The Covenant Animals Foreshadow Israel's Atoning Offerings

"And he said, O Lord GOD, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (Genesis 15:8). Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: Not as one raising a complaint, but as one asking, "By what merit?" He said to him, "By the atonements that I will give to your children." "And He said to him, Take Me a heifer of three" (Genesis 15:9): three kinds of bullocks, the bullock of the Day of Atonement, the bullock brought for transgression of any of the commandments, and the heifer whose neck is broken. "And a goat of three": three kinds of goats, the goats of the festivals, the goats of the new moons, and the individual's goat. "And a ram of three": the certain guilt-offering, the suspended guilt-offering, and the individual's ewe-lamb. "And a turtledove and a young pigeon": a turtledove and young pigeons. "And he took for himself all these" (Genesis 15:10). Rabbi Shimon says: He showed him all the atonements; the tenth of an ephah He did not show him. And the Rabbis say: He showed him even the tenth of an ephah, for it is said here "all these," and it is said elsewhere, "And you shall bring the meal-offering that is made of these things to the LORD" (Leviticus 2:8). "But the bird he did not divide" (Genesis 15:10): He showed him that one separates the wings in a bird burnt-offering but does not separate them in a bird sin-offering.