The idea of unity and fellowship with God through eating a sacrifice was strong in Judaism and Christianity as well as in paganism. In Old Testament days, when a Jew offered a sacrifice, he ate a part of that sacrifice as a way of restoring his unity with God, against whom he had sinned - Deuteronomy 12:17-18 NKJV You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand. [18] But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands.