The 16 expressions of forgiveness

A קרבן for a מזיד

In general a sacrifice can only be brought for a שוגג, a sin committed by mistake and not for a מזיד, wanton sin. Nonetheless, since after a person does תשובה their willful sins are changed to be considered accidental, you can say there is then an idea of atonement for מזיד with the sacrifice.

The idea is that the spirit of folly, רוח שטות,  that overcomes us when we sin is considered worse than the inattentive acts of an animal. We therefore look towards a time when this will be rectified as well. Like the sprin from the temple that will mix with the water of the river שיטים, Shitim. This river represents the folly that leads one to sexual misconduct. In this sense we are worse than an animal: נמשל כבהמה נדמו, translated here as, "even to the animals we seem like an animal. Since we had more cognizance and choice in our actions.

We are told that this can be rectified as well.  It is upon this idea that we recognize atonement for the מזיד with תשובה and a קרבן.

Ohr Hatorah מטות