expressed the desire to
propitiate an offended Deity. However, since the sacrificial cult was
always dominated by the priesthood in Israel as well as other nations, the
lawgiver made no essential changes in the traditional practice and
terminology. Thus it was left to the consciousness of the people to find a
deeper spiritual meaning in the sacrifices instead of stating one
directly. The want was supplied only by the later Haggadists who tried to
create a symbolism of the sacrificial cult. The laying on of hands by the
individual who brought the offering, seems to have been a genuine symbolic
expression of self-surrender. In the case of sin-offerings the Mosaic cult
added a higher meaning by ordering a preceding confession of sin. Here,
indeed, the individual entered into personal communion with God through
his prayer for pardon, even though the priest performed the act of
expiation for him.

5. The great prophets of Israel alone recognized that the entire
sacrificial system was out of harmony with the true spirit of Judaism and
led to all sorts of abuses, above all to a misconception of the worship of
God, which requires the uplifting of the heart. In impassioned language,
therefore, they hurled words of scathing denunciation against the practice
and principle of ritualism: "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will
take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Yea, though ye offer Me burnt-offerings and your meal-offerings, I will
not accept them; Neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat
beasts.

Take thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; and let Me not hear the
melody of thy psalteries.

But let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty
stream."(834)

Thus speaks Amos in the name of the Lord. And Hosea:

"For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God
rather than burnt-offerings."(835)

Isaiah spoke in a similar vein:

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me?
saith the Lord; I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the
fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or
of lambs, or of he-goats....

Bring me no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination
unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations--I
cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly....

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from
you; yea, when ye make m