The Holiness of God
Leviticus 16:2 states, Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. This emphasizes the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching Him without proper preparation.

The Role of the High Priest
Aaron, the high priest, had to follow specific instructions to enter the Holy of Holies, highlighting the mediatory role of the priesthood (Leviticus 16:3-4).

The Scapegoat
Verses 21-22 describe the ritual of the scapegoat, where Aaron lays hands on the goat, confessing the sins of Israel, and then sends it into the wilderness. This symbolizes the removal of sin from the community.

Atonement for All
The Day of Atonement was for the entire community, emphasizing the collective need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Leviticus 16:29-30).

Foreshadowing Christ
The rituals and sacrifices point to Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who entered the heavenly Holy of Holies once for all by His own blood (Hebrews 9:11-12).Reverence for God
Approach God with reverence and awe, recognizing His holiness and our need for purification through Christ.

Confession and Repentance
Regularly confess and repent of sins, understanding that Jesus is our scapegoat who has borne our iniquities.

Community Intercession
Pray for the community of believers, recognizing our collective need for God's mercy and grace.

Gratitude for Christ's Sacrifice
Live in gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus, who has made a way for us to enter God's presence with confidence.1. The LORD (YHWH)
The LORD is the one who gives the instructions for the Day of Atonement to Moses. In the Hebrew text, the name used is "YHWH" (יהוה), which is the sacred and personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible.

2. Moses
Moses is the prophet and leader of the Israelites who receives the instructions from the LORD. He is responsible for conveying God's commands to Aaron. The Hebrew name is "Moshe" (מֹשֶׁה).

3. Aaron
Aaron is the brother of Moses and the high priest. He is the central human figure in this chapter, responsible for performing the rituals of atonement. His Hebrew name is "Aharon" (אַהֲרֹן).

4. Aaron's Sons
Although not named individually in this chapter, Aaron's sons are referenced in the context of the priestly duties and the previous incident where two of his sons died for offering unauthorized fire before the LORD (Leviticus 10). The Hebrew term used is "benei Aharon" (בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן).1. The Holy Place
This refers to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle where the priest performs specific rituals. In Leviticus 16:2, it is mentioned as the place where Aaron is not to enter at any time, except under specific conditions, to avoid death. The Hebrew term used is "קֹדֶשׁ" (qodesh), meaning a sacred or holy place.

2. The Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies)
This is the innermost part of the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. In Leviticus 16:2, it is described as the place behind the veil, where God's presence dwells above the mercy seat. The Hebrew term is "קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים" (qodesh ha-qodashim), emphasizing its supreme sanctity.

3. The Tent of Meeting
This is the larger structure that houses both the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. In Leviticus 16:7, it is mentioned as the location where the two goats are presented before the LORD. The Hebrew term "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (ohel mo'ed) signifies a place of divine-human encounter.

4. The Altar
Located in the courtyard of the Tabernacle, the altar is where sacrifices are made. In Leviticus 16:18, it is described as the altar before the LORD, where the blood of the sin offering is applied. The Hebrew word "מִזְבֵּחַ" (mizbeach) refers to a place of sacrifice.

5. The Camp
This refers to the encampment of the Israelites surrounding the Tabernacle. In Leviticus 16:26, it is mentioned in the context of the man who releases the scapegoat needing to wash before re-entering the camp. The Hebrew term "מַחֲנֶה" (machaneh) denotes a temporary dwelling place or encampment.1. Instructions to Aaron
The LORD speaks to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons and instructs him on how Aaron should enter the Most Holy Place. Aaron is warned not to enter at any time, lest he die, because the LORD appears in the cloud over the atonement cover (Leviticus 16:1-2).

2. Aaron's Preparations
Aaron is to bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He must bathe and put on the sacred linen garments (Leviticus 16:3-4).

3. Community Offerings
The Israelite community is to provide two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering (Leviticus 16:5).

