The animal which was presented as a peace offering may be eaten by the priests (Leviticus 3:1–17). In this instance, however, the entire animal is burnt: its skin, flesh, head, legs, entrails, and dung. This process also differs from the burnt offering, where the whole animal was burned, apart from the skin which was given to the priests (see Leviticus 7:8). But in the sin offering even the skin is burnt. This is because the priest who has sinned is not entitled to the priestly dues. In other words, he cannot benefit from his own sin (see Leviticus 8:17; Leviticus 9:11; Leviticus 16:27). The only other offering that required the burning of the skin occurred on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:27). The burning of the offering “outside of the camp” and its resemblance to the ceremony of the Day of Atonement would be a vivid reminder that sin was a matter of great seriousness; it constituted an offence against God.
12 all the rest of the bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.