Albert Barnes Commentary Leviticus 2

A meat offering - Better translated in Leviticus 2:4 as an oblation of a meat offering. The relevant Hebrew terms are קרבן qorbân and מנחה mı̂nchāh. Mı̂nchāh literally signifies a “gift,” and it appears to have been applied especially to what was given by an inferior to a superior (Genesis 32:18–20; Genesis 43:11; Judges 3:15; 1 Samuel 10:27); but in the technical language of the Law, it regularly denoted the vegetable offerings as distinguished from the animal offerings.

Our translators have rendered it “meat-offering,” applying the word “meat,” according to old usage, as a general term for food. Vegetable-offering or meal-offering would be a more convenient rendering.

The meaning of the מנחה mı̂nchāh appears to be much more simple than that of the animal sacrifices. The מנחה mı̂nchāh—as a sacrifice—was something surrendered to God, which was of the greatest value to man as a means of living. It might thus seem to be merely eucharistic. But it should not be overlooked that the grain had been modified, and made useful, by man’s own labor. Hence, it has been supposed that the מנחה mı̂nchāh expressed a confession that all our good works are performed in God and are due to Him.

The order in which the kinds of offering are named agrees with their development in order of time. The burnt-offering and the מנחה mı̂nchāh answer to the first two offerings on record (Genesis 4:3–4; Amos 5:22).

Three kinds of מנחה mı̂nchāh are mentioned here:

1. Leviticus 2:1–3;
2. Leviticus 2:4–7;
3. Leviticus 2:14–16.

Of each of them a small portion was burned on the altar “for a memorial,” and the remainder was given to the priests. The offerings of flour belonged to the priests at large, but those of cakes and wafers to the officiating priests (Leviticus 7:9–10). Instructions to the priests are given in Leviticus 6:14-23.

Fine flour - Finely bolted flour of wheat. It was probably always presented in a bowl .

Oil - For the purpose of anointing and as food; in both senses a symbol of divine grace.

Frankincense - See the Exodus 30:34 note.

Better: And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests; and the (officiating) priest shall take from it, etc.

Memorial - The regular name not only for the portion of the מנחה mı̂nchāh which was burned on the altar (Leviticus 2:9, 16; Leviticus 5:12; Leviticus 6:15; Numbers 5:26), but for the frankincense which was laid upon the showbread (Leviticus 24:7). It is the word which is applied to the prayers and alms of Cornelius (Acts 10:4).

A thing most holy - literally, a holy of holies. All offerings were holy, including the portions of the peace-offerings which were eaten by the laity; but that was “most holy” of which every part was devoted either to the altar, or to the use of the priests. Such were the minchaahs, the showbread, the incense, and the flesh of the sin-offerings and trespass-offerings. Compare the similar distinction between places (Exodus 26:33). The most holy food was eaten in “the holy place,” that is, the precinct of the tabernacle, probably in the priests’ lodgings; but the priests’ portion of the peace-offerings might be eaten by the priests and their families in any “clean place” (Leviticus 10:12–14).

The four kinds of bread and the three cooking utensils that are mentioned in this section were probably such as were in common use in the daily life of the Israelites; and there appears no reason to doubt that they were such as are still used in the East. The variety of the offerings was most likely permitted to suit the different circumstances of the worshipers (Leviticus 2:4).

Oven - This was probably a portable vessel of earthenware, shaped like a cone about 3 feet 6 inches high and 1 foot 6 inches in diameter. Similar jars are now used for the same purpose by the Arabs. After the vessel has been thoroughly heated by a fire lit inside, the cakes are placed within it, and the top is covered until they are sufficiently baked. Meanwhile, the outside of the vessel is utilized. Dough rolled out very thin is spread over it, and a sort of wafer is produced that is considerably thinner than a Scotch oatcake (Leviticus 2:5).

A pan - Rather, as in the margin, a flat plate. It was probably made of earthenware, like the oven (Leviticus 2:6).

Part it in pieces - Break, not cut. The Bedouins customarily break up their cakes when warm and mix the fragments with butter when that luxury is available (Leviticus 2:7).

Fryingpan - Rather, a pan commonly used for boiling. It is possible that the cakes mentioned here were boiled in oil. The “pan” (Leviticus 2:5) and the “frying pan” (Leviticus 2:7) may have been the common cooking implements of the poorest of the people.

As for the oblation of the firstfruits - Rather, as an oblation of firstfruits. The words refer to the leaven and honey mentioned in Leviticus 2:11 which might be offered among the firstfruits and tithes (Deuteronomy 26:2, Deuteronomy 26:12; compare 2 Chronicles 31:5). Honey, being used to produce fermentation, and leaven (or, a small piece of fermented dough) were excluded because fermentation was an apt symbol of the working of corruption in the human heart.