Leviticus 16:1-10

1 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who were killed when they offered unholy fire to the Lord.
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.

Leviticus 16:1-10 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.

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.