lo6 THE ANCIEXT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XII. 



a loaf to the priest, or a whole cake, the priest divided 

 it into two parts, and having set aside the portion re- 

 served for himself, he broke the other into crumbs, 

 poured on it oil, salt, wine, and incense, and spread 

 the whole on the fire of the altar. If these offerings 

 were accompanied by an animal for a sacrifice, this 

 portion was all thrown on the victim, to be con- 

 sumed with it. If the offerings were ears of new 

 corn (wheat or barley), they were parched at the 

 fire, or in the flame, and rubbed in the hand, and 

 then offered to the priest in a vessel ; who put oil, 

 incense, wine, and salt ov^er the grain, and burnt 

 it on the altar, first having taken his own portion.* 

 *' The greater part of these offerings were volun- 

 tary, and of pure devotion. But when an animal 

 was offered in sacrifice, they were not at liberty to 

 omit them. Every thing proper was to accompany 

 the sacrifice, and serve as seasoning to the victim. 

 In some cases, the law required only offerings of 

 corn, or bread ; as when they offered the firstfruits 

 of harvest, whether on the part of the nation, or as 

 a mark of devotion from private persons. As to 

 the quantity of meal, oil, wine, or salt, to accom- 

 pany the sacrifices, we cannot see that the law deter- 

 mined it. Generally, the priest threw a handful of 

 meal or crumbs on the fire of the altar, with wine, 

 oil, and salt in proportion, and all the incense ; 

 the rest belonging to himself, and the quantity de- 

 pending on the liberality of the offerer. Moses ap- 

 pointed t an assaron (ni^ti^y asJiirefh), or the tenth 

 part of an ephah, of fine flour, for those who could 



* Levit. ii. l:t, \.j. f Levit. viii. 11., and xiv. 21. 



