Following a chapter concerning emissions from men and women which simply identify bodily emissions as unclean, the writer turns to the procedures and significance of the Day of Atonement.
First, access to the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) was restricted to times when the Lord deemed it appropriate. Aaron would come into the Most Holy Place with sacrifices to offer to God. He would also wash his body before entering the Most Holy Place. These restrictions were in response to the profane fire that was offered by Nadab and Abihu. Aaron was to offer a bull as a sin offering and take its blood into the Holy Place along with a censer full of holy incense and sprinkle some of the blood upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
Prior to entering the Most Holy Place, the high priest would choose two goats, and offer one as a sin offering, and the other he would identify as the scapegoat and let it go into the wilderness. This si where the concept of the scapegoat today comes from. The sins of the people would be symbolically transferred to the goat by laying hands on its head. The release into the wilderness was a symbol of exile. Today, a scapegoat takes the blame for another person and is “exiled” or ostracized from society.
The sin offering goat had its blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat as well. No one else could be in the tabernacle when the Atonement was being made. Only the high priest could be in the tabernacle when this went on. Once atonement was made, all the meat, hide, and offal were burned in the fire. The offerings were holy and could not remain.
Today, we do not need this type of day in the calendar, because Jesus went behind the veil once for all in order to provide our atonement permanently. Thanks be to God for this wonderful gift of grace. We are free from the process of atonement, and we have forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ!
Devoted To You 