Bible Dictionary
Drink-offering
A drink-offering was a measured offering of wine poured out in connection with sacrifices at the altar. It accompanied offerings on ordinary days, Sabbaths, and appointed feast days under the law of Moses.
Definition
A drink-offering was a measured offering of wine poured out in connection with sacrifices. It was joined with meat-offerings and presented with sacrifices on ordinary days, Sabbaths, and appointed feast days.
Biblical Usage
The law prescribed different quantities of wine according to the animal offered: one-fourth of a hin for a lamb, one-third for a ram, and one-half for a bullock. “Drink offerings of blood” refers to heathen sacrificial practice and expresses refusal to share in such abominations.
Historical Background
Drink-offerings formed part of the altar service and were presented daily and on specified sacred occasions. The supplied material identifies wine as their substance.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Consisted of wine (Num. 15:5; Hos. 9:4) poured around the altar (Ex. 30:9). Joined with meat-offerings (Num. 6:15, 17; 2 Kings 16:13; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14), presented daily (Ex. 29:40), on the Sabbath (Num. 28:9), and on feast-days (28:14). One-fourth of an hin of wine was required for one lamb, one-third for a ram, and one-half for a bullock (Num. 15:5; 28:7, 14). “Drink offerings of blood” (Ps. 16:4) is used in allusion to the heathen practice of mingling the blood of animals sacrificed with wine or water, and pouring out the mixture in the worship of the gods, and the idea conveyed is that the psalmist would not partake of the abominations of the heathen.