16:1-10

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Le 16:1-17:16

THE BLOOD OF ATONEMENT

Day of Atonement: introduction

(Le 16:1-10)

God’s dramatic judgment on Aaron’s two sons (see Le 10:1-7) showed clearly that the priests needed to act with care and reverence in everything they did, especially inside the tabernacle (that is, in the Holy Place). This chapter goes on to explain that only the high priest could enter the inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place), and then only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.

Although the regular rituals dealt with sin in various ways, the people were still not perfect and their sacrifices not fully effective. Even the best offerings did not enable the offerers to come into the presence of their God, not even through their representative, the high priest.

Therefore, on this one day of the year when entrance into God’s presence was available, all the sins of the previous year were brought before God for his forgiveness and removal, so that the people, through their priestly representative, could enter his presence unhindered.

But the priests also were sinners, and had to make atonement for themselves before they could make it on behalf of others (cf. Heb 9:7).

The regulations for the day’s proceedings begin by specifying the animals needed (Le 16:1-5) and outlining the main offerings, namely, a sin offering for the priests (Le 16:6; explained in detail in Le 16:11-14), and a two-part sin offering for the people (Le 16:7-10; explained in detail in Le 16:15-22).