Topical Bible: the Day of Atonement: Atonement Made On for the High Priest

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Day of Atonement, known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur, is one of the most solemn and significant holy days in the Jewish calendar, as outlined in the Old Testament. It is a day dedicated to atonement and repentance, where the high priest plays a central role in the rituals that seek to cleanse the people of Israel from their sins. The instructions for this sacred observance are primarily found in Leviticus 16.

Role of the High Priest

The high priest, as the spiritual leader and mediator between God and the Israelites, had a unique and critical role on the Day of Atonement. Before he could make atonement for the people, he first had to make atonement for himself and his household. This was necessary because the high priest, like all humans, was not without sin. The process ensured that he was ritually pure and fit to perform the sacred duties on behalf of the nation.

Atonement for the High Priest

The high priest's atonement began with a series of specific rituals. According to Leviticus 16:3-6 , "Aaron is to enter the Holy Place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. And he shall take from the congregation of the Israelites two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. Aaron shall present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household."

The high priest would first bathe and don special linen garments, symbolizing purity and humility. He would then sacrifice a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. This act of atonement was crucial, as it acknowledged the high priest's own need for forgiveness and purification before he could intercede for the people.

Entering the Holy of Holies

Once the high priest had made atonement for himself, he was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost and most sacred part of the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This was the only time of the year that anyone could enter this sacred space, and only the high priest was allowed to do so. Leviticus 16:12-13 describes this moment: "Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die."

The high priest would sprinkle the blood of the bull on the mercy seat and before it, symbolizing the atonement for his own sins and those of his household. This act was a profound expression of the need for divine mercy and forgiveness.

Significance

The atonement made by the high priest on the Day of Atonement underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. It highlights the necessity of purification and the role of a mediator in the relationship between God and His people. The rituals performed by the high priest served as a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian belief, is the perfect high priest and the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 16:11
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Day of Atonement
... The atonement was made by a toilsome laborious High Priest, who worked, indeed,
that day; and Jesus, thought he had toiled before, yet never worked as he did ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

The Day of Atonement
... in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an
atonement for ... The chapter connects the rites of the Day of Atonement with the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ...
... our great High Priest, has already made atonement and has ... to this coming forth of
our High Priest that Heb.9 ... that the Ritual of Israel's annual Day of Atonement ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/5 the fact of the.htm

Christ Our High Priest.
... went once a year, on the great day of atonement ... on high, with His own blood, to make
atonement for the ... The offerings made by the priests under the law pertained ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

The Great High-Priest.
... priest, inasmuch as he alone entered within the veil on the day of atonement. ... creation
is subjected, and Who sits above all creation, has made His priestly ...
/.../chapter iv the great high-priest.htm

On the Atonement.
... 6. Jesus was made a sin-offering for us. ... none might enter on pain of death, save
the High Priest, and he only once a year, on the great day, of atonement. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/xii on the atonement.htm

Ninth Day. Holiness and Mediation.
... but with fear and trembling; as the Holy-making One, drawing to Himself all who
would be made partakers of His ... And yet the very Day of Atonement, in which ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/ninth day holiness and mediation.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... will sadden her; there must be an atonement day next year ... sacrifice did not put away
the day's sin, for ... He has wrought out eternal redemption, and made an end ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Leviticus
... the inner sanctuary, the other with specific reference to the great day of atonement. ...
to find in so ethical a chapter a prohibition of garments made of two ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... On the day of atonement the high ... steadfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /23 what is the sanctuary.htm