Topical Encyclopedia The Day of Atonement, known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur, is one of the most significant and solemn holy days in the Jewish calendar, as outlined in the Old Testament. It is observed on the tenth day of the seventh month, Tishri, and is a day dedicated to atonement and repentance. The instructions for observing this day are primarily found in Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23:26-32.Biblical Foundation The Day of Atonement is instituted by God as a day of national and individual repentance and purification. Leviticus 16 provides detailed instructions for the high priest, who plays a central role in the ceremonies. On this day, the high priest enters the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), to make atonement for himself, his household, and the entire congregation of Israel. This is the only day of the year when the high priest is permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. The ritual involves several key elements: 1. Sacrifices: The high priest offers a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household and a ram for a burnt offering. Two goats are presented at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. One goat is chosen by lot to be sacrificed as a sin offering for the people, and the other, known as the scapegoat, is sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. 2. The Scapegoat: The high priest lays his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessing over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites. This act symbolizes the transfer of the people's sins onto the goat, which is then led away into the wilderness, signifying the removal of sin from the community (Leviticus 16:21-22). 3. Atonement and Cleansing: The high priest enters the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrificed bull and goat, sprinkling it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat to make atonement for the sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar. This act purifies the sacred spaces from the impurities of the Israelites (Leviticus 16:15-19). 4. Sabbath of Solemn Rest: The Day of Atonement is a Sabbath of solemn rest, during which the Israelites are commanded to afflict their souls, typically understood as fasting and refraining from work (Leviticus 23:27-32). Theological Significance The Day of Atonement underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. It highlights the need for atonement and reconciliation with God, emphasizing that sin separates humanity from the divine presence. The rituals performed by the high priest serve as a powerful reminder of the cost of sin and the necessity of a mediator to restore the relationship between God and His people. Christological Fulfillment In Christian theology, the Day of Atonement is seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. The Epistle to the Hebrews draws parallels between the high priest's role on Yom Kippur and Christ's sacrificial death. Hebrews 9:11-12 states, "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." Christ is viewed as both the high priest and the perfect sacrifice, whose atoning work on the cross provides forgiveness and reconciliation with God for all who believe. The Day of Atonement, therefore, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who offers a once-for-all atonement for sin. Contemporary Observance While the sacrificial system is no longer practiced, Yom Kippur remains a central observance in Judaism, marked by fasting, prayer, and reflection. It is a time for individuals to seek forgiveness from God and others, emphasizing repentance and spiritual renewal. For Christians, the themes of atonement and reconciliation continue to resonate, pointing to the redemptive work of Christ as the foundation for forgiveness and new life. Smith's Bible Dictionary the Day Of AtonementI. The great day of national humiliation, and the only one commanded in the Mosaic law. [FASTS] The mode of its observance is described in Levi 16, and the conduct of the people is emphatically enjoined in (Leviticus 23:26-32) II. Time. -- It was kept on the tenth day of Tisri, that is, from the evening of the ninth to the evening of the tenth of that month, five days before the feast of tabernacles. Tisri corresponds to our September-October, so that the 10th of Tisri would be about the first of October. [FESTIVALS] III. How observed. -- It was kept by the people as a high solemn sabbath. On this occasion only the high priest was permitted to enter into the holy of holies. Having bathed his person and dressed himself entirely in the holy white linen garments, he brought forward a young bullock for a sin offering, purchased at his own cost, on account of himself and his family, and two young goats for a sin offering, with a ram for a burnt offering, which were paid for out of the public treasury, on account of the people. He then presented the two goats before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle and cast lots upon them. On one lot "For Jehovah " was inscribed, and on the other "For Azazel ." A phrase of unusual difficulty. The best modern scholars agree that it designates the personal being to whom the goat was sent, probably Satan. This goat was called the scapegoat . After various sacrifices and ceremonies the goat upon which the lot "For Jehovah " had fallen was slain and the high priest sprinkled its blood before the mercy-seat in the same manner as he had done that of the bullock. Going out from the holy of holies he purified the holy place, sprinkling some of the blood of both the victims on the altar of incense. At this time no one besides the high priest was suffered to be present in the holy place. The purification of the holy of holies and of the holy place being thus completed, the high priest laid his hands upon the head of the goat on which the lot "For Azazel " had fallen and confessed over it all the sins of the people. The goat was then led, by a man chosen for the purpose, into the wilderness, into "a land not inhabited," and was there let loose. The high priest after this returned into the holy place bathed himself again, put on his usual garments of office, and offered the two rams as burnt offerings, one for himself and one for the people. IV. Significance. In considering the I. meaning of the particular rites of the day, three points appear to be of a very distinctive character.
Greek 3521. nesteia -- fasting, a fast ... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: nesteia Phonetic Spelling: (nace-ti'-ah) Short Definition: fasting, the day of atonement Definition: fasting ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3521.htm - 6k 2435. hilasterion -- propitiatory 2369. thumiaterion -- altar of incense, a censer Library The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ... Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's ... Leviticus Appendix xiv. The Law in Messianic Times. In the Holy of Holies. In the Holy of Holies Ninth Day. Holiness and Mediation. The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ... Resources The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics the Epistle of Paul To Philemon the First Epistle General Of John The Kingdom or Church of Christ the Second and Third Epistles Of John Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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