Why God Commands Sacrifice Though He Neither Eats Nor Drinks

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Emor 20:7

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba said: A mighty man who is walking on the road and is thirsty and goes to drink water — how much does he drink with his cupped hands? Ten cupped-handfuls? Six cupped-handfuls? Four cupped-handfuls? Less than two he does not drink. Yet all the water that is in the whole world is but the fill of His hollow hand, as it is stated (in Isaiah 40:12), "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?" — to make known that before Him there is neither eating nor drinking. Why, then, did He say to me to offer a sacrifice? In order to grant you merit. Thus (Leviticus 22:27), "When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born."

Themes

SacrificeAdam Eve

Biblical References

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