In the Old Testament, the concept of atonement is central to the relationship between God and His people. Atonement refers to the reconciliation between God and humanity, often achieved through sacrificial offerings. Under the Mosaic Law, specific instructions were given for the atonement of sins, including those committed by the priests, who served as mediators between God and the Israelites.

Atonement for the Priests

The priests, being human, were not exempt from sin and required atonement to maintain their sanctity and ability to serve in the presence of God. The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions for the atonement of the priests, emphasizing the holiness required of those who minister before the Lord.

Sin Offering for the Priests

Leviticus 4 outlines the procedures for a sin offering when a priest sins unintentionally, bringing guilt upon the people. The priest is required to offer a young bull without blemish as a sin offering. The priest must bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it before the Lord. The anointed priest then takes some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting, dips his finger in the blood, and sprinkles it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary. The priest also applies some of the blood to the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the Lord, which is in the Tent of Meeting, and pours out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 4:3-7).

Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was an annual event described in Leviticus 16, during which the high priest made atonement for himself, his household, and the entire congregation of Israel. On this solemn day, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices and incense, symbolizing the purification and reconciliation of the people with God.

The high priest was required to bathe and wear special linen garments before performing the rituals. He offered a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household, and a goat as a sin offering for the people. The blood of these sacrifices was sprinkled on the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant and before the atonement cover, signifying the cleansing of the sanctuary from the impurities of the Israelites (Leviticus 16:11-16).

Significance of Priestly Atonement

The atonement rituals for the priests underscored the necessity of holiness and purity in those who served in the presence of God. The priests' role as intermediaries required them to be cleansed from sin to effectively minister on behalf of the people. These rituals foreshadowed the ultimate atonement provided by Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, who offered Himself as the final and complete sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:11-14).

The atonement for the priests under the Mosaic Law highlights the gravity of sin and the need for divine forgiveness, setting the stage for the New Covenant, where Christ's sacrifice fulfills and surpasses the requirements of the Law.Exodus 29:31-33
And you shall take the ram of the consecration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 8:34
As he has done this day, so the LORD has commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Christ Our High Priest.
... atonement for the sins of the whole world. The offerings made by the priests under
the law pertained only to the cleansing of the flesh; but the blood offered ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

Entire Sanctification in Type.
... In the ceremonial used under the law for the cleansing ... the bloody sacrifices of the
Jewish law, the daily ... the paschal lamb, the Day of Atonement, the offerings ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iv entire sanctification in.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... He has finished his atonement and perfected those he means to save; and if you believe
not in him, there remaineth no more ... Under the law there was no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

The Great High-Priest.
... 1. The high-priest under the Law is himself beset ... For the Law makes mere men, beset
with sinful infirmity ... the power of sympathy by offering atonement for Himself ...
/.../chapter iv the great high-priest.htm

An Unalterable Law
... very soul of Jesus the sword of the law pierced, and ... his person, he was able to offer
an atonement to God ... of this: I would not disparage or under-estimate his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/an unalterable law.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... This they could not attain, without a greater and more excellent atonement than
the ... of grace, of which the Jews had a foretaste under the Law, is exhibited ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... every year, was but a temporary and imperfect atonement; it did not eternally suffice,
as does the atonement of Christ. ... Under the old law, which provided ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

The New Covenant.
... When the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin, inasmuch as it was an
unreal atonement, God prepared a ... For the priests under the Law stand while ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

Leviticus
... new year's day and the day of atonement, vv.23 ... and of things and persons that had
come under the ban ... Special importance attaches to the Law of Holiness, known to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

Blair -- the Hour and the Event of all Time
... sacrifices under the law, as pre-signifying a great atonement made by ... Every remarkable
event, every distinguished personage, under the law, is interpreted ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/blair the hour and.htm

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