CAKES. The Hebrews had several sorts of Cakes which they offered in the Temple; they were made of the Meal either of Wheat or Barley; they were kneaded sometimes with Oil, and sometimes with Honey; sometimes they only rub’d them over with Oil when they were baked, or fryed them with Oil in a Frying-pan upon the Fire. In the Ceremony of Aaron’s Consecration, they sacrificed a calf and two rams, and offered Exod. xxix. 1, 2.unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil, the whole made of fine wheaten flour.
The Hebrew Text calls all Offerings Mincha1, which were made of Grain of any kind, or of Flour, Paste, Bread, or Cakes, of any nature whatsoever: These Offerings were made either alone, or together with other things. Sometimes fine Flour was Lev. ii. 1. Ibid. v. 4. 5.offered2, similia erit ejus oblatio, sometimes Cakes, or other things that were baked: Sacificium coctum in clibano: At other times Cakes baked in a Frying-pan: Oblatio de sartagine; or in a Frying-pan with holes, or upon a Grid-iron. Oblatio de craticulâ. Lastly, Ibid. v. 7.Ears of Corn were sometimes offered in order to roast them, and so get the Corn out, that it might be afterwards reduced to Meal or All these several Offerings of Paste, Corn, Bread, Cakes or Meal, were instituted principally in favour of the Poor, who were not in a Condition to offer Sacrifices of greater value. This however is to be understood of voluntary Offerings, and such as were not appointed by the Law; for as to Sacrifices which they were oliged to make, the Law exchanged one Animal for another; for instead of two Lambs and an Ewe, it permits the Poor to offer only one Lamb, and two young Pigeons.
Lev. ii. 4, 5.As to the manner of offering these Cakes, it was to be observed in the first place, that they were salted and unleavened; for nothing which was not salted, or which had Leaven in it, was to be offered: But leavened and common Loaves might be given to the Priests for their Sustenance. If therefore the Cakes which were offered, were baked in an Oven, and sprinkled or kneaded with Oil, the whole was presented to the Priest, who waved the offering before the Lord, then took so much of it as was to be burnt upon the Altar, threw it into the Fire, and kept the rest for himself. If the Offering was a Cake kneaded with Oil, and dressed in a Frying-pan, it was reduced into pieces, and Oil poured upon it, then presented to the Priest, who took his hand full of it, threw it upon the Altar Fire, and the rest was his.
If these Cakes or Loaves were offered together with Sacrifices of Beasts, as was the common Practice, for with the great Sacrifices there were always Offerings of Cakes and Libations of Wine and Oil, the Loaves or Cakes were kneaded with Oil, and offered to the Lord. And the manner was not to pour the Wine and the Oil on the Animal’s Head, which was going to be sacrificed, as was the custom of the Greeks and Romans, but they were spilt upon the Fire wherein the Victim was consumed. The Law regulated the quantity of Meal, Wine and Oil, which was to be used with every Victim; for they had different quantities for the Sacrifices of Bullocks, Sheep, Goats, Ewes and Lambs. To the Sacrifices Numb. xxviii. 1, 2, 3, &c.of Bullocks were added three Assarons of Flour, kneaded with half an Hin of Oil, and as much Wine: To those of Rams two Assarons, or two tenths of an Ephah of Flour, with the third of an Hin of Oil, and as much Wine; to those of Goats and Ewes, of Lambs and Kids, one tenth-deal of Flour kneaded with one fourth part of an Hin of Oil, and another of Wine. The Capacity of the Hin and Assaron may be seen in our Tables, where we reduce the hollow Measures of the Hebrews to our own.
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