Leviticus Chapter 16
God reminded Moses and Aaron that the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, had died because of their disobedience in trying to produce their own way of coming close to God. The account of their deaths can be found in chapter 10. They had tried to produce their own fire and were possibly planning to enter the Holy of Holies to see if God would consume their fire as He had done on the altar that day. God is now going to tell them exactly how the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant resided. There would be preparation needed by the high priest before he could do so. He would need to be cleansed and to offer sacrifices before the Lord. This most sacred day which happened only once a year became known as “The Day of Atonement.” This can be seen in Leviticus 23:27-28.
The purpose of the law is found in chapter 15. Verse 31 tells us that the law was given – “so they would not die in their uncleanness for defiling My dwelling place, which is among them.” The purpose of the Day of Atonement was to cleanse the tabernacle from the uncleanliness (sins) left by the worshipers and to make possible the presence of God among His people. This will be the one day when the high priest will enter the dwelling place of God, the Holy of Holies.
Let's Reflect
1. What did the high priest need to do besides washing his body?
2. The high priest would then offer a sin offering for himself and his family. A bull was offered for this sacrifice. A ram was offered for a burnt offering. And then a special ritual of removal of the sins of the people was illustrated with two goats. One goat was sacrificed, but what did the priest do with the second goat?
3. How was the second goat chosen to be the scapegoat? The goat was sent out into the wilderness. The name Azazel may just be a general name for the wilderness, or it may be the general name for a scapegoat.
4. When the high priest entered the Holy of Holies he took in with him some of the blood from the bull that he had offered for his own sin. What did he do with that blood?
5. Before entering the Holy of Holies with the blood, Aaron had to first go in with a censor full of burning coals. He was to burn incense which possibly created a smoke screen to prevent his gazing at the Shekinah glory of God’s presence. What did this action do for Aaron? See verse 13.
6. When the high priest sacrificed one of the two goats. What did the spilt blood of the goat sprinkled on the Ark represent?
7. Were the people allowed to be in the Tabernacle area when the Priest went into the Holy of Holies? See verse 17.
8. What did Aaron do first to the live goat, the scapegoat before setting it free?
9. There was an act of cleansing once again after the sacrifices were made. What did Aaron do to symbolize this according to verses 24, 26 and 28?
10. According to verse 29 what time of year was the Day of Atonement celebrated?
11. Verse 33 sums up the purpose of this special day, what was it?
12. The people of Israel were commanded to keep this special day annually for how long?
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