Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Leviticus 23:26-32
The Day Of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26).
Here the Day of Atonement (compare Leviticus 16) is looked at from the point of view of the people. Its solemnity is emphasised by the strict warnings concerning proper observance (Leviticus 23:29). On this important day all the failures and sins of Israel that had not previously been atoned for would be gathered up and atoned for.
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict (humble) yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh”
The tenth day of the seventh month is to be the Day of Atonement. It is to be a holy ‘calling-together', a day on which they ‘afflict themselves' and a day when an offering is made by fire to Yahweh. For full details of the latter see chapter 16.
“Afflict (humble) themselves.” That is, deal hardly with themselves (compare Genesis 16:6; Genesis 31:50), or submit themselves humbly (compare Genesis 16:9; Exodus 10:3). No indication is given of exactly what this means. It may refer to fasting, to self-examination and family-group-examination, or to other forms of consideration of sins and of repentance, or to a general humbling before God. The main point is presumably a demonstration to God of a genuine desire to put away sin. Compare Isaiah 58:5 where ‘afflicting themselves' appears to refer to ‘bowing down the head as a bulrush', and ‘spreading sackcloth and ashes', presumably to kneel on as a sign of repentance.
“And you shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God.”
No manner of work may be done on that day (thus going further than banning ‘servile work'). It was a day when all concentration must be on atonement.
“For whatever person it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people.”
And whoever fails to take the day seriously and to make a genuine effort to deal with their sinfulness must be cut off from his people.
“And whatever person it be who does any manner of work in that same day, that person will I destroy from among his people.”
And whoever does any manner of work, God Himself will destroy from among his people. For it will be evidence that he has no time for getting himself right with God.
“You shall do no manner of work. It is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month in the evening, from evening to evening, shall you keep your sabbath.”
What has been said is now repeated as a permanent statute into the distant future. No manner of work is to be done. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest, a day for self-humbling and self-chastisement, and it shall commence at the twilight of the ninth day, and continue until the twilight of the tenth day, by which time the High Priest will have satisfactorily made atonement for the sin of Israel.
This feast reminds us of our deep need continually for repentance from current sins. Jesus Christ made atonement for us once for all, and we rejoice in that, but we are to constantly walk in God's light, allowing Him to reveal to us our sins so that we might admit to them and have them removed (1 John 1:7).