon on the Mount, He declared:

�Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.� (Matthew 5:5)

This declaration is nearly a verbatim statement of Psalm 37:11:

�But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.�

Another example, in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:8:

�Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.�

This declaration was certainly based on Psalm 24:3-4:

�Who shall ascend into the hill of Yahweh? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.�

The Master, by His frequent use of The Psalms, placed His stamp of approval upon them, and marked the Psalms as being a valid Book of Scripture.

The Redeemer�s statement, found in both Matthew 9:13 and in Matthew 12:7:

�I will have mercy, and NOT sacrifice,�

and Hosea�s declaration:

�For I desired mercy, and NOT sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings,�

confirms and is confirmed by Psalm 40:6-8:

�SACRIFICE AND OFFERING THOU DIDST NOT DESIRE; mine ears hast thou opened: BURNT OFFERING AND SIN OFFERING HAST THOU NOT REQUIRED. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.� (Psalm 40:6-8) KJV

Do not forget the Master put His stamp of approval upon the Psalms and thereby declared them to be valid. In Psalm 40:6 it is stated emphatically that Yahweh does NOT desire sacrifice and offering, and that He has NOT REQUIRED either burnt-offering or sin offering. ��

The Psalmist�s revelation of the Words of Yahweh in Psalm 50 has been quoted previously. But for the reader�s convince, and because of the great importance of the Psalms in the light of the Master�s use of them, the passage is quoted again herewith:

�Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been (the words �to have been� were not in the original they were added by the translators, because they thought it belonged there) continually before me. I WILL TAKE NO BULLOCK OUT OF THY HOUSE, NOR HE GOATS OUT OF THY FOLDS. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. IF I WERE HUNGRY, I WOULD NOT TELL THEE: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. WILL I EAT THE FLESH OF BULLS, OR DRINK THE BLOOD OF GOATS? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.� (Psalm 50:7-15) KJV

Here we can clearly see that Yahweh is saying �I will not reprove thee (Israel) for thy sacrifices or thy burnt-offerings continually before me.� (As we said the words �to have been have been� omitted) So this passage is a forceful statement to the effect that Yahweh did NOT ask or, NOR does He want sacrifices or burnt-offerings.

The following verses clearly show again that Yahweh DOES NOT WANT SACRIFICES OR BURNT-OFFERINGS:

�O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. FOR THOU DESIREST NOT SACRIFICE; else would In give it: THOU DELIGHTEST NOT IN BURNT OFFERING. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.� (Psalm 51:15-17) KJV

This passage should be compared with the passage quoted above from Isaiah 66:1-4, noting especially Isaiah 66:2. The passage in Psalm 51:15-17 is another clear statement to the effect that YAHWEH DOES NOT WANT SACRIFICE AND BURNT-OFFERINGS.

It should be borne in mind that there were, in general no verse divisions and, in most books, no chapter divisions in the original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Books of the Bible. The chapter and verse divisions, for the main part, were added much later. Many of the divisions are quite arbitrary and unnatural, and many of them imply divisions in the subject matter that were never intended by the Inspired Writers. The arbitrary and unnatural division often cause confusion and often lead to incorrect interpretations of the text. Many people take chapter division to indicate a change in subject matter, viewpoints or setting. The division between chapters 7 and 8 of the Book of Jeremiah is a good example of an arbitrary and unnatural division. Jeremiah 8 is a continuation of chapter 7. The division between the two chapters does not indicate a change in subject matter.

Jeremiah also gives witness that Yahweh never wanted sacrifices nor burnt-offerings:

�Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; PUT YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS UNTO YOUR SACRIFICES, AND EAT FLESH. FOR I SPAKE NOT UNTO YOUR FATHERS, NOR COMMANDED THEM IN THE DAY THAT In BROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, CONCERNING BURNT OFFERINGS OR SACRIFICES.� (Jeremiah 7:21-22) KJV

Moffett says:

�This is what the Lord of Hosts, The God of Israel, says: YOU CAN ADD YOUR BURNT-OFFERINGS TO YOUR OTHER SACRIFICES, AND EAT THE FLESH YOURSELVES.�

Lamsa�s Translation makes it more clear: �Thus says The Lord of Hosts, The God of Israel: ADD YOUR BURNT-OFFERINGS TO YOUR SACRIFICES AND EAT MEAT WHICH In DID NOT COMMAND YOUR FATHERS TO EAT.�

In my opinion Ferror Fenton gives the most easily understood rendition of these verses: �The Ever-Living also says this; CEASE YOUR BURNT-OFFERINGS, WITH YOUR SACRIFICES, AND EATING OF FLESH, FOR DID In NOT SPEAK TO YOUR ANCESTORS AND DID In NOT COMMAND THEM, AT THE TIME THEY CAME OUT FROM THE LAND OF THE MITZERAIM, ABOUT THE MATTERS OF BURNT-OFFERING AND SACRIFICE?�

Joseph Bryant Rotherham relates it this way: �[Thus] saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, <Your ascending-offerings> add ye unto your peace-offerings (Lit.: �sacrifices�; but see P.B. Lev. 1:3, n., and O.G. 25, 5) and eat ye flesh, FOR In BADE NOT YOUR FATHERS NEITHER COMMANDED In THEM, IN THE DAY In BROUGHT THEM FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, CONCERNING THE MATTER OF ASCENDING-OFFERING AND PEACE- OFFERING.�

Jeremiah goes on to really get serious about this thing of sacrifices and burnt-offerings:

�For In spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that In brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded In them, saying, Obey my voice, and In will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that In have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.� (Jeremiah 7:22-24) KJV

Moffett�s Translation renders it:

�When In brought your fathers from the land of Egypt, In said nothing to them, In gave them no orders, about burnt-offerings or sacrifices; my orders were, LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND In WILL BE YOUR GOD, AS YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE: live exactly as In order you, that you may prosper.� (Jeremiah 7:22-24)

Ferror Fenton in his Translation states: �...did In not command them, at the time they came out from the land of the Mitzeraim, about the matters of burnt-offering and sacrifice? Never the less In COMMANDED THEM THIS MESSAGE, SAYING, LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND In WILL BE A GOD TO YOU, AND YOU WILL SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. But walk in all the paths that In instruct you; because it will benefit yourselves.�

Thus we can clearly see that according to Jeremiah that Yahweh said that He did NOT speak to your Israel forefathers, NOR commanded them in the day that He brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices. Now since this is true, then the so-called sacrificial and ceremonial laws MUST HAVE COME FROM ANOTHER SOURCE THAN FROM YAHWEH.

As we recall the words of Yahweh as recorded in Jeremiah 7:22:

�For In spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that In brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices.� Although it is not understood by very many JEREMIAH IS SHOWING JUST HOW LONG THE JEWS HAVE BEEN SUBVERTING OUR SCRIPTURES AND THE WORD OF GOD. Now, to prove this, please pay particular notice of what Jeremiah is saying in 8:8:

�How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; THE PEN OF THE SCRIBES IS IN VAIN.� (Jeremiah 8:8) KJV

Ferror Fenton�s Translation relates:

�How can you say We are educated for we possess the laws of the Ever-Living? WHY THEN IS THE LYING PEN OF THE RECORDER MADE FOR LIES?�

Moffett�s Translation states:

�What! You say, We are wise, we do have His directions when Lo, your (Jews) SCRIBES HAVE WRITTEN THEM WRONG, AND FALSIFIED THEM?�

The translation of this verse in The New English Bible is in the same vein:

�How can you say, We are wise, we have The Law of Yahweh, WHEN SCRIBES WITH THEIR LYING PENS HAVE FALSIFIED IT?�

Then we have this from the American Standard Bible: �How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold,� the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.� ASV

From the New American Standard Bible: "How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie.� NAS

Remember that as we will show you below that the scribes were the Jews but they were not known as Jews in that day and time. They were called Kenites, the descendants of Cain; as Yashua said in John 8:44.

Jeremiah�s witness concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices, and the charge which he leveled against the false scribes are very important. While it will appear that we are being repetitious, but is repeated here for added emphasis, as this is so very important. Jeremiah is telling us that Yahweh DID NOT SPEAK TO OUR ISRAEL FOREFATHERS NOR COMMAND THEM CONCERNING BURNT-OFFERINGS OR SACRIFICES; which means that Jeremiah is saying that the FALSE SCRIBES (THE JEWS) WROTE LIES INTO THE LAW, and should clear up the problem.

For if Jeremiah�s charge against the false scribes (Jews) is true, then the witnesses cited earlier, that is, The Psalms, Micah, Isaiah, Hosea and Christ, are vindicated, and their testimonies concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices are prove to be true. This being the case, the so-called sacrificial and ceremonial laws and ordinances should be expunged from The Books of The Law.

