LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:1 The Day of Atonement Ritual. This annual observance highlights God’s grace. Here God offers forgiveness and renewal for Israel’s worship site, priests, and people. All sins can be forgiven. This ritual reminds readers that forgiveness comes from God, whose presence i... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:3 One of the goats offered for the people’s sin purifies the tent of meeting, while the other is to be sent away alive into the wilderness. AZAZEL (vv. Leviticus 16:8, Leviticus 16:10) may have been a proper name. Or, it may be a compound word combining “goat” with “go... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:11 The atonement-day ritual begins with atonement for the priests (vv. Leviticus 16:11) and then for the people (vv. Leviticus 16:15). The CLOUD of incense is to protect Aaron from clearly seeing God’s presence in the Most Holy Place (see Exodus 33:20). BECAUSE OF THEI... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:18 ALTAR here probably refers to the altar of burnt offering. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:20 Sending the guilt of all Israel into the desert is probably another way of cleansing the people, in addition to the prior purification of the sanctuary (vv. Leviticus 16:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, i... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:23 Aaron leaves his Day of Atonement clothes inside the Holy Place because they are holy, not to be worn for the normal priestly activity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:26 The person who handles the Azazel-goat is defiled because of contact with the uncleanness that the goat bore. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 16:29 On the TENTH DAY of the SEVENTH MONTH (Tishri, that is, September/October), the Israelites and the strangers living among them are to AFFLICT themselves (v. Leviticus 16:29; literally, “humble their souls”). This term is connected with fasting and prayer (Psalms 35:... [ Continue Reading ]