SPECIAL TOPIC: A SOOTHING AROMA (BDB 926 and 629)

This is sacrificial imagery for an accepted sacrifice (cf. Gen. 8:21; Exod. 29:18,25,41; Lev. 1:9,13,17). This imagery does not mean to communicate that the sacrifice was seen as "feeding" YHWH. This was the general view of sacrifice in the ANE.

1. Gilgamesh Epic ‒ 11:159-161
2. see SPECIAL TOPIC: SACRIFICIAL SYSTEMS OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
3. in Ezekiel the terminology is used of pagan sacrifices (cf. Ezek. 6:13; 16:19; 20:28), but in Ezek. 20:41 it becomes a future idiom of YHWH's work through the Messianic temple.

As the sacrifice burned it turned into smoke and ascended. It left the physical realm and entered the spiritual realm. YHWH was pleased with appropriate sacrifice (i.e., Gen. 4:4-5), which denoted

1. a faithful attitude
2. an appropriate gift
3. acknowledged procedures

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