And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Here we have the laws concerning the burnt-offerings, which were of the flock or of the fowls. Those of the middle rank, that could not well afford to offer a bullock, would bring a sheep or a goat; and those that were not able to do that should be accepted of God if they brought a turtle-dove or a pigeon.
Commenting on Leviticus 1:10-17
And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof,.... One wing being on one side, and the other on the other side: but shall not divide it asunder; the body of the bird, though it was cleaved down in the middle, yet not parted asunder, nor any of its wings separated from it; the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, "but shall not separate its wings...
Lev 1:16-17 He then took out בּנצתהּ את־מראתו, i.e., according to the probable explanation of these obscure words, “its crop in (with) the foeces thereof,” and threw it “at the side of the altar eastwards,” i.e., on the eastern side of the altar, “on the ash-place,” where the ashes were thrown when taken from the altar (Lev 6:3).
Commenting on Leviticus 1:16-17