Leviticus 7:15-18

Limits of time within which the Peace-Offerings must be consumed. When they are for thanksgiving, the whole of the flesh must be eaten on the day they are offered; before midnight is the traditional rule. A similar condition is prescribed in Exodus 23:18, which is taken by some as referring to the festivals mentioned in Leviticus 7:14; another view limits the injunction to the passover, as in Exodus 34:25. In many ancient heathen rites, the flesh of the victim was consumed as soon as possible (Rel. Sem. 2, p. 387). When the offering is made in fulfilment of a vow, or as a freewill offering (Leviticus 7:16), two days are allowed for consuming the remainder. In no case may the flesh be eaten on the third day (Leviticus 7:17). Such eating rendered the sacrifice unacceptable, and the offerer had to bring a fresh sacrifice, while anyone so eating incurred punishment (Leviticus 19:6-8). The words following -the morrow" in Leviticus 7:16 are omitted in the LXX.; with this omission the passage more closely resembles Leviticus 19:6 f. In Leviticus 22:17-25 further rules are given concerning those animals which may be offered for a vow or as a freewill-offering, and in Leviticus 22:29 a sacrifice of thanksgiving, though not called a Peace-Offering, is described as one of which the flesh must be consumed on the same day that it is offered (see note there).