Leviticus 16:1-13 ▼

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

2 The LORD told Moses, |Remind your brother Aaron that at no time is he to enter the sacred place from the room that contains the curtain into the presence of the Mercy Seat on top of the ark. Otherwise, he'll die, because I will appear in a cloud at the Mercy Seat.

3 Aaron is to enter the sacred place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a whole burnt offering.

4 He is to wear a sacred linen tunic and linen undergarments that will cover his genitals. He is to clothe himself with a sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. Because they are sacred garments, he is to wash himself with water before putting them on.|

5 |He is to take two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a whole burnt offering from the assembly of the Israelis.

6 Then Aaron is to bring the bull as a sin offering for himself and make atonement for himself and his household.

7 Then he is to take the two male goats and present them in the LORD's presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

8 Aaron is to cast lots over the two male goats—one lot for the LORD and the other one for the scapegoat.

9 Aaron is then to bring the male goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and offer it as a sin offering.

10 The male goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat is to be brought alive into the LORD's presence to make atonement for himself. Then he is to send it into the wilderness.|

11 |Aaron is then to bring the bull for a sin offering for himself, thus making atonement for himself and his household. He is to slaughter the ox for himself.

12 Then he is to take a censer and fill it with coals from the fire on the altar in the LORD's presence. With his hands full of spiced and refined incense, he is to bring it beyond the curtain.

13 |Then he is to place the incense over the fire in the LORD's presence, ensuring that the smoke from the incense covers the Mercy Seat, according to regulation, so he won't die.