The Question of Wine and the Drink-Offering of the Old Testament

Original Author Unknown,
Edited by Carl A. Allen and Jeffrey W. Hamilton
via The Berean, Vol. V, No. 5,6, February 2010

The argument for the drinking of wine with the Old Testament feasts is stated as thus: "The drink-offerings at all set feasts, including Passover, were of wine (Numbers 15:1-10); therefore, as Jesus was eating the Passover when he instituted his Supper, he had to use wine." This conclusion is erroneous for the following reasons:

First, let's define the drink offering:

1. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, P. 26:39. "A liquid offering of wine, rarely water, sometimes of oil, and usually accompanying the burnt offering, but often
   with the peace offerings."
2. Clark's Commentary, Vol. I, P. 530. "To diffuse or pour out. Water or wine poured out at the conclusion or confirmation of a treaty or covenant."
3. Rabbi Baylinson, Reform Jew, Detroit, Michigan; Rabbi Goldman, Orthodox Jew, Oak Park, Michigan: "The drink offering was always, definitely poured out upon the altar, and no one drank of it."

As the word "drink offering" comes from nesek (Hebrew), which means "to pour out." It was that which was "poured out" upon the altar, and not that which was drunk by the people at the eating of the Passover Feast. Any portion of it which was not "poured out" could not properly be called a "drink offering." Therefore; what the people drank could not have been the "drink offering."

The following are scriptural considerations on this subject of "drink offerings."

1. In the first Biblical reference to a "drink offering," it was "poured out," (Genesis 35:14);
2. The priests were to "pour no drink offering" upon the altar of incense (Exodus 30:9), indicating that the drink offering was to be "poured out," not upon the altar of incense, but upon the "Altar of burnt offering," (Exodus 38:1; Ezra 7:17);
3. All the Scriptures which tell us what happened to 'the "drink offerings" says that they were "poured out," (Numbers 28:7; II Kings 16:13; Isaiah 57:6; Jeremiah 7:18; 19:13; 32:29; 44:17-19, 25; Ezekiel 20:28);
4. A deity is the one who drinks the "drink offering," (Deuteronomy 32:38);
5. In the New Testament the "drink offering" is used by Paul to show the complete sacrifice of his life (Philippians 2:17; II Timothy 4:6).

The "drink offering" was a "pour offering."

Another argument is made: "Drink offerings" are related to the "offering made by fire." We are presented with this fact(?): "Drink offerings not only accompanied 'burnt offerings,' which were entirely consumed by fire, but they also accompanied 'sacrifices' (Numbers 15:5) including the Passover lamb which was eaten by the people; and therefore, its "drink offering" was likewise drunk by the people." This conclusion is erroneous for the following reasons:

1. An offering made by "fire" refers to that portion of any offering which is consumed by fire upon the altar (Leviticus 6:10);
2. "An offering made by fire" was unto Jehovah (Numbers 15:3, 10, 13-14) is in the same verse also called "a sweet savor unto Jehovah," (Exodus 29:41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 23:13,18; Numbers 28:2, 6, 8, 13, 24; 29:6, 13, 36), whether referring to a burnt-offering, or to a sacrifice;
3. The "sweet savor" was burned on the altar. Leavened bread might be offered as first fruits, but not as a "sweet savor" on the altar (Leviticus 2:12);
4. The drink-offering was called "an offering made by fire" (Numbers 15:10, 28:8), whether it pertained to an individual's private offering (Numbers 15:1-14) or to a community offering on behalf of, and at the expense of the entire nation of Israel (Numbers 28:1-29,40) or whether it accompanied a "burnt offering," or a "sacrifice" (Numbers 15:3, 5, 8).

Possibly we need to define "burnt offerings:

1. Peloubet's Bible Dictionary, p. 102: "The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed by fire on the altar, and the whole of which, except the refuse ashes, ascend in the smoke to God."
2. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, P. 26:38. "to go up." "The term applies to beast or fowl when entirely consumed upon the altar."
3. Clarke's Commentary, Vol. 1, P. 530. "To ascend, because this offering, as being wholly consumed, ascended as it were to God in smoke and vapour. It was a very expressive type of the sacrifice of Christ, as nothing less than his complete and full sacrifice could make atonement for the sin of the world. In most other offerings the priest, and often the offerer, had a share, but in the whole burnt offering all was given to God."
4. Leviticus 6:2, Jewish translation published in (Leviticus 6:9, ASV) 1946, "It is that which goeth up on its firewood upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereby."

It should be noted that some "burnt offerings" were fowls, Leviticus 1.14, and the duties were somewhat different for both priest and offerer (Leviticus 1:14-17). Thus in the "burnt offering" the whole animal was burned on the altar (Leviticus 1:9, 13; I Kings 18:38). Likewise its "drink offering" was "poured out" upon the altar and was not drunk by the people.

One should note the difference between the word "drink," and the word "drink-offering," even though both of these terms contain the word "drink," in the English versions, there is no connection between the two.

1. Mashqeh "drink," means "any drinkable liquid" (Leviticus 11:34; Isaiah 32:6).
2. Nesek "drink offering," means "that which is poured out," whether it is drinkable or not, such as:
   1. Oil (Genesis. 35:14);
   2. Blood (Psalms 16:4);
   3. Melted metals, translated "molten image" (Isaiah 41:29; 48:5; Jeremiah 10:14; 51:17).

We are forced to the conclusion that "drink offering" does not mean "mashqeh offering;" for a "mashqeh offering," if there had been such, would not necessarily have been poured out, just as the "meal offering" was not all burned. Consider the fact that for any liquid to be a nesek, it had to be "poured out." Then, when it is stated that no mashqeh (drink) is anywhere mentioned in the Scriptures as being a prescribed part of the Passover, it is recognized that wine was to be used as the nesek (drink offering; that which is poured out) as a part of the "offerings made by fire" on that occasion (Numbers 15:5, 7, 10).

The conclusion I would draw is:

1. As the Scriptures plainly point out that the "drink offering" was poured out, then the assumption that. it was drunk by anyone other than a deity is without any scriptural or historical suggestion or inference;
2. As the "drink offering" was "an offering made by fire," then it was totally consumed upon the altar;
3. When then Jesus instituted his Supper, he did not use the "drink offering" because the "drink offering" was "poured out" upon the altar at the door of the temple, and it was not to be found in the upper room;
4. The argument that the priest drank wine during certain offerings is not substantiated in the Word of God, it was all nesek, poured out, and not mashqeh drank!