Sacraficial "Gutts" what to do?

[ClubV12]

I've been studying the sanctuary and kind of got side tracked on the animal sacrafice itself. Like, what did they do with the entrails and all that blood?

It's WAY complicated but from what I've gleaned to date, there were many priests involved in the process. They would draw lots to see who would do what part. This applies to the second temple, I couldn't find much on what was done in the wilderness sanctuary or the first temple.

The animals were typically "trussed", their legs tied together. A hole was made in the leg(s) for lifting them into position. About 9 or 10 priests took part, each having a specific task which was determined by casting lots. The blood was captured by one priest. How the excess blood was dealt with varied depending on the specific sacrafice involved. Generally it was poured out into two holes where the flow was directed to the brook "Kidron". The animal was quarted in a very specific way and 6 to 8 priests carried the various parts. The liver was left attached to the right flank. The heart, windpipe and lungs were all left attached to each other. One quarter of the animal had the kidneys still attached. The priest who received the right leg also got the testicles. The remaing entrails were placed on a platter and carried to a marble table between the two columns, one of THIRTEEN such tables! While all this was going on another priest is doing the sprinkling of blood while it's still warm. The quartered parts are brought to the base of the alter. The entrails are washed three times, but I have no idea what happens to them after that! Perhaps, they are burned along with the rest of the offering? Other priests carried the griddle cakes, fine flour and wine. Priests were also assigned, by lot, to carry the ashes from the two alters and such things as that.

How the animals throat was slit, the exact method, type of knife, action of the knife, length of the knife was all carefully instructed. The animal could be slaughtered by standing but this was uncommon and required an expert priest to do it without violating one of MANY laws concerning the "knife" and it's exact useage.

I may get into more detail on this subject sometime in the future, but it's not at all a primary focus. Just an interesting side issue.

Something about THIRTEEN marble tables was VERY interesting though! And there is something about the shew bread being placed first on a silver table, while the old shew bread is removed to a golden table. Why the marble tables? Because the metal tables would heat the meat! I've never seen a picture that shows tables in the courtyard, and yet, from what I gather there was at least one between the pillars and twelve more "somewhere". Possibly next to the many bowls used for washing the entrails? The priest had specific methods for cleaning blood off his hands, depending on whether it "spurted" on him BEFORE he finished quartering or he just got bloody in general. SO many rules, laws and customs to be followed in an exacting manner!!! It's a bit overwhelming trying to keep track of it all.

Not to mention bird sacrafices and many other special occasion items. Like the Red Heifer, purge me with hysop ring a bell?Or the "unsolved murder" special sacrafice! Deep stuff this sanctuary study on SO many levels.

[John317]

Yes, all very bloody. I don't know how God could bear it. I'm just very glad that we don't have to do those things.

Imagine having to offer a sacrifice-- kill a pet-- every time you commit a sin.

Three excellent books on this topic are Leslie Hardinge's With Jesus In His Sanctuary, F.C. Gilbert's Practical Lessons, and Roy Gain's Altar Call. All three also wrote other very good books on the same subject.