And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord,.... This, as Ben Gersom observes, is distinguished from a burnt offering; for though it was to be perfect, and without blemish, yet not obliged to be a male as that, Le 3:1.
This was either by way of thanksgiving for mercies received, Le 7:12, orto accomplish [his] vow; made in any distress, that if God would deliver him, then he would offer such a sacrifice:or a freewill offering; either on account of favours received, or in order to obtain them: which sacrifice, whetherin beeves or sheep; whether in bullocks or sheep, under which are comprehended goats, both being of the flock, Le 22:19;it shall be perfect to be accepted; perfect in all its parts, not only in those that are without and obvious to view, but in those that are within: wherefore the Jewish writers say , if it had but one kidney, or the spleen was consumed, it was unfit for the altar; wherefore, in order to be an acceptable sacrifice to God, it was to be complete in all respects:there shall be no blemish therein; which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and that it might be observed.
Such sacrifices were typical of Christ, the immaculate Lamb of God, who offered himself without spot to him, 1Pe 1:19; and shows that no sacrifice of man's can be so acceptable to God as to atone for him, since none of theirs are perfect, and without blemish.
Maimon. Hilchot Issure Mizbeach, c. 2. sect.