The burnt sacrifice of the herd.
Having given general instructions concerning the great business of sacrifice, the Most High descends to particulars, and here describes the burnt sacrifice of the herd. These particulars contain specific directions—
I. AS TO THE QUALITY OF THE VICTIM.
1. It must be a male.
2. It must be without blemish.
(1) The rabbins reckon no less than fifty things, any one of which would, in their judgment, render an animal unfit for sacrifice; five in the ear, three in the eyelid, eight in the eye, etc.; but they trifle outrageously. Any obvious defect or redundancy of parts would mar it for sacrifice, and so would any disease by which it might be afflicted.
II. As TO THE DUTY OF THE OFFERER.
1. With a view to procuring the acceptance of his offering.
(a) That the offerer confessed himself a sinner deserving to be sacrificed.
(b) That he ceremonially transferred his guilt to a substitute in anticipation of the Great Substitute promised who should truly bear the punishment of sin (1 Peter 2:24).
(c) That he trusted in the mercy of God through the vicarious sufferings of Messiah (Daniel 9:26).
2. With a view to the making an atonement for his sin. The direction is
III. As TO THE DUTY OF THE PRIESTS.
1. With respect to the blood.
2. With respect to the water.
3. With respect to the fire.