Midrash sa Levitico 1:9: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Vayikra Rabbah & Sifra

(Fol. 15) We are taught in a Baraitha: Concerning a cattle burnt-offering the passage says (Lev. 1, 13) Sweet savour unto the Lord, which is intended to teach that before heaven all offerings, liberal as well as poor, are equal, provided they are intended to gratify the heavenly Father.

“And its innards and its legs he shall wash with water; the priest shall burn everything on the altar, as a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:9).
“And the innards and the legs he shall wash with water and the priest shall present everything and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:13).
Regarding the bull it says: “[Its innards] and its legs he shall wash with water; [the priest] shall burn.” Regarding the ram it says: “The innards and the legs he shall wash with water and [the priest] shall present.” What is the difference between ram and bull? The bull is lacking lengthwise and widthwise; the ram is not lacking lengthwise and widthwise.³⁵Regarding the ram the verse states that the priest shall wash “the innards and the legs” whereas regarding the bull it states “its innards and its legs.” This is because the bull requires much additional washing, in a manner that is fit for the unique size and structure of the bull.
The Sages said: ‘We derive presentation of the bull from the ram and presentation of the ram from the bull.’³⁶There are aspects of the sacrificial service mentioned in the verses regarding a bull that are absent in the verses regarding the ram, and vice versa. Since the two passages are juxtaposed, and connected with the letter vav (see Leviticus 1:10), the Sages derived that the unique aspects of the service mentioned in connection with each type of animal apply to the other as well. He [Elijah] said to them: ‘My Rabbis, I am dust under your feet, but may I say a different matter before you?’ They said to him: ‘Speak.’ He said to them: ‘Twelve princes stood at the dedication of the altar. This one had a burnt offering and that one had a burnt offering. This one had a sin offering and that one had a sin offering..³⁷The bracketed excerpt was bracketed because the text appears to be corrupted, as they did not bring guilt offerings. This one had a peace offering and that one had a peace offering. There, presentation is written regarding the bull and the ram, but here, presentation is written regarding the ram but is not stated regarding the bull. This is so that a person will not say to himself, I will go and perform dreadful acts and inappropriate acts, and I will bring a bull that has much flesh, I will offer it upon the altar, and I will turn to Him for mercy and He will accept me in repentance. That is why presentation is written regarding a ram and presentation is not written regarding a bull.’

“He shall split it by its wings, but shall not separate” (Leviticus 1:17). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The common man, if he smells the odor of wings, he is disgusted, and you say: “The priest shall burn everything on the altar” (Leviticus 1:9)? Why to that extent? It is, rather, so that the altar will be adorned with the offering of a poor person.¹⁶The bird, the offering of the poor person, looks more impressive with its feathers.
King Agrippa sought to sacrifice one thousand burnt offerings on one day. He sent and said to the High Priest, ‘let no man other than me bring [an offering] today.’ A certain poor person came with two turtledoves in his hand. He said to the priest: ‘Sacrifice these.’ He said to him: ‘The king commanded me and said to me: Let no man other than me bring [an offering] today.’ He said to him: ‘My lord High Priest, each day I trap four [birds] and I sacrifice two and support myself from two. If you do not sacrifice them, you are cutting off my sustenance.’ He took them and sacrificed them. Agrippa had a vision in a dream: The offering of a poor person preceded you. He sent and said to the High Priest: ‘Did I not command you: Let no man other than me bring [ an offering] today?’ He said to him: ‘My lord the king, a certain poor person came with two turtledoves in his hand. He said to me: Sacrifice these. I said to him: The king commanded me and said to me: Let no man other than me bring [an offering] today. He said to me: My lord High Priest, each day I trap four [birds] and I sacrifice two and support myself from two. If you do not sacrifice them, you are cutting off my sustenance. Should I not have sacrificed them?’ He said to him: ‘Everything that you did, you did well.’
There was an incident involving a certain bull that they were leading [to bring] as an offering but it would not allow itself to be led. A poor person came and in his hand there was a bundle of endives. He held it out [to the bull], which ate it. The bull vomited and expelled a needle and allowed itself to be led [and brought] as an offering. The owner of the bull had a vision in a dream: The offering of the poor person preceded you.
There was an incident involving a certain woman who brought a handful of fine flour, and the priest was disparaging her. He said: ‘Look at what they sacrifice. What is there to eat, what is there to sacrifice?’ The priest had a vision in a dream: Do not disparage her. It is as though she is sacrificing her soul. These matters can be derived a fortiori: If regarding one who does not sacrifice a soul,¹⁷One who brings a flour offering as opposed to sacrificing a living creature. the term soul is written,¹⁸The verse states: “When a person [nefesh] presents a meal offering.” The term nefesh can also mean soul. for one who does sacrifice a soul, all the more so it is as though he is sacrificing his soul.