And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the {h} covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

(h) Which they were bound (as by covenant) to use all sacrifices, Nu 18:19 2Ch 13:5 Eze 43:24 or it means a sure and pure covenant.

Wesley's Notes

2:13 Salt - To signify that incorruption of mind, and sincerity of grace, which in scripture is signified by salt, Mark 9:49, Col 4:6, and which is necessary in all them that would offer an acceptable offering to God. Or in testimony of that communion which they had with God in these exercises of worship; salt being the great symbol of friendship in all nations is called, either, because it represented the perpetuity of God's covenant with them, which is designed by salt, Num 18:19, 2Chr 13:5. Or, because it was so particularly required as a condition of their covenant with God; this being made absolutely necessary in all their offerings; and as the neglect of sacrifices was a breach of covenant on their part, so also was the neglect of salt in their sacrifices.

Scofield Reference Notes

[3] salt

Cf. Num 18:19 Mk 9:49,50 Col 4:6

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. every . meat offering shalt thou season with salt-The same reasons which led to the prohibition of leaven, recommended the use of salt-if the one soon putrefies, the other possesses a strongly preservative property, and hence it became an emblem of incorruption and purity, as well as of a perpetual covenant-a perfect reconciliation and lasting friendship. No injunction in the whole law was more sacredly observed than this application of salt; for besides other uses of it that will be noticed elsewhere, it had a typical meaning referred to by our Lord concerning the effect of the Gospel on those who embrace it (Mr 9:49, 50); as when plentifully applied it preserves meat from spoiling, so will the Gospel keep men from being corrupted by sin. And as salt was indispensable to render sacrifices acceptable to God, so the Gospel, brought home to the hearts of men by the Holy Ghost, is indispensably requisite to their offering up of themselves as living sacrifices [Brown].

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:12-16 Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.