4. Sin Offering for Aaron
Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household (Leviticus 16:6).

5. Casting Lots for the Goats
Aaron is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat (Azazel) (Leviticus 16:7-8).

6. Sacrifice of the LORD's Goat
The goat chosen by lot for the LORD is to be sacrificed as a sin offering for the people (Leviticus 16:9).

7. Scapegoat Ritual
The goat chosen for Azazel is to be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement and then sent into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:10).

8. Atonement for the Most Holy Place
Aaron is to take some of the bull's blood and sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it, to cleanse the Most Holy Place from the uncleanness of the Israelites (Leviticus 16:11-14).

9. Atonement for the Tent of Meeting
Aaron is to make atonement for the Tent of Meeting, sprinkling the blood of the goat on the atonement cover and in front of it (Leviticus 16:15-16).

10. Atonement for the Altar
Aaron is to make atonement for the altar by applying the blood of the bull and the goat to its horns and sprinkling it seven times (Leviticus 16:18-19).

11. Confession over the Scapegoat
Aaron is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites, and send it away into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22).

12. Burnt Offerings
Aaron is to offer the burnt offerings for himself and the people to make atonement (Leviticus 16:23-25).

13. Disposal of the Sin Offerings
The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place, are to be taken outside the camp and burned (Leviticus 16:27).

14. Cleansing Rituals
Those who handle the scapegoat and the remains of the sin offerings must wash their clothes and bathe before returning to the camp (Leviticus 16:26, 28).

15. Establishment of the Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is established as a lasting ordinance, a Sabbath of rest, and a day of fasting and humility (Leviticus 16:29-31).

16. Annual Observance
The Day of Atonement is to be observed annually on the tenth day of the seventh month, with the high priest making atonement for the Israelites (Leviticus 16:32-34).Hebrews 9:11-12
Connects the Day of Atonement rituals to Christ's work as our High Priest.

Isaiah 53:6
Describes the Messiah as bearing the iniquities of us all, similar to the scapegoat.

1 John 1:9
Encourages confession of sins, with the promise of forgiveness and cleansing.

Romans 5:11
Speaks of the reconciliation we have received through Christ, echoing the atonement theme. Thanksgiving for Atonement
Thank God for the atonement provided through Jesus Christ.

Holiness and Reverence
Pray for a deeper understanding of God's holiness and a heart of reverence.

Confession and Cleansing
Ask for the Holy Spirit's help in confessing sins and receiving cleansing.

Intercession for Others
Pray for the spiritual well-being and forgiveness of the community of believers.

As we study Leviticus 16, let us be reminded of the gravity of sin, the holiness of God, and the incredible gift of atonement through Jesus Christ.

1. What do the intricate rituals for atonement signify in this passage?

2. How does the concept of a scapegoat apply to our modern understanding of responsibility and forgiveness?

3. Why is Aaron required to make atonement for himself before the people?

4. How does the role of the high priest evolve throughout the passage?

5. What does the process of atonement reveal about the nature of God as depicted in this text?

6. What might be the psychological impact on Aaron, having to perform these rituals?

7. What role do the specific garments play in the atonement process?

8. Why is the sin offering taken outside the camp to be burned?

9. How can the instruction of complete rest and humbleness on the day of atonement be practiced in today's world?

10. In what ways can the concept of personal atonement apply in contemporary life?

11. How might the rituals of atonement foster a sense of community among the Israelites?

12. What is the symbolism of blood in the atonement process?

13. How does this passage highlight the sanctity of the Most Holy Place?

14. In what ways does the ritual of atonement emphasize the severity of sin?

15. What implications does the scapegoat carry for understanding collective guilt and innocence?

16. How could these rituals of atonement influence the moral behavior of the Israelites?

17. How can we interpret the Lord's command that both natives and foreigners observe this ritual?

18. In what ways can we seek spiritual purification in our daily lives, reflecting the essence of these ancient rituals?

19. How does the role of the high priest in this passage compare to religious leaders today?

20. What does the phrase "you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD" mean to you in a modern context?