Nessuno said:
Not to mention after the destruction of the Temple, burnt offerings are throwing me for a curve. Now it's seems that these questions had to be answered since then, thus getting Rabbinic Judaism.
No, not really; but you can find a lot of answers in the Talmud on how these offerings were made a little more in depth than the bible presents (like what days, times of day etc).
But you are forgetting something.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
The P'shta reads much like the KJV actually.
The Amplified puts it:
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible puts it this way:
I appeal to you, therefore, Achim B'Moshiach, though the rachamei Hashem (Mercies of G-d), to present your geviyah (Bereshis 47:18), all of your being as a korban chai (living sacrifice), kadosh (holy) and acceptable to Hashem (Bereshis 8:21), which is your spiritual avodas kodesh.
Fyi
Gen 47:18When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide [it] from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
Gen 8:21And YHVH smelled a sweet savour; and YHVH said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
There are two big hints on what sacrifice this is. The OJB says it is a Korban (gift). But other translations I have found and commentaries point to it being
Korban Olah - a burnt offering
If you do not have one already; I would suggest ArtScroll's Chumash. It has a glossary in back that details ALL of the sacrifices, what they are, what animal, how it is flayed, where on the altar and when it is sacrificed (even down to the holiday!).
(
www.artscroll.com and sometimes at
www.booksamillion.com (this one is not so great for overseas shipment)) Another "goodie" is the Stone Edition Tanakh, which is also with Artscroll's site.
Another semi-good help is the "Strongest Strong's concordance" - but it is only a starter. The Artscroll Chumash and an Artscroll Tanakh is a better help.
Another gracious help (though not so accurate on a couple of things) is The Power New Testament ISBN 0966452321.
I found mine on Amazon.com