The Changing Social Meanings of Sacrifices in Jewish Worship: An Historical Overview

Abstract

Abstract The performance of sacrificial rituals by the ancient Hebrews served a number of important social and cultural functions. Although adapted from religious and cultural sources exogenous to the Hebrews (i. e., pagan), when recast in the light of Hebrew theology, ritual immolations served to identify and separate the Hebrew culture from surrounding pagan cultures. This in turn established the social boundaries of the Hebrew culture, thereby facilitating its development in the ancient world. Importantly, the social and cultural emphasis placed on sacrifices altered considerably over the years in direct relationship to the waning of pagan influences. The historical, theological, and sociocultural implications of these changes in the meanings of sacrifices are discussed in light of Israel's reestablishment as an independent nation.