������������������������������������ The Scribes

For this we will use Mr. Schmikla�s research, from page 24-27 of chapter two. During their long period of bondage in Egypt, The Children of Israel were not much more than slaves. It is doubtful if many of them learned to read or write during those years. It is also not very likely that many of their children who grew up during Israel�s forty years of wandering in the wilderness learned to read or to write.

When Israel entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, it is probable that only Joshua and a few of the Tribal Leaders who had been chosen and trained by Moses and Aaron could read and write. Even today, many of the common people of the Middle East, especially those among the tribesmen of the Arab countries, cannot read or write. If one of them receives a letter which he wants to have read, or if he needs to have something written for him/her, they seeks out the services of the scribe in the town or village.

The scribe�s office is a shady spot on a street corner, or the doorway of a building. In general, there is only one scribe in a town or village. He holds the position of the village scribe because his father was the village or town scribe before him, and his grandfather was the scribe before his father, and so on back through the generations of his family.

The position of the scribe, and the practice of his profession, is kept in the family. In some parts of the Middle East today, the scribes still ply their trade, probably in much the same manner as did their ancestors of some 3400 years ago, when The Children of Israel entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua.

The first few chapters of the First Book of The Chronicles records the names and the genealogies of the Tribes of Israel and their locations in the land. The record in 1 Chronicles is revealing:

�And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.� (1 Chronicles 2:55) KJV

�...the Writers who resided in Jabetz, the Doorkeepers, the Tutors and the Weavers, who were Kenites, who came from Hamath, a colony of the House of Rekab (Note: Chapter 2:55 From much of the above it is clear that the word �Son� and �Father� in Hebrew, and in Hebrew genealogies, do not always mean, as with individuals, bodily Sons and Fathers, but individuals, bodily Sons and Fathers, but frequently colonies, or villages founded or built by a man. Forgetfulness of this linguistic fact has led to endless blunders in Chronology, and even in Theology. But it should never be lost sight of in studying the Scriptures).� (1 Chronicles 2:15; Ferror Fenton Translation)

Note that this passage declares that the scribes in Israel, in the days of the Kings, were Kenites, and that the practice of the profession was kept in the families (plural) then, just as it still is in some parts of the Middle East today. It would appear, that the facts of the case are, that the Israelites employed the Kenite Scribes who were living in the Land of Canaan when they came into the land after wandering for forty years in the wilderness. The scarcity of teachers and the nomadic life in the wilderness had provided few opportunities for teaching their children to read or to write. Thus, it seems that they turned to the services of the Kenite Scribes out of necessity.

Strong�s Concordance; Kenites #7017 Qeyniy (kay‑ nee'); or Qiyniy (1 Chronicles 2:55) (kee‑nee'); patronymic from OT:7014; a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin: KJV ‑ Kenite.

#7014 Qayin (kah'‑yin); the same as OT:7013 (with a play upon the affinity to OT:7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe: KJV ‑ Cain, Kenite (‑s). (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek‑Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

�In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.� (Genesis 15:18-21) KJV

This passage bears record that the people known as the Kenites were living in the land of Canaan when Yahweh gave the land to Abram, some 460 years or so before the Children of Israel returned to the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. As we showed from the Strong�s Concordance that the Kenites are identified with the descendants of Cain. Cain intermarried with pre-Adamic peoples and thus the Kenites were onl7 partially of Adamic stock. They were definitely NOT of the stock of Shem.

Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Bible Dictionary says that the Kenites were a nomadic people whose original home was in the region just south of Palestine, and that they were closely associated with the Amalekites, Balaam, in his prophecy recorded in Numbers 24:20-23, spoke of the Kenites in connection with the Amalekites.

One clan of the Kenites joined themselves with the Tribes of Judah and entered Palestine with them under the leadership of Joshua. But it is probably that the main part of them was in the land of Canaan when Israel came into the land. The passage in Genesis 15:18-21, quoted above, reveals that in Abraham�s day, the Kenites were in the land of Canaan, and that they were closely associated with a number of non-Abrahamic peoples such as the Hittites, the Amorites and the Canaanites who were notorious worshipers of Baal.

The passage in 1 Chronicles 2:55 states that the Scribes in Israel were Kenites. And there is much evidence that indicates that the ancient Kenites were, in the main, also worshipers of Baal.

As we have seen the Prophet Jeremiah wrote that Yahweh did NOT speak to, NOR did He give any command to Israel concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices in the day that He brought them out of Egypt. And in Jeremiah 8:8, he emphatically declared that THE SCRIBES HAD FALSIFIED THE LAW BY WRITING LIES INTO IT. In light of the fact that the scribes employed by ancient Israel were Kenites, who for the most part were worshipers of Baal, and the fact that the rite of animal sacrifice was a very important part of the worship of Baal, Jeremiah�s dictum and charge would seem to be substantiated.

