Leviticus 4:25

25 Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 4:25 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 4:25

And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering
with his finger
With the finger of his right hand, as the Talmudists ^F14 observe, and Gersom on the place; the priest first received the blood into a basin or ministering vessel, and then dipped the finger of his right hand into it, that next the thumb:

and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering;
the four horns of it; in this there was a difference between the sacrifice of the anointed priest and of the congregation, and this of the ruler; the blood of the former was put upon the horns of the altar of incense, this upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering:

and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt
offering;
the South bottom of it; the order of the priest's proceeding in putting the blood was different from that used in putting it on the horns of the altar of incense; here he first put the blood upon the southeast horn, then upon the northeast, next upon the northwest, and then upon the southwest; and upon the bottom of that horn where he finished, he poured the remainder of the blood, which was the southern bottom ^F15.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 24. 1.
F15 Maimon. Hilchot Maaseh Hakorbanot, c. 5. sect. 10.

Leviticus 4:25 In-Context

23 When he becomes aware of his sin, he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects.

24 He must lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered before the LORD . This is an offering for his sin.

25 Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

26 Then he must burn all the goat’s fat on the altar, just as he does with the peace offering. Through this process, the priest will purify the leader from his sin, making him right with the LORD, and he will be forgiven.

27 “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the LORD ’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty.