1 YHVH called Moses, and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,
2 "Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, 'When any man of you brings an offering to YHVH, you shall bring your offering of cattle from the herd or from the flock.'
3 "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before YHVH;
4 he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."
Sacrifice is a fundamental part of all spiritual advancement. It has to do with giving up those things which we value highly, in this case the animals, which were trappings of wealth. This first type of sacrifice has to do with the self-centered, animal nature. The offering of male animals refers to the creative or generative function. It is the lifting up of the lower, animal lusts and passions. It is the same lesson as the lifting of the serpents on Moses' rod which saved the lives of the Israelites in the wilderness.
We must bring this aspect of ourselves to its highest and best. This is the meaning of bringing the offering to the altar to be burned, this fire on the altar, placed by the priest, is the spiritual fire which can only be accomplished by the Higher Self or Aaron, the priest. It must be burned in this spiritual fire, or become spiritualized, before it can be a clean or pure part of the spiritualized being.
To be meaningful, all sacrifice must be made willingly or voluntarily. If we change or make sacrifices at the behest of another, we will find ourselves looking back, as did Lot's wife and become a pillar of salt. To make our sacrifices or offerings at the "door of the tabernacle" means that they must be made for the right reason - for our spiritual growth and attainment. When done properly, following these instructions, we will find true atonement which is greater peace and understanding which comes from having changed our lower nature to a higher and better use.
5 Then he shall kill the bull before YHVH; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall present the blood, and throw the blood round about against the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces;
7 and the sons of Aaron, the priest, shall put fire on the altar, and lay wood in order upon the fire;
8 and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar;
9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, as a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to YHVH.
10 "If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish;
11 and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before YHVH, and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall throw its blood against the altar round about.
12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar;
13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to YHVH.
The cleansing preparations indicate that these aspects of ourselves must be clean before they are ready to be purified in the spiritual fire. Preparation is required. This may require a lengthy period of time and hard work to finally succeed in eliminating these negative appetites.
14 "If his offering to YHVH is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or of young pigeons.
Fowl symbolize ideas and the mind. Here too, we must be willing to make sacrifices of our old ways of thinking, of old ideas. We must open ourselves to the changing of our belief systems, if we are to grow. We must change our perception of reality and what it means. We must change our perception of who we are. This may be very difficult, for many people believe that they are their minds and body. It takes a while to realize that the mind and the body are just tools for our use.
15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar;
16 and he shall take away its crop with the feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes;
17 he shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it asunder. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to YHVH.