Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.ac.il>]

.
> >
> > From biblical through Second Temple through talmudic until modern times,
> > both Jews and Christians have tended to ignore, or interpret according
to
> > their beliefs, the fact that both Amos (5:25) and Jeremiah (7:22-23)
> > categorically reject sacrifice as a Canaanite influence and something
not
> > commanded by God. They both prefer observing his berit and observing the
> > moral code.
>
> Micah also addressed this.  Micah 6:6-7 is very pertinent to the issue
> of sacrificing a firtborn child as atonement for sin.

Actually, Micah 6:6-8 is closer in thought to Isaiah 1:10-20 than to the
passages cited from Amos and Jeremiah. God prefers moral behavior to
sacrifice, but there is no categorical negation of the cult per se. Micah
4:1-3, which he shares with Isaiah, 2: 2-4 (whatever the origin), indicates
that both prophets had a deep attachment to the Temple, something one can't
say about Jeremiah (7:3-15).
The sentiments of Micah and Isaiah are carried over into Second Isaiah
(58:1-14). This lAT passage, BTW is recited in the synagogue during the
Afternoon Service of Yom Kippur, to return to the original topic.