Pouring the Blood at the Foundation of the Altar of the Burnt Offering

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 469:33

"And its blood he shall pour out at the foundation of the altar of the burnt offering" (Leviticus 4:25) and not at the foundation of the inner altar. Rabbi Ishmael said: If the remnants of a sin offering, which do not effect atonement, are placed upon the foundation, then the first blood of the burnt offering, which does effect atonement, surely it is fitting that it be placed upon the foundation. If so, why is it stated "at the foundation of the altar of the burnt offering"? It means the foundation that is on the side of the altar where the burnt offering is offered. "At the foundation of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting" - this is the southern foundation. One might think it is the western foundation. You say no: just as we find when he comes out from the Sanctuary he places the blood only on the foundation nearest to him, so too when he comes down from the altar he places the blood only on the foundation nearest to him, and which is that? The southern foundation. "And all its fat he shall burn upon the altar like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings" (Leviticus 4:26): just as is specified for the peace offering - the fat that covers, the membrane that is peeled off, the two kidneys and the lobe - so too here, the fat that covers, the membrane that is peeled off, the two kidneys and the lobe.

Themes