The concept of heave-offerings is rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system, primarily within the context of the Levitical laws. These offerings were a specific type of contribution made by the Israelites to the Lord, often involving the elevation or "heaving" of the offering as a symbolic gesture of presenting it to God. The heave-offering is closely associated with the peace offerings and the wave offerings, and it played a significant role in the religious and communal life of ancient Israel.

Biblical Foundation

The heave-offering is first introduced in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 29:27-28 , God commands Moses regarding the consecration of Aaron and his sons: "Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is raised from the ram of ordination. This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a perpetual portion from the Israelites, for it is a contribution. It will be a contribution from the Israelites from their peace offerings, their contribution to the LORD."

The heave-offering was typically a portion of the sacrifices that were set aside for the priests. Numbers 18:8-11 further elaborates on this: "Then the LORD said to Aaron, 'I have given you charge of the contributions made to Me. As an allotment for you and your sons, I have given you the portion of the offerings presented by fire. This is a permanent statute. You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. This applies to all their offerings, including the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. The portion that is kept from the fire will be most holy for you and your sons. You are to eat it as something most holy, and every male may eat it; it shall be holy to you.'"

Purpose and Significance

The heave-offering served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. Primarily, it was an act of worship and obedience, acknowledging God's provision and sovereignty. By offering a portion of their sacrifices, the Israelites demonstrated their gratitude and reliance on God. The heave-offering also provided for the Levitical priesthood, who had no inheritance of land among the tribes of Israel and relied on these offerings for their sustenance.

The heave-offering was a tangible expression of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It reinforced the idea that all blessings come from God and that a portion of these blessings should be returned to Him as an act of devotion and recognition of His lordship.

Ceremonial Practice

The act of heaving involved lifting a portion of the sacrifice upward, symbolizing its presentation to God. This ritual act was often performed alongside the wave offering, where the offering was moved back and forth. The heave-offering typically included parts of the animal sacrifices, such as the breast and the right thigh, which were given to the priests as their share.

Leviticus 7:32-34 provides further instruction: "You are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering. The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion. I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering from the Israelites, from their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a perpetual portion from the Israelites."

Theological Implications

The heave-offering underscores the principle of giving back to God from what He has provided. It reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where believers are called to manage their resources in a way that honors God. The heave-offering also highlights the importance of supporting those who minister in spiritual matters, as seen in the provision for the Levitical priests.

In the New Testament, while the specific practice of heave-offerings is not continued, the underlying principles of generosity, stewardship, and support for ministry remain relevant. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 , draws on the Old Testament practice to affirm the right of those who preach the gospel to receive their living from the gospel: "Do you not know that those who serve in the temple eat of the temple offerings, and those who attend to the altar share in the altar’s offerings? In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

Thus, the heave-offering serves as a historical and theological foundation for understanding the relationship between worship, provision, and ministry within the community of faith.

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... shall ye seek, and thither shalt thou come; and thither shall ye bring your burnt
offerings, and your sacrifices and your tithes and heave offerings of your ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

The "Fraternity" of Pharisees
... The result showed that, while the "therumah," (see The Temple) or priestly
"heave-offerings," was regularly given, neither the first or Levitical tithe, nor ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 14 the fraternity of.htm

Index of Subjects.
... doctrine, 570. Harmonies of the gospels, 419, 537. Heave-offerings, 601.
Hebrew alphabet, 176; vowel points and accents, 178. Hebrew ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

Heave-offerings (13 Occurrences)
Heave-offerings. Heave-offering, Heave-offerings. Heave-shoulder .
Multi-Version Concordance Heave-offerings (13 Occurrences). ...
/h/heave-offerings.htm - 11k

Heave-offering (55 Occurrences)
Heave-offering. Heavenward, Heave-offering. Heave-offerings . ... Yet ye rob Me.
But ye say: 'Wherein have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and heave-offerings. ...
/h/heave-offering.htm - 26k

Allotment (24 Occurrences)
... Numbers 18:8 And the LORD spoke unto Aaron: 'And I, behold, I have given thee the
charge of My heave-offerings; even of all the hallowed things of the children ...
/a/allotment.htm - 14k

Heave (25 Occurrences)
... Numbers 6:20). The first fruits offered in harvest-time (Numbers 15:20,
21) were heaveofferings. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt ...
/h/heave.htm - 17k

Statute (63 Occurrences)
... Numbers 18:8 And Jehovah spoke to Aaron, And I, behold, I have given thee the charge
of my heave-offerings, of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel ...
/s/statute.htm - 27k

Due (93 Occurrences)
... Numbers 18:8 And Jehovah spake unto Aaron, And I, behold, I have given thee the
charge of my heave-offerings, even all the hallowed things of the children of ...
/d/due.htm - 35k

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 10:37 and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our
heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil ...
/f/first-fruits.htm - 27k

Voluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences)
... 14 And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper toward the east, was over
the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave-offerings of Jehovah ...
/v/voluntary-offerings.htm - 7k

Oblations (24 Occurrences)
... and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded for the
Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers, and the heave-offerings of the ...
/o/oblations.htm - 15k

Jimnah (4 Occurrences)
... 14 And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper toward the east, was over
the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave-offerings of Jehovah ...
/j/jimnah.htm - 8k

What is a heave offering? | GotQuestions.org

What is a free will offering / freewill offering? | GotQuestions.org

What is a grain offering? | GotQuestions.org

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