Vayikra 5:7

7 And if he be not able to afford a seh (lamb), then he shall bring for his asham (guilt offering, see Sanhedrin 98b on Isa 53; see Isa 53:10 which says that Moshiach’s self-offering will be an asham for his people, cf Isa 53:8), which he hath sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto Hashem; one for a chattat (sin offering), and the other for an olah (burnt offering).

Vayikra 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 5:7

And if he be not able to bring a lamb
He is not possessed of a lamb, nor able to purchase one:

then he shall bring for his trespass which he hath committed, two
turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord;
either the one or the other; these were common, and in great plenty in the land of Israel, as Maimonides ^F25 observes, which was the reason of their being ordered, since to be had cheap. The turtledoves were larger, as the Targum of Jonathan calls them, being older, and the pigeons lesser, being young; or the one were grown, and not little, and the other little, and not grown, as the Jewish writers ^F26 observe; and either of them were proper emblems of Christ in his purity, innocence, and meekness, by whom an atonement is made both for the rich and poor:

one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering;
one of the turtle doves or pigeons, whichsoever were brought, was offered up as a sin offering, and the other that remained was offered up as a burnt offering; so that the poor man had two sorts of offerings out of what he brought, when the rich had but one; and may denote the completeness of his sacrifice, and the full atonement made by it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 46.
F26 Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Cholin, c. 1. sect. 5.

Vayikra 5:7 In-Context

5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that v’hitvaddah (he shall confess) that he hath sinned in that thing;

6 And he shall bring his asham (penalty, trespass offering) unto Hashem for his chattat (sin) which he hath sinned, a nekevah from the flock, a lamb or a female goat, for a chattat (sin offering); and the kohen shall make kapporah for him concerning his chattat.

7 And if he be not able to afford a seh (lamb), then he shall bring for his asham (guilt offering, see Sanhedrin 98b on Isa 53; see Isa 53:10 which says that Moshiach’s self-offering will be an asham for his people, cf Isa 53:8), which he hath sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto Hashem; one for a chattat (sin offering), and the other for an olah (burnt offering).

8 And he shall bring them unto the kohen, who shall offer that which is for the chattat (sin offering) first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not separate it;

9 And he shall sprinkle of the dahm of the chattat (sin offering) upon the side of the Mizbe’ach; and the rest of the dahm shall be pressed out at the base of the Mizbe’ach; it is a chattat (sin offering).