1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy [place] within the vail before the mercy seat, which [is] upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy [place]: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these [are] holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and [so] put them on.
5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which [is] for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him [for] a sin offering.
10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which [is] for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which [is] for himself:
12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the vail:
13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that [is] upon the testimony, that he die not:
14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy [place], until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
18 And he shall go out unto the altar that [is] before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar round about.
19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy [place], and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy [place], and shall leave them there:
24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.
26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
27 And the bullock [for] the sin offering, and the goat [for] the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy [place], shall [one] carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.
28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
29 And [this] shall be a statute for ever unto you: [that] in the seventh month, on the tenth [day] of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, [whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
30 For on that day shall [the priest] make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, [that] ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
31 It [shall be] a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments:
33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Overview of Leviticus Chapter 16
Leviticus Chapter 16 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Leviticus, detailing the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) rituals. This chapter emphasizes the importance of atonement for the sins of the people of Israel and outlines the specific procedures that the high priest must follow to achieve reconciliation with God.
Key Themes
- Atonement: The chapter underscores the necessity of atonement for sin, highlighting the relationship between God and His people.
- Holiness: The rituals emphasize the holiness of God and the need for purity among His people.
- Substitution: The use of the scapegoat symbolizes the transfer of sin and guilt away from the community.
Detailed Analysis of Rituals
- Preparation of the High Priest (Verses 1-4):
God instructs Moses regarding the proper conduct of Aaron, the high priest, especially concerning his entry into the Holy of Holies. This emphasizes the need for personal purity and proper attire, as Aaron must wear sacred garments.
- Sin Offerings (Verses 5-10):
The high priest is to take two goats from the congregation. One goat is designated for the Lord as a sin offering, while the other is the scapegoat, which will carry the sins of the people away into the wilderness.
- Ritual of the Sin Offering (Verses 11-14):
Aaron must offer the first goat as a sin offering, sprinkling its blood in the Holy of Holies to atone for his own sins and those of the people. This act signifies the seriousness of sin and the need for a blood sacrifice.
- Scapegoat Ceremony (Verses 15-22):
The high priest then lays his hands on the head of the scapegoat, symbolically transferring the sins of the Israelites onto it. The goat is then sent into the wilderness, representing the removal of sin from the community.
- Cleanliness and Purification (Verses 23-28):
After the rituals, the high priest must wash his garments and bathe to maintain purity. The remains of the sin offering must be disposed of outside the camp, reinforcing the idea of removing sin from the community.
- Establishment of the Day of Atonement (Verses 29-34):
This chapter concludes with the establishment of the Day of Atonement as a lasting ordinance for the Israelites. It is a day of fasting and reflection, emphasizing the need for ongoing atonement and reconciliation with God.
Theological Implications
Leviticus 16 has significant theological implications for understanding sin, atonement, and God’s holiness. The chapter illustrates the seriousness of sin and the need for a mediator (the high priest) to approach God on behalf of the people. The scapegoat serves as a powerful symbol of the removal of sin, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ in Christian theology.
Conclusion
Leviticus Chapter 16 serves as a foundational text for understanding the concept of atonement in the Hebrew Bible. It outlines the rituals that facilitate reconciliation between God and His people, emphasizing the themes of holiness, sin, and the necessity of purification. The practices described in this chapter continue to hold significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions, highlighting the enduring relevance of these ancient rituals.
