Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 29:17

"And thou shalt cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its inwards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head." — Exodus 29:17 (ASV)

Thou shalt cut the ram in pieces. —This was the ordinary practice, not only among the Hebrews, but also among other nations, such as the Egyptians (Herod. ii. 40), the Greeks, the Romans, and others. It was probably found to facilitate the burning of the animal, which was burned whole with difficulty. The shoulder, thigh, head, ribs, rump, heart, and kidneys appear separate in the representations of sacrifices on Egyptian altars.