II. In reference to the second class of sacrifices, in which the life of a victim was taken and its blood poured upon the Altar, it is to be observed that these were limited to the _herd, the flock, and all clean birds_. All wild and unclean beasts were strictly excluded. The Israelite was to select only those animals which were _most nearly connected with man_, and of these, again, such as were _most meek, innocent, pure, and valuable_, such as oxen, sheep, goats, pigeons, and turtle-doves[87]. The selected victim was required to be perfect of its kind and without blemish, not less than eight days old, and usually a year. If it was blind, or broken, or maimed, or had any defect, as a wen or scab, it could not be offered (Lev. xxii. 20–27; Deut. xv. 21, 22; xvii. 1).
Such being the conditions respecting the victim, the offerer was required first to purify himself by ablutions, and then to bring the victim to the door of the Tabernacle, _i.e._ to the _Great Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering_ in the court. There, whatever might be the precise kind of offering, he was to lay his hand on its head in token of surrender, dedication, and substitution, and then to slay it _himself_ (Lev. i. 5). He had now performed his part, all the rest devolved upon the priest. He began by receiving the blood of the animal in a vessel, and then sprinkled it in different ways upon the Brazen Altar (Lev. iv. 6, 7, 25; v. 9), or, as we shall see, in some cases, on the Golden Altar of Incense, and, on one day in the year, on the Mercy-seat in the Holy of Holies. He then performed other ceremonies, which varied according to the nature of the sacrifice. _But uniformly it was required_ (a) of the _offerer_, (i) to bring his victim to the altar, (ii) to lay his hand upon it, and (iii) to slay it; (b) of the _priest_, (i) to receive the blood in a vessel, and (ii) to sprinkle it upon the altar.
Of the bloody sacrifices the chief were (a) BURNT-OFFERINGS, (b) PEACE-OFFERINGS, (c) SIN- AND TRESPASS-OFFERINGS.
(a) In the case of the _Burnt-offering_, any kind of animal fit for sacrifice might be offered, but the victim was always required to be a male, and to be accompanied by a meat-offering. After presentation at the great altar, imposition of the hands of the sacrificer, and slaughtering, the priest sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about (Lev. i. 5, 11). The victim was then flayed, washed with water, and cut in pieces, and the parts thus divided were laid on the altar upon the wood, and entirely consumed by fire.