See also

An act that involved offering to God the life of an animal. It expressed gratitude for God's goodness or acknowledgment of sin. It was also associated with establishing a covenant.

Sacrifice was an integral part of worship

Genesis 46:1
Exodus 10:24-26
Judges 13:19
1 Samuel 1:3
1 Kings 3:4
Genesis 4:4

Sacrifices were a means of offering thanks to God

Genesis 8:20

Abel

Exodus 18:12

Noah delivered from the flood

Judges 11:31

Jethro after God had delivered the Israelites

1 Samuel 6:15

Jephthah

Ezra 3:3; 8:35

after the safe return of the ark

The returning exiles:

Psalms 27:6; 54:6; 107:17-22

In response to God's deliverance from danger and sickness:

Leviticus 23:5-8

Sacrifices were offered at regular religious festivals

Leviticus 23:18-20

Passover

Leviticus 23:23-25

the Feast of Weeks

Leviticus 16:6-10; 23:26-32

the Feast of Trumpets

Leviticus 23:33-36

The Day of Atonement:

the Feast of Tabernacles

1 Kings 8:63

Special occasions were marked by sacrifices

2 Chronicles 29:31-33

the dedication of Solomon's temple

Ezra 3:2-3

after Hezekiah had purified the temple

Ezra 6:17

the Jews who returned from the Babylonian exile

at the completion of the second temple

Leviticus 4:1-3,13-14

Sacrifices as signs of individual and national penitence

Judges 2:1-5; 20:26
1 Samuel 7:8-9
2 Samuel 24:10-25
Deuteronomy 12:13-14

The place of sacrifice

See also

It was divinely chosen

Leviticus 17:3-5
Deuteronomy 12:2-6
1 Kings 12:28-29,32
2 Chronicles 15:17; 31:1

Rival places of sacrifice caused the Israelites to sin

Under Hezekiah the high places were destroyed.

1 Kings 11:7-8

God condemned certain sacrifices

See also

Sacrifices to other gods

Numbers 25:1-3
2 Kings 16:4,15
Psalms 106:28
Isaiah 57:7; 65:3,7
Jeremiah 19:4
Leviticus 18:21
Deuteronomy 12:31

Human sacrifices

1 Kings 16:34
2 Kings 3:26-27; 16:3; 17:31; 21:6
Ezekiel 20:31
1 Samuel 15:20-22

Sacrifice to the LORD may be rejected

Jeremiah 7:21-22

If it is a substitute for obedience

Hosea 8:11-13
Amos 4:4
Mark 12:33
Isaiah 66:2-3
Micah 6:7-8

If it is a substitute for justice and mercy

Matthew 9:13
Malachi 1:13-14

If it is imperfect

Genesis 22:15-18

Blessing is promised when right sacrifices are offered

Psalms 4:5; 50:14-15,23; 51:17

See also

5026 knowledge
6020 sin
6638 election
7302 altar
7314 blood
7334 circumcision
7354 feasts and festivals
7374 high places
7402 offerings
7424 ritual law
7467 temple, Solomon's
7766 priests