Leviticus 5 gives instructions for offering a lamb for a known sin of trespass, but a ram for unknowingly trespassing against the Lord. What is the difference in the types of sacrifice?
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Welcome to Mi Yodeya, Joy! Perhaps you'd like to take a look at our tour. Hope to see you around.– DonielFCommented Apr 4, 2017 at 23:17
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Are you referring to verses 14-19?– DonielFCommented Apr 4, 2017 at 23:19
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3 Answers
A classic explanation is, because when a man knows that he faulted, he would regret more than a man that just doubts. So in case of a known sin, the qorban is just a lamb, instead of a ram for a "not-sure" case.
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3Citing who says this explanation would add value to your post.– msh210 ♦Commented Apr 6, 2017 at 16:15
In Guide for the Perplexed 3:26 Rambam writes:
You ask why must a lamb be sacrificed and not a ram? but the same question would be asked, why a ram had been commanded instead of a lamb, so long as one particular kind is required. The same is to be said as to the question why were seven lambs sacrificed and not eight; the same question might have been asked if there were eight, ten, or twenty lambs, so long as some definite number of lambs were sacrificed. It is almost similar to the nature of a thing which can receive different forms, but actually receives one of them. We must not ask why it has this form and not another which is likewise possible, because we should have to ask the same question if instead of its actual form the thing had any of the other possible forms. Note this, and understand it. (Friedlander translation)
The lamb (in this case) is a sin-offering. Its brought for a number of reasons outlined in chapter 4 and part of chapter 5.
The ram (in this case) is a guilt-offering. There are five cases when the guilt-offering is brought. In chapter 5, three of the cases are discusses.
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It sounds like part of the question is why the former is a chatas and the latter is an asham.– DonielFCommented Apr 4, 2017 at 23:22