I have a slightly obscure question for ye sage Dopers. In a recently acquired occult book (The Book of Talismans, Amulets, & Zodiacal Gems, by William Pavitt, first published in 1914) the author mentions the significance of the number 5.
“Jewish history records a frequent use of this number, five gifts to the priests, five things only to be eaten in camp …”
Five things only to be eaten in camp? I will admit I’m not terribly well-versed in Jewish tradition, but I’ve never heard of this before. Anyone out there know what Mr. Pavitt is referring to here?
Maybe it’s referring to the Five Levitical Offerings? Only certain portions of the wave offerings, burnt offerings, etc. were to be eaten by the priests, depending on what it was.
Well, actually, I puttered about fruitlessly with the Bible Gateway for a little while, doing word searches for “five things eaten camp” and variations thereof, because it was familiar somehow, but when nothing turned up I went over to Google. “Five things eaten camp” didn’t turn up much, so I added “Leviticus” and there it was.
Simple, when you know how it’s done…
And anyway, I’m still not sure it’s what the OP was looking for, so hold the applause.
There are actually, IIRC, 24 things given to the priests (a portion of one’s sacrafices, the first fruits from certain kinds of plants, 5 shekels for one’s firstborn son, etc.). Offhand, I can’t think of how many things “can only be eaten in camp”, but I would assume that it’s referring to certain things that, because of a certain degree of holiness, could only be eaten within the area around the Tabernacle (back before there was a Temple) or in Jerusalem (after the Temple was built). This includes (IIRC, and if anybody wants to come and correct me, please do - it’s been a good while since I did Leviticus in depth) those parts of sacrafices that non-priests could eat, those first fruits again, and some other things.
The website cited by DDG lists the five general categories of sacrafices, but this shouldn’t be what the OP is referring to, since (for example), the burnt offering is burnt entirely - nobody eats any of it anywhere.
