Aaron is commanded to offer two sacrifices: a bull calf (literally: a son of the herd) and a ram. Jewish commentators have pointed to the irony of Aaron’s first sacrifice. In Exodus 32:4, Aaron had made a golden calf for Israel to worship in idolatry. This first sacrifice may be to atone for his sin in making the golden calf. The second offering, a ram, is the same animal offered by Abraham in the place of Isaac (Genesis 22:1–24). The sinful nature of mankind is emphasized through these sacrifices.
2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.