Does the Burnt Offering Atone?

What is it about?

This paper explores a variety of views held by ancient Jews as to the nature of the wholly burnt offering, or olah. Across biblical, Second Temple, and rabbinic sources, there is conflicting evidence as to whether olah atones. Among the rabbinic materials, this question is especially complicated, with multiple texts disputing the matter. This study analyzes these varied materials, considering rabbinic texts against parallel Biblical and Second Temple materials. This question is important both for understanding the nature this offering and for how that impacts upon understandings of sacrifice and atonement in ancient Judaism more generally. The flexibility of the olah offering renders it a site for negotiation between differing conceptions of these categories for ancient Jews.

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