The Peace Offering זבח שלמים-Zevah Shelamim

In Leviticus Chapter 3, the next offering we come to is known in Hebrew as the Zevah Shelamim which is translated as the Peace Offering. The root word for shelamim is the same one used for the word “shalom” However; some Bible translations call it the Fellowship Offering. Unlike the Olah and the Minchah, this offering is only offered on special occasions for the following three purposes:

As a Confession:
This was for those times when one wanted deliverance from one’s enemies or sickness for an unknown sin. Let’s take a look at the following Scripture from the book of Judges to see an example of the Zevah Shelamim.

“Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords. Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not? The LORD responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”-Judges 20:24-28

The Israelites (referring to the Northern Tribe) had just been devastated in a battle. So suspecting that it was due to some unknown sin amongst them, they first offer an ‘Olah’ to obtain G-d’s favor and follow up with a Peace Offering as confession of whatever sins they may have committed. As a result, the L-rd assures them that they will be victorious in the next battle. If you want a prescription for turning around a bad situation, here it is, right here. Of course, now Yeshua is our Zevah Shelamim.

For a vow:
This was for those times when one was in a sticky situation and agreed to do something for G-d if G-d delivered them. The offering procedures were conducted after G-d had done His part of whatever bargain was entered into.

Free-will Gratitude Offering:
In this case, one wasn’t attempting to petition G-d for anything. It was just a natural expression of one’s joy and appreciation. It was the perfect offering for parties or other cheerful gatherings.

Like the Olah, this is an animal meat sacrifice restricted to cattle, sheep or goats (birds are not okay). However, unlike the Olah where the priest keeps the animal hide and the minchah too where the priest keeps the grain, portions of the zevah shelamim could also be eaten by the worshipper in fellowship with the priest. Also, whereas the Olah had the entire animal barbequed to a crisp, the Zevah Shelam only designated certain parts to be burned up. Finally, another big difference is that female animals can also be used.

Hence, although of a lower class, this sacrifice ties in with the Olah and minchah in that they also seek to maintain a state of harmony with the Creator of the universe.

Amen!