Topical Bible: the Day of Atonement: Offerings to be Made On

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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 Israelites sought reconciliation with God for their sins. The instructions for the observance of this day, including the specific offerings to be made, are detailed primarily in Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23.

Biblical Instructions for Offerings

The Day of Atonement is marked by a series of specific offerings and rituals that the high priest was required to perform. These offerings were central to the atonement process and were designed to purify both the sanctuary and the people of Israel.

1. Sin Offering for the High Priest: The high priest was to offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. This was to ensure that he was ceremonially clean before making atonement for the people. Leviticus 16:6 states, "Aaron is to present the bull for his own sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household."

2. Sin Offering for the People: Two male goats were selected for the congregation of Israel. One goat was to be sacrificed as a sin offering for the people. Leviticus 16:15 instructs, "Then he shall slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood inside the veil."

3. The Scapegoat: The second goat, known as the scapegoat, was to be presented alive before the LORD. The high priest would lay his hands on its head, confessing over it all the iniquities of the Israelites, symbolically transferring their sins to the goat. It was then sent away into the wilderness, signifying the removal of sin from the community. Leviticus 16:21-22 describes this ritual: "He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites, regarding all their sins. He shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task."

4. Burnt Offerings: In addition to the sin offerings, burnt offerings were also made. Leviticus 16:24 notes, "He shall bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his garments. Then he shall come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, making atonement for himself and for the people."

5. Incense Offering: The high priest was also required to burn incense before the LORD, creating a cloud of smoke that covered the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant, preventing him from seeing the presence of God directly and thus protecting his life. Leviticus 16:12-13 states, "He is to 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."

Significance of the Offerings

The offerings made on the Day of Atonement were deeply symbolic, representing the need for purification and the seriousness of sin. The blood of the sacrificed animals was a powerful symbol of atonement, as it was believed to cleanse and sanctify both the people and the sacred spaces. The ritual of the scapegoat illustrated the removal of sin, emphasizing God's mercy and the possibility of a renewed relationship with Him.

The Day of Atonement foreshadows the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament, where His sacrifice is seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. The offerings and rituals of Yom Kippur thus hold profound theological significance, pointing to the necessity of atonement and the hope of redemption.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 16:3,5-15
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Day of Atonement
... to his house with joy, and they offered burnt offerings of praise on that day: he
being ... of it) and they being thankful that the atonement was accepted ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

Separation to God.
... A striking example of this was the sacrifice of peace-offerings made by Solomon
on the dedication of the temple ... On the great Day of Atonement Israel's sin ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

The Day of Atonement
... The chapter connects the rites of the Day of Atonement with the ... sanctity of the inner
shrine, as not to be trodden but with the appointed offerings by the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

Scriptural Types.
... The sin-offerings had reference (1) to sin generally, as when Aaron and ... and the people
sanctified, and when, on the annual day of atonement, expiation was ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.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

Leviticus
... Priests' share of the meal and peace offerings, x.12-15 ... purification are appropriately
concluded by the law for the great day of atonement, with regulations ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

Entire Sanctification in Type.
... All the bloody sacrifices of the Jewish law, the daily sacrifice both morning and
evening, the paschal lamb, the Day of Atonement, the offerings at the ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iv entire sanctification in.htm

List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings ...
... Chag. The Talmudic Tractate Chagigah, on the festive offerings at the three Great
Feasts ... [mostly Yom.] The Taldmudic Tractate Yoma, on the Day of Atonement. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/list of abbreviations used in.htm

Acts XIII
... of sins made every year." [291] The sins of the year, for which offerings had been
made daily, were remembered again on the annual day of atonement, and new ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... morning sacrifice did not put away the day's sin, for as ... to the righteousness of
God, and made atonement to divine ... This was done, not by many offerings, but by ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm