Leviticus 22:20
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
For whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer,.... Which is the general rule, the particulars of which are after given, and which has been imitated by the Heathens. The Egyptians, as they only sacrificed the males of beeves, so they were very curious in examining them, that they might be entirely pure and perfect {s}; and it was a custom among the Romans, that such sheep should be chosen for sacrifice, in which there was nothing wanting {t}; and so, among the Grecians, Homer {u} speaks of perfect goats offered in sacrifice to appease the gods:
for it shall not be acceptable for you; be grateful to God, and accepted by him on their account, if blemished; see Malachi 1:13.
{s} Heredot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 38.
{t} Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 4.
{u} Iliad. 1. ver. 66.