The question remains: why did God command the nation to sprinkle their sacrifices with salt – a substance associated with destruction and prevention of life?
Bringing Sacrifices as a “Ransom for the Soul”
The commandment to add salt might stem from the general concept behind the sacrifices themselves.
God commanded that when one sins, he must bring a sacrifice; he must lean his hands upon it corresponding to his [sins committed via] actions; and he must verbally confess, corresponding to his [sins committed via] words; and he must burn the innards and the kidneys, which are the source of thoughts and desires, [which led him to sin]; and the thighs, corresponding to his arms and legs, which perform all of his actions; and he must sprinkle the blood on the altar, corresponding to his life’s blood, so that he will think when doing all of these things that he sinned to his God with his body and soul, and it would have been fitting to have his blood spilled and his body burned were it not for the kindness of the Creator, Who took a substitute and a ransom from him whose blood will be instead of his blood, and its soul instead of his soul.... (Ramban on Lev. 1:9)
One who brings a sacrifice must internalize the fact that it is brought in place of his own death. The sacrifice atones for the person’s soul and relieves him from the penalty of death.
This may also explain the requirement of salting the sacrifice: adding salt, which negates life, reminds the one bringing the sacrifice that he was deserving of having his life negated, were it not for God’s mercy in giving him this opportunity for atonement.