So it was probably the Baal worshiping Kenite Scribes, the children of the devil, the sons of Cain, who falsified The law by writing the so-called sacrificial and ceremonial rites into The Law. Why would Yahweh command His Israel People to practice the same rites of animal sacrifice that was so important to the Canaanitish worshiper of Baal? Especially when He had instructed Israel to not do as the heathen.

�But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, ACCORDING TO THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE HEATHEN, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And HE SACRIFICED AND BURNT INCENSE in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.� (2 Kings 16:3-4) KJV

Ferror Fenton renders it this way:

�He followed the path of the kings of Israel, and even passed his children through the fire, like the foul heathen whom the Ever-Living drove before the face of the Children of Israel. He ALSO SACRIFICED AND OFFERED INCENSE at the Columns, and upon the hills, and under every leafy tree.� (2 Kings 16:3-4, Ferror Fenton Translation)

Jeremiah further wrote:

�But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.� (Jeremiah 7:23) KJV

There is absolutely nothing here about making sacrifices or burnt offerings. And just as Yashua admonished His people to hear Moses and the Prophets (Luke 16:31); The Prophet Jeremiah, as we have seen hearkened back to Moses. Yahweh said to Israel, in Exodus 19:5:

�Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.�

Then again we have in Leviticus 26:3, 12 where He said:

�If ye walk in my statutes, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, AND DO THEM...I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.�

There is nothing in either of these verses that even remotely refer to sacrifices and burnt offerings. As we have seen Jeremiah went back to the Law when he delivered God�s charge and promise to His people. Then delivered Yahweh�s rebuke:

�But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, BUT WALKED IN THE COUNSELS AND IN THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR EVIL HEART, and went backwards and not forward.�

(Jeremiah 7:24)

So we can see clearly why Yahweh divorced Israel, and it was because rather than obeying His Commandments and walking in the ways of the Law, ISRAEL WENT BACK TO THE WAYS OF THE CANAANITES IN THE LAND, AND SOUGHT TO PLEASE YAHWEH BY OFFERING SACRIFICES AND BURNT OFFERINGS. And so as Yahweh said, �They went backwards and not forward.�

�HE THAT KILLETH AN OX IS AS IF HE SLEW A MAN; HE THAT SACRIFICETH A LAMB, AS IF HE CUT OFF A DOG�S NECK; HE THAT OFFERETH AN OBLATION, AS IF HE OFFERED SWINE�S BLOOD; HE THAT BURNETH INCENSE, AS IF HE BLESSED AN IDOL. YEA, THEY HAVE CHOSEN THEIR OWN WAYS, AND THEIR SOUL DELIGHTETH IN THEIR ABOMINATIONS. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but THEY DID EVIL BEFORE MINE EYES, AND CHOSE THAT IN WHICH I DELIGHTED NOT.� (Isaiah 66:3-4) KJV

The prophet, in the passage quoted above from Isaiah 66:3-4, was speaking the Word of Yahweh to Israel. Yahweh said that to sacrifice an ox is as great a sin as to slay a man. That to sacrifice a lamb, is as if one cut off a dog�s neck. That they had chosen their own ways which were an abomination to Yahweh.

Remember what Yahweh said in Psalm 50:

�FOR EVERY BEAST OF THE FOREST IS MINE, AND THE CATTLE UPON A THOUSAND HILLS. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. IF I WERE HUNGRY, I WOULD NOT TELL THEE: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. WILL I EAT THE FLESH OF BULLS, OR DRINK THE BLOOD OF GOATS?� (Psalm 50:10-13) KJV

Therefore, it is clear that Israel, in choosing the way of sacrifice, they had chosen their OWN WAYS (NOT YAHWEH�S WAY), and that their soul delighted in their abominations (that is, in their sacrifices, which were an abomination to Yahweh). He went on to say that Israel did NOT answer when He called, they did NOT hear when He spoke to them, and that they did evil and chose that (the way of sacrifice and burnt offering) IN WHICH HE DELIGHTED NOT. This is the same thought as expressed in Jeremiah 7:24: �But they hearkened NOT, NOR inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and the imaginations of their evil heart, and went backward (into the pagan ways of sacrifice), and NOT forward.� Thus saith the Prophets.

Now it is for you to decide whether this study has merit or not. We believe that it does.