Leviticus (7) Wellbeing Offering (selamim)

The second type of offering in Leviticus is the Wellbeing Offering. The Hebrew word is “selemin” is closely connected to the word “shalom”, which means peace, but it takes a broader meaning that includes “wellbeing, safety, and completeness”. The offering is an expression of thanks to Yahweh for his blessing on a person’s or a people’s life.

The fat from the Wellbeing Offering is turned into an Ascending Offering that accompanies it (Lev 3:5; 7:30-31).

There are three categories of Wellbeing Offering:

• Thanksgiving – for something good that God has done (Lev 7:12),
• Freewill – spontaneous thanks for God’s goodness (Lev 7:16),
• Vowed/pledged – when the object of a vow is received from God (Lev 7:16).

The Wellbeing Offering has three purposes.

• It is an expression of worship to God. It is a retrospective offering giving thanks to God for things that he has done. It is not asking God to do things, but thanksgiving for what he has already done.

• It provides food for the priests and the people.

  The flesh of the Wellbeing Offering can be eaten by the family offering it. Any flesh that is not eaten by the third day must be burned on the altar (Lev 7:11-18).

  The meat from the Wellbeing Offering can be eaten by the laity; it is split three ways, between God, the priests and the people.

• The blood poured out on the ground by the altar provides spiritual protection against the spiritual powers of evil. The ascending offering represents food for God. The Wellbeing Offering provides food for the people. Together, these offerings represent a shared meal, and feasting between God and the people.

Passover is a form of communal Wellbeing Offering. It is not a substitutionary death. The blood was not put on an altar by a priest. A lamb was not offered at the tabernacle during subsequent Passover celebrations. They were a unique type of wellbeing celebration. The motivation was thanksgiving for deliverance. It was a joyous celebration, not mourning for sin.

The word kipper is not used when describing the Wellbeing Offering.

The Ascending Offering sends blessing to God and the Wellbeing Offering sends blessing down to the people. Taken together, the two offerings represent a shared meal between God and his people. (What does that point to).