Lev. vi. 20. viii. 25, 26. ix. 4. xvi. 12, 20. xxiii. 13.LIBATION. This Word is particularly made Use of in the Scripture Language, to signify the Effusion of Liquors, poured upon the Victims sacrificed to the Lord. The Measure of Wine for Libations was the fourth Part of an Hin; that is to say, two Pints, and something over.
Libations among the Hebrews were made upon the Victim after it was killed, and the several Pieces of the Sacrifice were laid upon the Altar, ready to be consumed in the Flames. See Leviticus. Moses, after he had sacrificed the Victims, which were to be made Use of at the Consecration of his Brother Aaron, took the Fat and the Rump, and the Fat that was upon the Inwards, and the Caul above the Liver, and the two Kidneys and their Fat, and the right Shoulder. And out of the Basket of unleavened Bread that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened Cake, and a Cake of oiled Bread, and one Wafer, and put them on the Fat, and upon the right Shoulder. And he put all upon Aaron’s Hands, and upon his Son’s Hands, and vowed them for a Vow-Offering before the Lord. And Moses took them from off their Hands, and burnt them on the Altar, &c.
These Libations consisted in Offerings of Bread, Wine and Salt; the Offerings of Bread were Cakes of several Sorts, some baked in the Oven, others in a Frying or Baking Pan; some kneaded with Oil, others rubbed over with Oil, others fried in Oil; sometimes they were of nothing but Meal, or a Cake moistened with Oil. Part of it, which was to be consumed with the Victim, was offered upon the Altar, the rest was left for the Priest in Waiting, and was divided among the other Priests who were actually in the Temple: For the Offerings were not carried or consumed out of it.
Libations were likewise offered among the Greeks and Latins, together with the Sacrifices, but they were poured upon the Head of the Victim, while it was yet living. This appears from twenty Places of the Ancients. Æneid ii. V. 130, 131.For Example, Sinon relating in what Manner he was to be sacrificed, says, that he was in the Priests Hands ready to be slain, that he was loaded with Bands, and Garlands or Festoons, and that they were preparing to pour upon him the Libations of Grain and salted Meal.
Jamque dies infanda aderat, mihi sacra parari, Et salsæ fruges, & circum tempora vittæ.
And Dido, upon the Point of sacrificing, pours Wine between the Horns of the Æneid.iv.Victim.
Ipsa tenens dextra pateram pulcherrima Dido, Candentis vaccæ media inter cornua fudit.
Saint Paul says, that he is, as it were, a Victim made to be sacrificed, and that the accustomed Libations of Meal and Wine were already, in some Sort, poured upon 2 Tim. iv. 6.him: Ego enim jam delibor, & tempus resolutionis meæ instat.