Exodus 29:12 - Exposition

Thou shalt take of the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar . The virtue of the altar was regarded as residing especially in its horns. Here expiation was obtained by the blood—"which is the life "—of the victim being first smeared upon the four horns, and then the remainder poured out at the altar's base. Such was the usual practice with "sin-offerings" (Le Exodus 4:7 ) whereof this was to be the first example.