Rillera is going to argue 4 theses regarding OT sacrifice as not being substitutionary. He outlines these as follows:

• ( 1 ) There is no such thing as a “ substitutionary death ” sacrifice in the Torah . ( 2 ) The hand – laying ritual is not saying ” this is me ; this is my substitute , ” but rather , ” this is mine ; I own this and I’m giving it to God [ for various distinct purposes ] . ” ( 3 ) Sacrificial slaughter is itself not focused on the biological death of the animal . Sacrificial slaughter is separated from any notion of simply being a “ death ” and it is explicitly reconceptualized via specific ritual actions as something other than a killing of a blood – bearing creature . ( 4 ) Sacrificial slaughter is not at all about making the animal ” suffer ” ( let alone suffer as a substitute ) . (30-31)

So, as we go along we’ll see the arguments put forth to defend these theses.