If you've been reading recent posts about the Day of Atonement and are still struggling to make sense of exactly what happened in Leviticus 16 here's a walk through. It helps to know that verses 1-2 are an introduction, and then verses 3-10 give an overview of the whole ritual and then verses 11-28 return to the beginning of the whole ritual with more detail.
[For details on sin and burnt offerings see this post.]
The Day of Atonement - Leviticus 16
Definition of atonement: Atonement means ‘a making at one’ and points to a process of bringing those who are estranged into a unity. In theology it is used to describe the work of Jesus on the cross, dealing with the problem of sin and bringing sinners into a right relationship with God.
When: 10th day of 7th month
Where: The Tabernacle. You can find a diagram of the Tabernacle here.
Who: Most of the instructions for the High Priest (Aaron), but he is supported by a couple of other individuals who deal with the action outside of the camp.
The supporting cast involves a young bull, 2 male goats, and a couple of rams. Most of these characters don’t make it to the end of the story.
What:
Scene 1 - Preparation
Aaron prepares himself by washing and putting on his sacred white robes and turban. On this day Aaron would not wear his blue robes etc that he would normally wear whilst serving in the Tabernacle.
Scene 2 - Atonement for the Priest
Aaron now sacrifices the bull in order to make atonement for his sin and the sin of his family. He does this alongside the Altar of Burnt Offerings which is located in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. He takes some of the bull’s blood into the Holy Place where he takes a censer of burning coals and incense from the Altar of Incense there and then enters the Most Holy Place. He puts the incense on the coals filling the Most Holy Place with smoke, obscuring the Ark of the Covenant. He then sprinkles some of the blood on the front of the atonement cover and then seven times before the atonement cover. [The Atonement Cover is the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.]
Scene 3 - Atonement for the Tabernacle
Aaron then goes back out into the courtyard and takes the two goats, casts lots - one is sacrificed as a sin offering, the other becomes the scapegoat. He then sacrifices the first goat - a sin offering for the people. He then does with the goat’s blood as he did with the bull’s blood, hence making atonement for the Most Holy Place - which is made unclean by its presence in the camp surrounded by the people. He repeats this in the Holy Place, making atonement for it. He then comes out into the courtyard and makes atonement for the Altar of Burnt Offerings by putting some of the bull’s and goat’s blood on the horns of the altar, and then sprinkling it seven times to cleanse and consecrate it.
Scene 4 - The scapegoat carries sin into the wilderness
He brings forward the live goat (the scapegoat). He places his hand on the head of the live goat and confesses over it all the sins of the people. This goat is then sent away into the wilderness, led by someone appointed for the task. This goat carries the sins to a remote place away from the camp.
Scene 5 - Atonement made for the priest and all the people
Aaron goes into the Holy Place, takes off his robes, washes and then puts on his ordinary garments. He then goes into the courtyard and sacrifices the two burnt offerings - two rams - one for himself and one for the people - making atonement for himself and the people. He also takes the fat of the sin offering (bull and goat) and burns that.
Scene 6 - Clearing up afterwards
The man who has released the scapegoat returns, washes his clothes, bathes himself - he is then able to come into the camp.
Someone else takes the hide, flesh, intestines of the sin offerings are burns them outside the camp. After that he must wash his clothes, bathe himself - he is then able to come into the camp.
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