Leviticus 1:11

"He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar."

Key Reflection

In Leviticus 1:11, the procedure for offering a burnt sacrifice is detailed. After the animal is killed on the north side of the altar as an act of reverence before the LORD, Aaron's sons—the priests—then take its blood and sprinkle it around the altar. This ritual not only symbolizes the complete dedication of the offering to God but also reflects the priestly role in mediating between the sacred and the profane, ensuring that the blood, a potent symbol of life and sacrifice, is appropriately placed before the divine presence.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Northward before the Lord -That is, on the north side of the altar. See alsoLeviticus 4:24,Leviticus 4:29,Leviticus 4:33;Leviticus 7:2. This was probably an arrangement of some practical convenience. On the west side of the altar stood the laver; on the east side was the place of ashes (seeLeviticus 1:16note); and the south side, where appears to have been the slope by which the priests went up to the altar, must have been left clear for a path.

More from Leviticus 1

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