Leviticus 16:2-12

2 He said, "Tell your brother Aaron that only at the proper time is he to go behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place, because that is where I appear in a cloud above the lid on the Covenant Box. If he disobeys, he will be killed. 1
3 He may enter the Most Holy Place only after he has brought a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering." 2
4 Then the Lord gave the following instructions. Before Aaron goes into the Most Holy Place, he must take a bath and put on the priestly garments: the linen robe and shorts, the belt, and the turban.
5 The community of Israel shall give Aaron two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
6 He shall offer a bull as a sacrifice to take away his own sins and those of his family.
7 Then he shall take the two goats to the entrance of the Tent of the Lord's presence.
8 There he shall draw lots, using two stones, one marked "for the Lord" and the other "for Azazel."
9 Aaron shall sacrifice the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and offer it as a sin offering.
10 The goat chosen for Azazel shall be presented alive to the Lord and sent off into the desert to Azazel, in order to take away the sins of the people.
11 When Aaron sacrifices the bull as the sin offering for himself and his family,
12 he shall take a fire pan full of burning coals from the altar and two handfuls of fine incense and bring them into the Most Holy Place.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 16.2Hebrews 6.19.
  • 2. 16.3Hebrews 9.7.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. azazel: [The meaning of this Hebrew word is unknown; it may be the name of a desert demon.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.