Leviticus 16:1-11

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after Aaron's two sons had come into the LORD's presence and died.

2 The LORD said, "Tell your brother Aaron that he cannot go into the holy place whenever he wants to. If he goes up to the canopy and stands in front of the throne of mercy on the ark, he will die, because I appear in the smoke above the throne of mercy.

3 "This is what Aaron must do in order to come into the holy place: He must take a bull as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering.

4 He must put on a holy linen robe and wear linen undergarments. He must wear a linen belt and turban. These are holy clothes. He must wash his body and put them on.

5 He will take two male goats from the congregation of Israel as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering.

6 "Aaron must sacrifice the bull as his own offering for sin. By doing this, he will make peace with the LORD for himself and his family.

7 He must take the two male goats and bring them into the LORD's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

8 Then Aaron must throw lots for the two goats. One lot will be for the LORD and the other for Azazel.

9 Aaron must sacrifice the goat chosen by lot for the LORD as an offering for sin.

10 But he must bring the goat chosen by lot for Azazel into the LORD's presence. He will release it in the desert to Azazel in order to make peace with the LORD for himself and his family.

11 "Aaron will bring the bull. He will then slaughter it as his own offering for sin. By doing this he will make peace with the LORD for himself and his family.

Leviticus 16:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 16

This chapter treats of the day of atonement, and of the rites, sacrifices, and services of it, directs when Aaron should come into the holy of holies, Le 16:1,2; and in what habit he should then appear, and with what offerings both for himself, and for the people, Le 16:3-10; and that having slain his own sin offering, and that for the people, he should offer incense before the mercy seat, and sprinkle that with the blood of both, Le 16:11-15; and by these offerings make atonement for the holy place, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, Le 16:16-19; and having done this, he was to take the live goat, lay his hands on it, confess over it, and put upon it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and then send it away by a fit man into the wilderness, Le 16:20-22; upon which he was to put off his linen garments, wash his flesh, and put them on again, and offer the burnt offering for himself, and for the people, Le 16:23-25; also he that let go the goat, and he that carried and burnt the sin offerings without the camp, were to wash themselves and clothes also, Le 16:26-28; the observance of this day, once a year, which was on the tenth of the seventh month, as a day of affliction and atonement, was to be a statute for ever to the children of Israel, Le 16:29-34.