The word “צֹּאן” refers to both sheep and goats.
There are some people whose animal soul is like “cattle,” like a goring ox, that is very tough and harsh.
Meaning, someone who is angry by nature and this bad character trait is strongly expressed in him; his animal soul is referred to as “cattle,” like an ox that it is angry and temperamental.
There are some people whose animal soul isn’t so angry by nature, and the bad portion of his animal soul is the fact that it is lustful for physical pleasures, his animal soul is from the aspect of "sheep and goats," that do not gore. To the contrary, the sound of their bleating awakens the mercy of those who hear them, the opposite attribute of harshness and severity, however, they are lustful in their physical desires.
Some people are not by nature angry and harsh to others but are very lustful for physical pleasure (see the note explaining the connection of sheep and goats to being lustful).
All of these aspects of bad character traits need to be subdued and this is the intention of what is written: “מִּן...ם כְנ בְרָּקַׁת אַׁ...וביִּרְק תַׁןאֹ צ הַׁןִּמ...וַׁרָּקָּ ב ה-” (לְש וֹ ן הַכָּתוּ ב מִּש ְפָּטִּים כא, לו .)
In the commentary of Rashi on Bereishis 32:15, he explains that oxen are used for plowing fields and use their great strength to perform heavy labor. However, sheep and goats are not used for labor, only for milk and shearing wool. Therefore, oxen that are tired out from labor have less interest in physical pleasures than sheep and goats, who have all day to eat and procreate, etc.
From the cattle [i.e., from the angry animal soul] and from the sheep and goats [i.e., from the lustful animal soul] you shall bring your [spiritual] offering [to Hashem].”
Each person, based on how he knows his own spiritual makeup and nature, accordingly he needs to subdue that specific bad character trait. Only then, his spiritual service of Hashem will be able to last forever. Only by refining one's coarse inborn nature will he be able to awaken the animal soul to lasting love for Hashem during prayer consistently.
Summary of Chapter 3:
- Another explanation of bringing a spiritual offering “מִּן הַבְּהֵמָה-from the animal,” meaning the animal soul, is that it is also referring to the source of the animal soul. The spiritual source of the animal soul is from the angels of the "Merkavah," who are referred to as "animals" by way of analogy. Just like wild animals have tremendous strength and energy, so too, these angels have immense excitement and passion for Hashem. By reconnecting the animal soul to its source in the angels, it enables the animal soul to become excited about Hashem. This is why the service of the angels is described in the blessings before Shema.
- This is the alternate meaning bringing a spiritual offering “מִּן הַבְּהֵמָה-from the animal:” By contemplating on the service of Hashem of the “spiritual creatures called animals,” i.e., the angels, this helps us bring close and offer our animal soul to Hashem.
- The verse specifies two categories of animals to be brought as an offering: Large domestic animals, “בָּקָ ר-cattle,” and small domestic animals, “צֹא ן-sheep and goats.” These refer to two main categories of animal souls:
"Cattle" refers to animal souls that are tough and aggressive. These people need to focus their efforts on not getting angry and argumentative at other people.
"Sheep and goats" refer to animal souls that are laidback and indulgent. These people need to focus on working hard in learning Torah and fulfilling Mitzvos and in holding back from indulging in materialism.
Each person needs to look into what are his main negative character traits and work on refining them through improving his actions in that aspect, and in contemplative prayer corresponding to that negative trait. (For example, someone who always gets angry should think about how anger derives from a lack of recognition that everything that happens to him comes directly from Hashem, as explained in Igeres Hakodesh chapter 26).
