ATONEMENT RITE FOR HIGH PRIEST AND HIS FAMILY. The holy place within the veil, _i.e._ the inner of the two compartments of the shrine, is not to be entered at will, but only on New Year's Day (Leviticus 16:29). Otherwise the intruder would be killed by the Shekinah which dwelt there in solitary maje... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS 16. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (see p. 104). The introduction (Leviticus 16:1) shows, by its reference to Leviticus 10:1, that Leviticus 16 originally followed Leviticus 10:7; _i.e._ after the law for the High Priest's consecration came the law of his entrance into the holy place. It is possible... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ATONEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE. The priest has now to offer the goat assigned by lot for the atonement of the people; less valuable than the bullock, as the holiness of the priest is more important than that of the people. With the people is joined the holy place, and the shrine, which will suffer by... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCAPE-GOAT. Over the second goat confession is now made (for the first time in the rite) with the laying on of the High Priest's hands (_cf._ the laying on of hands by the offerer at every sacrifice). The Mishna tractate Yoma gives the text of this prayer. The goat is then led off into the wilde... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY. The High Priest must leave his robes in a holy place, so as not to communicate their character to the people, who, of course, would not be allowed to enter there (_cf._ Ezekiel 44:19 *, Isaiah 66:5 *). He must then bathe, as having been in contact with sin (_cf_. Leviticu... [ Continue Reading ]
FINAL DIRECTIONS. For the date, see above. The people are to afflict their souls, _i.e._ to fast; this, and the whole-day service, are the chief features of the modern Day of Atonement. It is also a Sabbath, _i.e._ no work is to be done, to secure leisure for the solemn import of the day. The solemn... [ Continue Reading ]