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1“‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before Yahweh. 2He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. 3He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, 4and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. 5Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

6“‘If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh is from the flock, either male or female, he shall offer it without defect. 7If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before Yahweh; 8and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 9He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails, 10and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. 11The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.

12“‘If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before Yahweh. 13He shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 14He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, 15and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. 16The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is Yahweh’s.

17“‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’”

Israelite Sacrifices Compared to Canaanite Practices

Israelite Sacrifices Compared to Canaanite Practices

Topical Study | Lev 3:17 | Mark Rooker

Lev 3:17 "ye eat neither fat nor blood" - 

Article on the Comparison of Israelite Sacrifices to Canaanite Practices. 

The practice of slaying an animal for a sacrifice was not unique to the Israelite tradition, but was a "religious" expression practiced throughout the ancient world, particularly among the Canaanites. However, the purposes for offering sacrifices in Israel could not have been more different than what existed among her pagan neighbors. The rationale for sacrifices among the Canaanites was the maintenance and sustenance of the gods, since their devotees believed that they had the same appetites as humans.  The motivation to present food to the gods was to gain their favor by satisfying their hunger.  Thus, pagan worship was self-serving at its core because the person presenting the offering was using the gift for his own advantage.  

In contrast to pagan sacrifice, in the Old Testament, the entire sacrificial complex was an outworking and expression of Israel's covenant relationship with God, which is a unique feature of the Israelite system in the ancient world.  While in the Canaanite and pagan world the sacrifices were something that the gods needed and in order to gain benefit, in Israel the sacrifices were something that the people needed for forgiveness. This is especially borne out by the uniqueness of the atonement offerings among the Israelites, in which the offering of sacrifice was the principle act of Israel's worship experience. 

The Canaanite sacrifices on the other hand are in no wise connected with the moral demands of a deity and maintenance of a right covenant relationship with the Lord as in the Old Testament.  While it may be proper to view the offerings of the Israelites as gifts (as the pagan devotee would), the Old Testament does not present Yahweh as needing anything to enrich Him.