Leviticus 16

In the book of Leviticus, this chapter follows the regulations on sacrifices, the ordination of the priests, and the laws of purity (chapters 11–15), and it establishes the ordinances for the annual Day of Atonement. Its first verse opens by referring back to the deaths of Aaron's two sons in Leviticus 10.

Outline

• Verses 1–2 After the deaths of Aaron's two sons, the LORD commands Aaron not to come at all times within the veil before the mercy seat.
• Verses 3–5 The offerings Aaron is to prepare (a young bullock and a ram), the holy linen garments, and the two male goats and one ram to be received from the congregation are specified.
• Verses 6–10 Aaron offers the bullock for himself and his house, then casts lots over the two goats, assigning one to the LORD and the other to Azazel.
• Verses 11–14 A cloud of incense covers the mercy seat, and the blood of the bullock is sprinkled seven times on the east side of the mercy seat and before it.
• Verses 15–19 With the blood of the goat for the people, atonement is made for the Most Holy Place, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar. During this time no one may be in the tabernacle.
• Verses 20–22 Aaron lays both hands on the live goat and confesses the sins of the people, after which a man appointed in advance sends the goat into the wilderness.
• Verses 23–28 Aaron changes his garments and offers burnt offerings, and the remains of the sacrificial animals are burned outside the camp. The man who sent away the goat and the one who burned the remains must wash themselves before entering the camp.
• Verses 29–34 A perpetual statute is established: on the tenth day of the seventh month the people are to afflict their souls and do no work. This day is a solemn sabbath, observed once a year.

Key Verses

• Leviticus 16:21 "lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat … putting them upon the head of the goat": This scene depicts sin being transferred and carried far away. The image of the "scapegoat" derives from this verse.
• Leviticus 16:30 "that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD": This verse states the purpose of observing the day.
• Leviticus 16:34 "to make an atonement … once a year": The Epistle to the Hebrews draws on this verse when contrasting the annual atonement with the sacrifice of Christ.

People and Places

• Moses: Receives the ordinances from the LORD and delivers them.
• Aaron: As high priest, he performs the entire rite.
• Aaron's two sons: Nadab and Abihu, who died after offering strange fire (Leviticus 10:1–2).
• The appointed man: The man who leads the live goat into the wilderness.
• Azazel: The one to whom the goat is sent; the meaning of the term is uncertain.
• Settings include the tabernacle (the tabernacle of the congregation), the Most Holy Place, the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony (the ark of the covenant), the altar, the area outside the camp, and the wilderness.

Points for Reflection

• The meaning of Azazel: Interpretations vary. Some take it as the name of a being in the wilderness; another tradition, represented by the Septuagint and the Vulgate, renders it as "the goat that is sent away" (the origin of the English word scapegoat); still others regard it as the name of a rugged place. The Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version simply transliterate it as "Azazel."
• Traditions outside the text: The account of the goat being pushed off a cliff comes from later Jewish literature (the Mishnah) and does not appear in the biblical text.
• Jewish understanding: Judaism understands "afflict your souls" as fasting and continues to observe this day as a fast to the present. Many interpreters also identify "the fast" mentioned in Acts 27:9 with this day.
• Connection to the New Testament: Hebrews 9 contrasts the high priest, who entered year after year with blood, with Christ, who entered once for all by His own blood. Hebrews 13 links the requirement to burn the sacrificial remains outside the camp (verse 27) with Jesus' suffering outside the city gate.
• Denominational interpretations: Many Protestant denominations read the two goats as representing two aspects of Christ's atonement: substitutionary death and the carrying away of sin. The Seventh-day Adventist Church regards the Azazel goat as a symbol of Satan and connects this chapter to its doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary (the investigative judgment). Other denominations do not accept this interpretation.