The concept of the "scape-goat" is rooted in the ancient Israelite Day of Atonement rituals, as detailed in Leviticus 16. This ceremony was a profound expression of atonement and purification for the people of Israel, symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity from the community. The term "scape-goat" originates from the Hebrew word "Azazel," which is often interpreted as a "goat of departure" or "goat that departs."

Biblical Context and Ritual

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest was instructed to take two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering (Leviticus 16:5). The high priest would cast lots over the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for Azazel (Leviticus 16:8). The goat chosen for the LORD was sacrificed as a sin offering, while the goat for Azazel was presented alive before the LORD to make atonement upon it and to send it into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:10).

The high priest would lay both hands on the head of the live goat, confessing over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites, thereby symbolically transferring the sins of the people onto the goat (Leviticus 16:21). This act of imputation was central to the ritual, as it represented the removal of sin from the community.

The Role of the Man Who Led the Scape-Goat Away

After the sins were confessed over the goat, a designated man was responsible for leading the goat into the wilderness, a desolate area, to release it (Leviticus 16:22). This man played a crucial role in the ritual, as he physically removed the embodiment of the community's sins from their midst.

However, the act of leading the scape-goat away rendered the man ceremonially unclean. Leviticus 16:26 states, "The man who releases the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp." This requirement underscores the belief that the uncleanness and sin symbolically transferred to the goat could, in turn, affect the man who came into contact with it.

Theological Implications

The uncleanness communicated to the man who led the scape-goat away highlights the pervasive nature of sin and its ability to defile. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which sin was regarded in the Israelite community and the lengths to which they went to ensure its removal. The necessity for the man to wash and bathe before reentering the camp signifies the importance of purification and the restoration of holiness.

This ritual foreshadows the ultimate atonement provided by Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian theology, bore the sins of humanity and removed them "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12). The scape-goat, therefore, is a typological precursor to the redemptive work of Christ, who, unlike the goat, was both the sacrifice and the bearer of sin, providing a complete and final atonement.

In summary, the scape-goat ritual, particularly the role of the man who led the goat away, illustrates the profound theological truths about sin, atonement, and purification within the biblical narrative.Leviticus 16:26
And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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