The Offering of a Ram or a He-Goat (Leviticus 1:10-13).
Much in these next three verses is summarised because it is the same procedure as for the offering of the bull-ox. The three things emphasised are the death with the offering of the blood, the offering of the remainder by burning on the altar, and the washing of the innards and legs. These were the essentials of the offering. The offering ‘at the door of the tabernacle', the laying on of the hand, the ‘giving' (presenting) of the blood and the building up of the fire are all assumed. (As hands are later constantly laid on sheep and goats (Leviticus 3:8; Leviticus 3:13; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 4:29 etc.) we can be sure that it happened here, as with the bull ox). This brings out that the essence of the offering was of it being offered up.
‘And if his oblation be of the flock, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-offering, he shall offer it a male without blemish.'
Again the offering was to be a male without blemish. To offer a female would be to avoid offering the life-giver, the strength of the flock. (Females were, however, acceptable for lesser offerings). To offer anything that was blemished would be an insult to God and would indicate the attitude of Cain rather than that of Abel (Genesis 4). For dedication to God only the best is good enough.
‘And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before Yahweh, and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood on the altar round about, and he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar, but the inwards and the legs shall he wash with water; and the priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar: it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasing odour to Yahweh.'
“He shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before Yahweh.” This is the only case where such specific directions are given about where the slaughter was to take place, and it is probably to be seen as applying to all whole burnt offerings, and sin and guilt sacrifices (but not necessarily peace offerings because of their multiplicity), unless we are to see it as contrasting with the fact that the offering of the bull had pride of place at the door of the tabernacle. However, that is unlikely. Slaying in the courtyard was itself probably seen as ‘slaying at the door of the tabernacle'. For in fact to the east of the altar was the place of the ashes where rubbish could also be dealt with (Leviticus 1:16). And to the west was the tabernacle itself, and, between the tabernacle and the altar, the laver (wash basin). This side had to be kept clear for the movement of the priests in and out, and out of respect for Yahweh. The offerers would have gathered in the courtyard, but would not be expected to crowd the actual entrance to the Tabernacle.
Thus it was probably recognised that northwards of the altar was where all actual slaughter would take place (it was so later in the Temple) with the exception made when there was a multiplicity of peace offerings (see Leviticus 6:25). If this was not a general instruction it is difficult to see why comparative instructions were never repeated in any form elsewhere in these Chapter s, and why it should only be applied to the sheep and goats offered as a whole burnt offering. Thus northward of the altar appears to be where in general all the animals were to be slain. It ensured orderliness. The same instructions as before are then summarised.
The pattern for the sheep and goats is the same as for the bull-ox, although with these the priest is said to ‘offer' (hiphil of qarab - cause to draw near) the whole before he burns it. This is because the offerer offering it at the door of the tent of meeting is not mentioned and it was necessary to thus emphasise that the offering was ‘offered' before Yahweh prior to being offered up. It must not be seen as done casually or mechanically. The pieces here are arranged on the altar by a single priest in contrast with the bull ox, presumably because of their smaller size.