Leviticus 16:1-13 ▼

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD and died.

2 The LORD said to Moses: “ Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

3 “ Aaron is to enter the most holy place in this way : with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

4 He is to wear a holy linen tunic, and linen undergarments are to be on his body. He must tie a linen sash around him and wrap his head with a linen turban. These are holy garments; he must bathe his body with water before he wears them.

5 He is to take from the Israelite community two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 “ Aaron will present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household.

7 Next he will take the two goats and place them before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other for azazel,

9 he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering.

10 But the goat chosen by lot for azazel is to be presented alive before the LORD to make purification with it by sending it into the wilderness for azazel.

11 “ When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he will slaughter the bull for his sin offering.

12 Then he must take a firepan full of fiery coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil.

13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD , so that the cloud of incense covers the mercy seat that is over the testimony, or else he will die.