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September 24 | Leviticus 16 ISG
Leviticus 16 (ESV)
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, 2 and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil… so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering… two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD... 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, …and he shall bring it inside the veil… that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat … so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat…15 “Then he shall kill the goat …and bring its blood inside the veil …16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins…17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out 20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place…, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness…. 22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, …shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the LORD commanded Moses.
The Text in Context
“Leviticus 16, on the Day of Atonement, is a transitional chapter, giving a general remedy for the problem of uncleanness described in Leviticus 11–15. It also prepares the way for the laws of holiness that follow (Lev. 17–27).Leviticus 16 is arguably the most important chapter in Leviticus, introducing the Day of Atonement, the highest and most sacred day in the Israelite calendar. Its importance is seen in the elaborate preparation ritual that Aaron undergoes to be qualified to conduct the main sacrifice later. Leviticus 16:1–14 sets out that preparation ritual.”
Excerpt From: Joe M. Sprinkle. “Leviticus and Numbers (Teach the Text Commentary Series).” Apple Books.
Narrative Connection
“This chapter begins with a reference back to ch. 10 (16:1-2; cf. 10: lff.). The intervening chapters (11-15) have been concerned with explaining the difference between clean and unclean, for the duty of teaching the people about these differences had been imposed on the priests in 10:10-11. Thus the theological point of departure for this new section, dealing with the day of atonement, is, like that of chs. 11-15, also to be found in ch. 10. That chapter showed how priests who dared to approach God without due care and self preparation might die suddenly in the fire of divine judgment. Thus ch. 16 sets out the proper rituals that the high priest must carry out if he is to preserve himself from a similar fate (16:2).”
“The basic precaution that Aaron must take to protect himself is not to go at any time into the sanctuary behind the curtain (v. 2). He cannot enter into the innermost part of the tabernacle, the holy of holies where the ark was kept, "at any time." The Hebrew phrase translated here "not . . . at any time" could imply a total prohibition against entry. However, the context makes it clear that with proper precautions the high priest may enter the holy place once a year. The reason why Aaron may not enter the innermost sanctuary whenever he likes is that it houses the ark on which the mercy seat is found. It is there that God comes to his people. In the heart of the tabernacle, hidden in a cloud (cf. Exod. 24:15ff.), God used to appear. Before the tabernacle had been built God had come to his people on Mount Sinai. Now he dwells among them in the“innermost part of the sanctuary. Familiarity can breed contempt. These laws drive home the truth that God is just as holy and demands just as much reverence when he dwells permanently with Israel as on the first occasion when he appeared on Sinai (Exod. 19).”
Excerpt From: Gordon J. Wenham. “The Book of Leviticus (New International Commentary on the Old Testament).” Apple Books.
Theological Insights
“Rituals are a way of underscoring the importance of a society’s or group’s values. In the United States, saying the Pledge of Allegiance as the school day begins is a way of inculcating patriotism and loyalty to one’s country, as are flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks on the Fourth of July. Graduation ceremonies underscore the value placed on academic achievement. The common ritual of serving turkey at Thanksgiving is a way of highlighting the importance of family gatherings.”
“The Bible’s rituals similarly serve to underscore important core values. The more elaborate the ritual, the more important the values. The complexity of these rituals shows the theological importance of the Day of Atonement sacrifice. The Israelites did not just perform the sacrifice. There were many ritual preliminaries before they could even start.”
“The rituals of Leviticus 16 show the value of respecting the holiness of God and the need for atoning sacrifice before attempting to approach him. God’s holiness is incompatible with human impurity. God wanted to be there in Israel’s midst, but he could not compromise his holiness, so he provided rituals to be performed so that his presence could be maintained despite Israel’s impurities (Lev. 16:16). God’s presence in the holy of holies is important because it was the means through which his relationship with Israel functioned at that time.”
“The church too has its rituals to underscore its important values. Baptism shows the importance of initiation and entrance into God’s church through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). The Lord’s Supper underscores the importance of the death of Christ—a death foreshadowed by the Day of Atonement ritual—and his awaited return (1 Cor. 11:23–26). It is called the “Lord’s table” (1 Cor. 10:21), a reminder of his invisible presence serving as host. The rites of baptism and the Lord’s Supper together underscore the importance of Christ’s incarnation, death, resurrection, presence, and second coming, each cherished, foundational doctrines of the faith. There, as here, elaborate ritual underscores that something is theologically important.”
Excerpt From: Joe M. Sprinkle. “Leviticus and Numbers (Teach the Text Commentary Series).” Apple Books.
Azazel
“Azazel, owner of the live goat, is also some kind of supernatural being. Because transporting a load of Israelite toxic waste, consisting of moral faults, to Azazel in the wilderness and abandoning it there by the command of Yahweh (16:10, 22; cf. Zech 5:5–11) is a singularly unfriendly gesture, it appears that Azazel is Yahweh’s enemy.156 Therefore, Azazel is most likely some kind of demon (so Jewish tradition recorded in 1 En. 10:4–5), who dwells in an uninhabited region (cf. Lev. 17:7; Isa. 13:21; 34:14; Luke 11:24; Rev. 18:2).”
Excerpt From: Roy Gane. “Leviticus and Numbers.” Apple Books.

Financial Report for the month of August.

Giving: $ 6,730.45
Expenses: $ 8,962.64
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Needed: -$ 2,232.19

Guide Questions
1.Leviticus 16 begins with the reminder of the death of Aaron’s sons. Review what exactly happened in Leviticus 10:1-11.
2.Based on Leviticus 16:6-10, what are the two goats for? And who is Azazel? (refer to our guide)
3.Recreate the protocol of Yom Kippur. a.v4 __________ b. v6__________ c. v7-8__________ d. v12-13___________ e. v14___________ f. v15__________ g. v18-19___________ h.v20-22___________ i.v23-24__________ j.v27-28___________
4.How is vs Leviticus 16:2, 13-14 similar to Exodus 33:18-23 and Isaiah 6:1-2?
5.List all the mentions of the word atonement and come up with the main purpose of atonement? (hint:vs 15-16, 18-19, 30-34) And what did Jesus do that resembles atonement sacrifice? (Hebrews 9:11-14)
6.How are we to appropriate the truth of atonement in our lives today? (Hebrews 10:19-31)



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