Leviticus 1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish… It is said of the Lacedaemonians, who were a poor and homely people, that they offered lean sacrifices to their gods; and that the Athenians who were a wise and wealthy people, offered fat and costly sacrifices; and yet in their wars the former always had the mastery over the latter. Whereupon they went to the oracle to know the reason why those should speed worst who gave most. The oracle returned this answer to them: "That the Lacedaemonians were a people who gave their hearts to their gods, but that the Athenians only gave their gifts to their gods." Thus the heart without a gift is better than a gift without a heart. But both are desirable. (T. Secker.) Parallel Verses KJV: If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. |
    |