an unblemished male: God allowed female and slightly deformed animals for some offerings not made for atonement (see 3:1; 4:27–31; 22:23). But the people could not use them for the whole burnt offering. In the dry, brush-covered hills of southern Palestine, raising cattle was harder than raising sheep or goats. This made a bull without defects very valuable. Centuries later, the prophet Malachi confronted the people for offering sick and lame animals instead of those without defects (Malachi 1:6–14).