The Carthaginians were strongly influenced by the Hebrew neighbors of their motherland, as can be seen in the Law of Sacrifice (dates to about 400 B.C.) which spells out the prices for different sacrifices. From this table you can see more than a passing resemblence to the Levitical institutions of Israel and some important differences. The main sacrifices bear the same names among both peoples. The Carthaginians have no "sin offering," while the Hebrews have no "prayer offering." The Hebrews had no set of regular dues for the priests, but parts of some offerings belonged to them. A translation of the existing Carthaginian document reads:

Temple of Baalzephon. Tariff of dues, which the superintendents of dues fixed in the time of our rulers, Khalasbaal, the judge, son of Bodtanith, son of Bodeshmun, and of Khalasbaal, the judge, son of Bodeshmun, son of Khalasbaal, and their colleagues.

For an ox as a whole burnt-offering or a prayer-offering, or a whole peace-offering, the priests shall have 10 (shekels) of silver for each, and in case of a whole burnt-offering, they shall have in addition to this fee 300 shekels of flesh and, in case of a prayer-offering, the trimmings, the joints; but the skin and the fat of the inwards and the feet and the rest of the flesh the owner of the sacrifice shall have.

For a calf whose horns are wanting, in case of one not castrated, or in case of a ram as a whole burnt-offering, the priests shall have 5 shekels of silver for each; and in case of a whole burnt- offering they shall have in addition to this fee 150 shekels of flesh, and, in case of a prayer- offering, the trimmings and the joints but the skin and the fat of the inwards and the feet and the rest of the flesh the owner of the sacrifice shall have.

In case of a ram or a goat as a whole burnt-offering, or a prayer-offering, or a whole peace- offering, the priests shall have 1 shekel of silver and 2 zars for each, and, in case of a prayer- offering, they shall have in addition to this fee the trimmings and the joints; but the skin and the fat of the inwards and the feet and the rest of the flesh the owner of the sacrifice shall have.

For a lamb, or a kid, or the young of a hart, as a whole burnt-offering, or a prayer-offering, or a whole peace-offering, the priests shall have 3/4 of a shekel and......zars of silver for each, and, in case of a prayer-offering they shall have in addition to this fee the trimmings and the joints---but the skin and the fat of the inwards and the feet and the rest of the flesh the owner of the sacrifice shall have.

For a bird, domestic or wild, as a whole peace-offering, or a sacrifice-to-avert-calamity or an oracular sacrifice, the priests shall have 3/4 of a shekel of silver and 2 zars for each; but the flesh shall belong to the owner of the sacrificed. For a bird, or sacred first-fruits, or a sacrifice of game, or a sacrifice of oil, the priests shall have 10 gerahs for each; but ... . ...

In case of every prayer-offering that is presented before the gods, the priests shall have the trimmings and the joints; and in the case of a prayer-offering....

For a cake, and for milk, and for every sacrifice which a man may offer, for a meal-offering.....

For every sacrifice which a man may offer who is poor in cattle, or poor in birds, the priests shall not have anything .........

Every freeman and every slave and every dependent of the gods and all men who may sacrifice......., these men shall give for the sacrifice at the rate prescribed in the regulations.....

Every payment which is not prescribed in this table shall be made according to the regulations which the superintendents of the dues fixed in the time of Khalasbaal, son of Bodtanith, and Khalasbaal, son of Bodeshmun, and their colleagues.

Every priest who shall shall accept payment beyond what is prescribed in this table shall be fined....

Every person who sacrifices, who shall not give......... for the fee which ........

*Please note that where "...." appears the original text is lost.

A shekel is not just a coin but was also a measure of weight, equal to 7.5 grams. A zar is about equivalent to the Greek obol (a fraction of a gram), and the gerah is an even smaller denomination coin of copper or bronze.

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