זֶבַח

H2077. zebach
I. זֶ֫בַח162 noun masculineJdg 16:23 sacrifice **Phoenician זבח of an offering of bread and oil CISi. 165, 12; 167. 8, compare RSSemitic 205 (2nd ed. 222). ׳ז absolute Gen 31:54 +; construct Exo 34:25 +; זָ֑בַח Lev 17:8 Lev 17:16t.; suffix זִבְחוֺ Lev 7:16; Eze 34:15, זִבְחֲכֶם Lev 19:6; plural זְבָחִים Gen 46:1 +; construct זִבְחֵי Lev 17:5 +; suffix 3 masculine plural זִבְחֵיהֶם Lev 17:5, זְבָחֵימוֺ Deu 32:38, זִבְחֹתָם Hos 4:19 etc.; — the common and most ancient sacrifice, whose essential rite was eating the flesh of the victim at a feast in which the god of the clan shared by receiving the blood and fat pieces. In the older literature it is distinguished from מִנְחָה and עֹלָה, in the later literature from חַטָּאת and אָשָׁם.
I. general name for all sacrifices eaten at feasts: —
1 of the God of Israel Gen 46:1; Exo 10:25; Exo 18:12 (E) Hos 3:4; Hos 6:6; Hos 9:4; Amo 5:25; Isa 1:11; Isa 19:21; Deu 12:27; Deu 18:3; 1Sa 2:13, 1Sa 2:29; 1Sa 3:14; 1Sa 6:15; 1Sa 9:12-13, 1Sa 15:22 (twice in verse); 1Sa 16:3, 1Sa 16:5 (twice in verse); 2Sa 15:12; 1Ki 8:62; 1Ki 12:27; 2Ki 5:17; 2Ki 16:15; Psa 40:7; Psa 50:8; Psa 51:18; Psa 51:19; Pro 15:8; Pro 21:3, Pro 21:27; Isa 43:23-24, Isa 56:7; Jer 6:20; Jer 7:21-22, Jer 17:26; Jer 33:18; Eze 40:42; Eze 44:11; 1Ch 29:21 (twice in verse); 2Ch 7:1, 2Ch 7:4, 2Ch 7:5, 2Ch 7:12; Neh 12:43; Dan 9:27; Ecclesiastes 4:17. They should be צֶדֶק זִבְחֵי sacrifices of righteousness (offered in righteousness by the righteous) Deu 33:19; Psa 4:6; Psalm 51:21; הַבְהָבַי זִבְחֵי sacrifices of gifts to me (׳י) Hos 8:13; the temple is זָבַ֑ח בֵּית2Ch 7:12; they should not be ׳ז רִיב sacrifices of strife, where strife prevails Pro 17:1.
2 of other deities Exo 34:15; Num 25:2; Deu 32:38 (JE) Jdg 16:23; 2Ki 10:19, 2Ki 10:24; Hos 4:19; Isa 57:7; Eze 20:28; these are מֵתִים זִבְחֵי sacrifices to dead things (lifeless gods, opposed to ׳י as living), Psa 106:28.
II. there are several kinds of זְבָחִים which are gradually distinguished:
1 the covenant sacrifice, between Jacob and Laban Gen 31:54 (E), with God Psa 50:5 (compare Exo 24:5; 1Sa 11:15).
2 the passover הַמֶּסַח חַג זֶבַח Exo 34:25 (JE), פסח זבח Exo 12:27 (J); and probably also זבחי Exo 23:18 (JE) = Exo 34:25 (id.)
3 annual sacrifice הַיָּמִים זֶבַח 1Sa 1:21; 1Sa 2:19; 1Sa 20:6, compare ׳ז מִשְׁמָּחָה sacrifice of the clan 1Sa 20:29.
4 thank offering ׳ז (הַ)תּוֺדָה Lev 7:12; Lev 22:29; Psa 107:22; Psa 116:17, which is given as הַזָּבַח זִבְחוֺ, ׳ז, קָרְבָּנוֺ Lev 7:16-17, and as a variety of שְׁלָמִים Lev 7:13, Lev 7:15; it is implied in תְרוּעָה זִבְחֵי Psa 27:6; yet זֶבַח is Generic with תּוֺדָה2Ch 29:31 (twice in verse).
5 in ritual of H & P זבחים are defined by שׁלמים (q. v.) Lev 3:1 39t. Leviticus, Numbers, 1Sa 10:8; 1Ki 8:63; 2Ch 30:22; 2Ch 33:16; Pro 7:14, but sometimes (rarely) ׳ז alone is used in this sense, with or without suffix, where the meaning is plain from the context: Lev 17:5, Lev 17:7, Lev 17:8; Lev 19:6; Lev 23:37 (H) Num 15:3, Num 15:5, Num 15:8; Jos 22:26, Jos 22:29 (all P). These ritual offerings are of three varieties נֶדֶר תּוֺדָה, and נְדָבָה Lev 7:12, Lev 7:16 (P); in the several lists זבחים are distinguished from תודות Amo 4:4f.; 2Ch 29:31, from נדרים Num 15:8 (P) Deu 12:6, Deu 12:11; Jon 1:16, from נדבות Amo 4:4f.; Deu 12:6 and from the more comprehensive שׁלמים Num 15:8; Jos 22:27 (P). So also the sacrifice at the institution of the covenant at Horeb Exo 24:5 (J E) and the sacrifice at the installation of Saul 1Sa 11:5 are defined as שׁלמים זבחים. Thus ׳ז seems not only to be used for all these special forms but also to include other festal sacrifices not defined in the codes of law. The ritual was the same for the entire class. They were all sacrifices for feasts in which the flesh of the victim was eaten by the offerers, except so far as the officiating priests had certain choice pieces and the blood and fat pieces went to the altar for God. The sacrifice at the institution of the covenant at Horeb, the Passover victim, and the ram of consecration, were special, in that there was an application of a portion of the blood to the persons and things which were to be consecrated, Exo 12:22; Exo 24:8; Lev 8:23.
6 the slaughter of hostile nations is also a זֶבַח offered by God Himself, in which the vultures devour the flesh of the victims Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 39:17 (twice in verse); Eze 39:19; Zep 1:7-8,.
7 the verb used with זֶבַח is ordinarily זָבַח but others also are found e.g. עָשָׂה Num 6:17; Num 15:3, Num 15:5, Num 15:8; Jos 22:23 (P) 1Ki 12:27; 2Ki 5:17; 2Ki 10:24; Jer 33:18 (compare Sabean דֿבח עסי Hal148 DHMZMG 1888, 374); הֵבִיא Amo 4:4; Deu 12:6, Deu 12:11; Jer 17:26, הִגִּישׁ Amo 5:25, הִקְרִיב Lev 7:11, Lev 7:16; Lev 22:21 (all P), עָבַד Isa 19:21, נָתַן Ecclesiastes 4:17, זֶבַח אוֺ עֹלָה יַעֲלָה Lev 17:8 (H), ז ׳בִּשֵּׁל Eze 46:24, וְהַזָּבַ֑ח אֶתהָֿעוֺלָה שָׁחַט Eze 40:42; compare Eze 44:11.