The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. Nor the office. The Vulg. repeats the negation from the preceding sentence. Others translate, “The priests’ custom with the people was,” and so forth or, “the pretended right of the priests,” and so forth They neither performed their duty towards God, ( Calmet.) nor were they content with what the law authorized them to receive from the people. Bible.—Servant, or son; perhaps Ophni or Phinees.—Boiling. In the heroic times, the meat was never boiled, but roasted. Athen. i. 10. and Servius; though Hesiod asserts the contrary, verse 748. Calmet.—Abulensis (q. 8.) observes that the person who offered the victim, boiled the parts which belonged to himself, as well as the priest’s share. But, whereas in the peace-offerings, only the breast and the right shoulder fell to the priest, these rapacious men took whatever they pleased. Menochius.