Salt מֶ֫לַח

We are moving into chapter two of Leviticus with our word for today. מֶ֫לַח salt. It is used 14 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of flavoring for food. Job 6:6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without מֶ֑לַח salt? Our word is used in the sense of one way land is destroyed and unable to be productive. Ezekiel 47:11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left לְמֶ֥לַח for salt. Zephaniah 2:9 Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and מֶ֥לַח salt pits, and a waste forever (Judges 9:45; Deuteronomy 29:23). Our word is used to clean or purify water. 2 Kings 2:20-21 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put מֶ֑לַח salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw מֶ֑לַח salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” We find our word referenced as part of a covenant. Numbers 18:19 All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of מֶ֨לַח salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you. The idea here is an agreement that is incorruptible and long lasting just as salt is a preservative and keeps food from spoiling. We see this in the context of the second time it is used in this way. 2 Chronicles 13:5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of מֶֽלַח salt? The argument is being made that God has this kind of agreement with his people so that as it says later in verse 12 “Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.” Our word is used as part of what is to be included in sacrifice as part of the tabernacle worship. Ezekiel 43:24 You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle מֶ֔לַח salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter. Leviticus 2:13 You shall בַּמֶּ֣לַח תִּמְלָח֒ [our word is used twice so literally to salt with salt or we would say season with salt] season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the מֶ֚לַח salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer מֶֽלַח salt. I think part of this is the idea of giving to God should be our best and not leave out something that we would want ourselves. Also the fact that the priests did get a portion of the grain offering as their food. And God’s servants need to also not be given just the left overs. We should think about what we would want instead of what we can get by with giving God and his servants. Jesus said this well with these words. Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus gave these instructions about giving to support ministry. Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul gave these instructions on giving. I’ll close with these two great reminders. 1 Corinthians 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”