What does the word "Ve'shachat oso ... " come to preclude?
Menachos, 56a: It precludes the Melikah of a bird and the Shechitah of the Korban Pesach from the Din of Tzafon, and that the Shochet does not need to stand in the north. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 90, who elaborates on all of these D'rashos.
Why does the Torah insert the word "Yerech" in connection with "Tzafonah"?
Ramban: To teach us that - if the back of the Mizbe'ach is on the north side of the Azarah, then the front of the Mizbe'ach - the Kevesh (ramp) is on its south. 1
As the Torah indicates in 6:7 (Ramban).
Having said "al Yerech ha'Mizbe'ach Tzafonah",why does the Torah need to add "Lifnei Hashem"?
Oznayim la'Torah: To learn vai a Gezeirah Shavah on to other Kodshei Kodshim ? by which the Torah also writes "Lifnei Hashem", that they too must be hechted on the norrth side of the Mizbe'ach.
Why must the Shechitah of Kodshei Kodshim take place on the north side of the Azarah?
Oznayim la'Torah: Bearing in mind the Gemara in Bava Basra, 25a that the north wind, which is sweet and clear (Rashi) sweetens the other winds together with which it blows, and, were it to stop blowing, the world would cease to exist, the Torah is hinting that the Korbanos, on which the world also exists 2 are even more effective in maintaining the world than the north wind. 3
Why does the Torah add the words "Tzafonah 'Lifnei Hashem"'?
Rashi: To preclude the Din of Tzafon by a Bamas Yachid. 1
Yoma, 37a: This implies that Tzafon should be entirely empty, which means that no part of the Mizbe'ach may be in the area of the north of the Azarah, and that it must be built entirely in the south.
Which is not called 'Lifnei Hashem' because the Shechinah did not appear there. (Torah Temimah).
Why does the Torah mention Tzafon in connection with a lamb, but not in connection with a bull?
Moshav Zekenim (citing Tana de'Bei Eliyahu): The ram [offered in place] of Yitzchak is Olas Tzafon. Its ashes are Tzafun (hidden) in front of Hashem for an eternal remembrance (He considers as if Yitzchak was offered, and they are his ashes.)
