Introduction
Occupying a central place in the Book of Leviticus is the most holy day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is all about the Israelites, who were in a covenant relationship with God, being reconciled to God.
Later, we will also see that what was to take place here on this very special day, was pointing to something and Someone greater, that is, Christ.
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
‘The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. The LORD said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. ‘This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so, he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. ‘Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat. ‘Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. ‘He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole community of Israel. ‘Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.’ Leviticus 16:1-19
We can’t help but notice the seriousness of this chapter, as it points to the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, Leviticus 16:1 / Leviticus 10:1-7. As we go through this chapter, we soon discover that Aaron, as the high priest, couldn’t just approach God whenever he felt like it, Leviticus 16:2 / Exodus 26:33-34 / Hebrews 9:3, he must approach God on God’s terms and conditions.
The Jewish Mishnah, says the following.
‘The high priest, the chief officiant, had been set aside for seven days to ensure his ritual purity, Yoma 1:1.’
This tells us that Aaron had to pay close attention to the instructions given to God or else he too would die, Leviticus 16:2. For God is going to appear in the cloud over the atonement cover, Leviticus 16:2 / Exodus 16:10 / Exodus 25:17. Notice that this service was performed by the High Priest alone, Leviticus 16:3. He is to first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, Leviticus 16:3.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following.
‘Holiness communicated to Aaron did not cancel his sin but only covered it for the performance of his official duties. So long as the Law which produced a knowledge of sin, but not its forgiveness, existed, the holy God was and remained to mortal men a consuming fire.’
On this special day, the High Priest would be clothed in simple linen, Leviticus 16:4 / Exodus 28:40-43. The breastplate and the tunic and the gold and the blue and the scarlet would all be put aside. This is a picture of the Messiah who would lay aside His glory, John 13:1-5 / Philippians 2:7.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This significance belonged to the high priest only in his official capacity as mediator: in his own person he had infirmity, and was required ‘to offer up sacrifice, ‘first’ for his own sins, and then for the people’s,’ Hebrews 7:27.’
Esses, in his commentary, says the following.
‘When the high priest went into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to wear a simple linen garment without seams, a garment of the type Jesus wore when he went to the Cross as our sacrifice, John 19:23-24.’
From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, Leviticus 16:5. Before he could act as a mediator between God and the people, the High Priest first had to offer up a bull as an atonement for his own sins and for those of his family, Leviticus 16:6 / Leviticus 16:11.
Two goats were brought before the presence of the Lord, Leviticus 16:7, but there was nothing to distinguish them apart. Lots were cast and these lots would determine which goat would live and which would die, Leviticus 16:8 / Joshua 7:16-17 / Joshua 14:2 / Proverbs 16:33 / Acts 1:26.
Jamieson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The priest placed one of the goats on his right hand, and the other on his left. Two pieces of gold exactly alike, inscribed “for Jehovah” and “for Azazel” were then placed in a bag or covered box, and the priest placed both hands inside and took out both pieces, one in each hand. That in his right hand he placed on the head of the goat on that side, and that in his left hand on the other goat’s head. This determined the fate of each.’
The Jewish Mishnah, says the following.
‘These two goats were to be equal in ‘appearance, height, and value’, Yoma 6:1. The High Priest shook a box that held two lots, or stones, in it, Yoma 4:1-2.’
The goat on whom the lot fell was killed and used as a sin offering, the other goat is referred to as the ‘scapegoat,’ Leviticus 16:8-10 / Leviticus 16:21. The phrase translated ‘for the scapegoat’ is the Hebrew word, ‘aza’zel’, this is a compound word made up of the joining of two Hebrew words. The problem is that we are not entirely sure which words are indicated.
1. ‘Az’ is the Aramaic word for a ‘goat,’ but this is normally used to refer only to a female goat. ‘Az’ can also be used in Hebrew as an adjective describing that which is ‘strong’ or even the quality of ‘ferocity.’
2. ‘Azel’ is the verb, ‘to go.’
Thus, this can refer either to the ‘goat of sending away’ or ‘the sending away of ferocity.’ Either one is possible and both would seem to fit the context.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The goat itself did not lose the sacred character with which it had been endued in being presented before Yahweh. It was, as much as the slain goat, a figure of Him who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, on whom the Lord laid the iniquity of us all, Isaiah 53:4 / Isaiah 53:6, that we might become a sanctified Church to be presented unto Himself, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, Ephesians 5:26-27.’
Aaron again is to bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering, Leviticus 16:11 / Leviticus 16:6. Aaron is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, Exodus 25:38, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain, Leviticus 16:12. Notice that this service involved passing within the veil, Leviticus 16:12 / Leviticus 16:15.
The priests were required to minister within the tabernacle each morning and each evening, but the one thing they were never permitted to do in any of their ministries was to pass beyond the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The one exception to this rule took place on the Day of Atonement.
On this day, and only on this day, the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond the veil into the very presence of God. He was to offer incense, Leviticus 16:13, that would form a cloud to cover the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant, it would form a cloud above the tablets of the covenant law, Leviticus 16:13.
Maclaren, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the cloud, Leviticus 16:13.
‘This did not cover the ‘glory’ that Aaron might not gaze upon it, but it covered him that Jehovah might not look upon him and his sin!’
After entering the Most Holy Place, he was to do this in atonement for himself and his family and he was to make atonement for the people by sprinkling the blood of the sin offering on the front of the atonement cover and then sprinkling some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover, Leviticus 16:14.
The word ‘atonement’, means to cover up, later in the New Testament the word ‘atonement’ means to reconcile, Romans 3:25 / Hebrews 2:17. God cannot be approached with the guilt of sin on our shoulders, atonement must be made for sin, Habakkuk 1:13.
