In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system was central to the religious life of Israel, and the handling of the blood of these sacrifices was of utmost importance. The blood, representing life, was a key element in the atonement for sin and the consecration of the people and the sanctuary.

1. The Altar and the Blood:

The blood of sacrificial animals was primarily disposed of by being applied to the altar. In Leviticus 17:11, it is stated, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." This highlights the significance of blood in the atonement process.

· Burnt Offerings: In the case of burnt offerings, the blood was to be sprinkled around the altar. Leviticus 1:5 instructs, "Then he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."

· Peace Offerings: Similarly, for peace offerings, the blood was to be sprinkled on the altar. Leviticus 3:2 states, "He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar."

2. Sin Offerings and the Holy Place:

For sin offerings, the handling of the blood was more intricate, especially when the offering was for the high priest or the entire congregation. The blood was taken into the Holy Place and applied to the horns of the altar of incense.

· Leviticus 4:6-7: "The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary. The priest shall then apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he shall pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."

3. The Day of Atonement:

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sin offering. This was a unique occasion where the blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

· Leviticus 16:14-15: "He is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat; he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Then he shall slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the veil. He is to do with this blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He shall sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it."

4. Disposal of Remaining Blood:

The remaining blood of the sacrifices was typically poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. This act symbolized the complete offering of life to God and the cleansing of the altar.

· Leviticus 4:18: "He is to apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he shall pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."

5. Prohibition Against Consuming Blood:

The Israelites were strictly forbidden from consuming blood, as it was considered sacred and set apart for atonement. This prohibition underscored the sanctity of blood in the sacrificial system.

· Leviticus 17:10-12: "If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’"

The handling and disposal of sacrificial blood were thus integral to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing the themes of atonement, sanctification, and the sacredness of life.Exodus 29:12
And you shall take of the blood of the bullock, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 4:7
And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Council of Jerusalem.
... is at an end, and the legal sacrifices have ceased ... abstain from things strangled,
and from blood, which are ... perplexing to those who are most disposed to adopt it ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvi the council of.htm

The Consolation
... who bought them with His own blood, closes the ... who was prefigured by all their
sacrifices; and who ... Then their legal figurative constitution would cease, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon i the consolation.htm

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... to the written Law, to the Temple and to sacrifices. ... was called to assent to was
not a legal programme but ... and the widow, and shed not innocent blood [in this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 jeremiah and deuteronomy chs.htm

Of the Modes of Supplementing Satisfaction --viz. Indulgences and ...
... from what was lately said, that the blood of Christ ... it is mere fatuity to extend
the legal sacrifice to us, seeing we are assured that the sacrifices then in ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 of the modes.htm

Atonement.
... 8. The design of legal penalties is to secure ... be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare ... nations have felt the necessity of expiatory sacrifices. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xxv atonement.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... and more excellent atonement than the blood of beasts ... expiation was promised in the
ancient sacrifices, and the ... as a fixed point, that though legal rites ceased ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

First Attempts on Jerusalem.
... reason) that they were not of pure Jewish blood, and no ... the inner gates in a state
of legal impurity. ... The abolition of the sacrifices which had caused him so ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xiii first attempts on.htm

The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption.
... He now sets himself like the ancient sacrifices, cleft in ... himself is reconciled to
God, by that blood of the ... fold state of man, the natural, the legal, and the ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 9 the spirit of.htm

Justification.
... 1. The legal maxim just repeated does not apply ... but the heavenly things themselves
with better sacrifices than these.24 ... one with another, and the blood of Jesus ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxxvi justification.htm

Typology
... Him, by the shedding of whose blood they should ... received are not good; that their
sacrifices are abominable ... would bring eternal justice, not legal, but eternal. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section x typology.htm

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