You see, in the previous empires, like the Assyrian Empire, or these kinds of-- the Egyptian Empire, when people conquered other peoples, often all they wanted was tribute.

之前的各个帝国，比如亚述帝国，或者埃及帝国-,当他们战胜其他民族时，往往只是觊觎贡品。

耶鲁公开课 - 新约课程节选

At the end, the writer doesn't depict him as needing the sacrifice for food or sustenance.

最后，作者也没有把上帝描述成,一个需要贡品来获得食物的人。

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant God?

天上的神啊，你那神妙的天才,何不献上贡品给这神圣的婴孩？

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选