Week 48, Day 2: Atonement

Today’s Reading:  Leviticus 16:1 – 17:16

Some thoughts from the reading..

Once a year the high priest was to go into the holy of holies and make atonement for Israel.  Involved in this process is to make atonement for the holy place because of the impurities of Israel (16:16-16).  The high priest shall make a sacrifice to atone for himself and his household (16:6, 11) before offering the sin sacrifice on behalf of Israel.  After making the sacrifice for himself and for Israel he is to lay hands on the scapegoat (16:10, 21-22).  The concept of placing their iniquities on the goat and sending it away is an interesting practice.  This process was all to be done in the seventh month, on the tenth day, each year.

Question:  Why would the high priest need to offer a separate sacrifice for his own sins before offering a sacrifice for Israel’s sins?

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