Aaron is to then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people, take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood and sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it, Leviticus 16:15. By going this, Aaron will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness, Leviticus 16:16 / Exodus 30:10.
The tabernacle was to be emptied of all other inhabitants upon this day. The High Priest would be completely alone as he performed those parts of the ritual which took place within the tabernacle, Leviticus 16:17. This is a picture of Jesus who was forsaken by all when He became the covering for our sins, Psalm 22:1.
When Aaron comes out, he is to go to the altar to that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar, Leviticus 16:18 / Exodus 28:38 / Leviticus 4:25 / Leviticus 4:30 / Leviticus 4:34. He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites, Leviticus 16:19.
Everything done here was done to make atonement for Israel as a whole because of their inability to live perfect lives for God, Romans 3:9 / Romans 3:10 / Romans 3:23.
‘When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness. ‘Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. ‘The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward, he may come into the camp. The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward, he may come into the camp. ‘This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you—because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community. ‘This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.’ And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.’ Leviticus 16:20-34
When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat, Leviticus 16:20 / Leviticus 16:7-10. Notice that Aaron was to take this goat and place both his hands upon it as he confessed all of the sins of Israel, for most sacrifices he only placed one hand upon the animal, Leviticus 16:21.
The Jewish Mishnah, says the following.
‘During the ceremonies, the scapegoat was presented to the high priest, and he laid his hands over the animal and prayed, Yoma 6:2.’
The sins of the nation would be identified with the goat, Leviticus 16:21. This figure was later applied to Jesus as He bore our sins on the cross, Psalm 32:1 / Isaiah 53:4 / Isaiah 53:12 / John 1:29.
In other words, if sins are to be forgiven, they must be taken away by someone else. The goat would be led away into the wilderness, Leviticus 16:21 / Leviticus 16:10, signifying that the sins of the people had been carried away, Leviticus 16:22. Symbolically this meant that the sins of Israel would be put outside the camp.
The Jewish Mishnah, says the following.
‘Select non-priestly men then drove the goat over the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem and deep into the wilderness of Judea. When the scapegoat was sent into the wilderness, the crowd assembled at the Temple then cried out, ‘Bear our sins and be gone! Bear our sins and be gone!’, Yoma 6:4.’
Two observations about this ceremony.
1. Though this solemn ceremony was repeated for nearly 1500 years, from the time of Moses till the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, all of the blood of those bulls and goats put together could not forgive a single sin, they only withheld the judgment of God for another year.
2. If the high priest who performed this ceremony was still alive the following year, he got to perform the ceremony all over again, and when he died, his descendants would carry out the same services till they died.
The language used here is later repeated to speak of how the Lord would lay upon Messiah the sins of us all, Isaiah 53:6. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews sets forth a series of contrasts and comparisons between the ritual sacrifices of the Day of Atonement and the work of Christ upon the cross.
The rituals of the Day of Atonement were to be repeated each year and for over a thousand years, this drama was acted out, first within the tabernacle, and later within the temple. The ritual found its fulfilment on a spring day in the first century A.D. The Romans had set aside three crosses, three thieves were destined to hang upon those crosses.
They had been apprehended, judged, and found to be guilty. They were placed under the sentence of death, but one of those thieves missed his appointment, he never went to the cross, his name was Barabbas.
Another man went to the cross in his place, Jesus died upon the cross of Barabbas and Barabbas was set free, Matthew 27:16-26. We have been set free, too, and it was not because we were any more deserving, it was a gift of grace, Ephesians 2:8-9.
Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there, Leviticus 16:23. He is to bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments and then come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people, Leviticus 16:24. Then Aaron is burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar, Leviticus 16:25.
The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat needs to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water and afterward he may come into the camp, Leviticus 16:26 / Leviticus 16:21. The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp and their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up, Leviticus 16:27 / Leviticus 1:9. The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water and afterward he may come into the camp, Leviticus 16:28.
This is to be a lasting ordinance for Israel, on the tenth day of the seventh month, Leviticus 16:29.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The month Ethanim or Tisri, as being the seventh in the Sacred year, has been called the sabbatical month. On the first day was celebrated the Feast of Trumpets, Leviticus 23:24, the tenth day was the Day of Atonement, and on the fourteenth day the Feast of tabernacles commenced, Leviticus 23:24 / Exodus 23:16.’
On that day they must deny themselves, meaning fast, Leviticus 23:27-32, and not do any work, Exodus 20:10, whether native-born or a foreigner residing among them, Exodus 12:38 / Exodus 12:48, because on this day atonement will be made for them, to cleanse them, then, before the LORD, they will be clean from all their sins, Leviticus 16:29-30. It is a day of sabbath rest, and they must deny themselves, it is a lasting ordinance, Leviticus 16:31.
Dummelow, in his commentary, says the following, concerning denying themselves.
‘This means observe a fast, as indicated by Psalms 35:13 and Isaiah 58:3 / Isaiah 58:5. This was the only fast enjoined in the Mosaic law.’
The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community, Leviticus 16:32-33.
Once again, we are reminded that this is to be a lasting ordinance for Israel. atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites, Leviticus 16:34. It was done, as the LORD commanded Moses, Leviticus 16:34.
This ceremony remained unchanged in the time of Jesus with but a few exceptions. Only the stone, ‘foundation stone’, on which the ark rested remained, and so the priest rested the incense censer and sprinkled the blood on this stone. Today, over this very stone, stands the Muslim holy place known as the Dome of the Rock.
The Jewish Mishnah, says the following.
‘On this day ‘eating, drinking, washing, anointing, with oils, putting on sandals, and marital intercourse are forbidden.’ Mishnah, Yoma 8:1.’