“And they shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to goat-demons.” This passage is placed here because there is room for heretics to err and say that sending the goat to the wilderness is for the goat-demons, Heaven forbid. Therefore, He immediately warned them about slaughtering outside [the Temple] and indicated that God actually wanted to prevent them from sacrificing to goat-demons, which they had engaged in previously, as evidenced by the use of the term “no longer.” The matter of the goat [to Azazel] is not a form of worship or sacrifice, but rather the portion of Samael, as Nachmanides explains (Leviticus 16:8), saying: “The Holy One, blessed be He, commanded that we send a goat to the wilderness to the angel who rules over places of desolation, for he is the cause of the stars of sword, blood, wars, wounds, blows, division, destruction, and generally the soul of the planet Mars. His portion among the nations is Esau, who is the nation that inherits the sword and wars. Among animals, his portion is goats, and his portion also includes the demons called mazikin and goat-demons,” and the Rabbi elaborated there in his language. And here I have an opportunity to explain with this what is written regarding sacrifices outside [the Temple]: blood shall be imputed to that man. Rashi explains: “as if he shed human blood,” etc. One may ask, what is the connection between slaughtering outside [the Temple] and shedding human blood? But since one who slaughters outside to goat-demons draws power from Mars, which influences swords and killing, it follows that blood shall be imputed to that man is aptly stated, for he is truly considered as one who sheds blood, since this is the power of his deity. And this is a precious interpretation.

When he hunts any beast or bird, etc. The main reason for covering [the blood] is to create a sign so that one does not come to eat blood. But with domesticated animals, there is no need for this sign because one is already cautioned and aware through seeing that the blood is placed on the altar, as it says, I have given it to you upon the altar to atone for your souls (Leviticus 17:11). And the meaning is not that this is the main reason for the prohibition of blood, for if so, why would He prohibit the blood of wild animals and birds? Rather, the main reason for the prohibition is that one should not eat the soul along with the flesh. And He provides proof that the soul is contained within the blood, for I have given it upon the altar to atone for your souls (Leviticus 17:11). This atonement is certainly a soul in exchange for a soul, and from this you can understand on your own the reason for the prohibition of blood — that it is because of the soul within it, and this reason applies equally to domesticated animals, wild animals, and birds. However, the covering [of blood] is to create a sign so that one does not come to eat it. But with the blood of domesticated animals, no sign is needed because it is sufficient that one sees the blood being placed on the altar, and this is an indication that the blood is the soul. Furthermore, it is not proper for the servant to eat from the master’s table. But with the blood of wild animals and birds, there is no [other] sign, therefore He commanded to make a partial sign through covering. And even though turtledoves and young pigeons are [also] offered on the altar, they are nullified in their minority, as most birds are not [offered] on the altar like domesticated animals.

Another explanation is that since the flesh of wild animals and birds are not readily available, as they require hunting and come to a person through great effort or at a high cost, and because these things are especially precious to him, there is concern that he might eat the meat with the blood. Therefore, one needs to create a sign through covering [the blood]. And our Sages (Chullin 84) said: “From here the Torah teaches you proper conduct, that one should not eat meat except with this preparation.” And the reason for this you will find later in Parshat Re’eh in the verse, When the Lord your God enlarges your territory, and you say, “I will eat meat…” See there.