Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons. He told Moses not to let Aaron enter the Most Holy Place, the inner sanctuary behind the veil, unless he was dressed in his holy linen garments and had washed himself.

Aaron must wear these sacred clothes when performing the rituals: a linen tunic, linen trousers, a linen sash around his waist, and a linen turban. He would wash his body first to purify it before putting on the holy attire. Aaron was also required to take two goats from the Israelite community – one for a sin offering and another as a scapegoat. Along with these goats, he would bring a ram for a burnt offering.

Aaron must offer his bull of sin offering for himself and his household to atone for their sins. He would then present the two goats before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. The High Priest was instructed to cast lots on the two goats – one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.

Aaron would take the goat with the Lord's lot and offer it as a sin offering. The other goat, designated for release, was presented alive before the Lord to make atonement with its life. Aaron would then lead this goat into the wilderness as a scapegoat, carrying away all their iniquities.

Aaron must bring his bull of sin offering, which represented himself and his household, to make atonement by killing it. He would take burning coals from the altar, some sweet incense, and sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat and before it seven times. Then he would kill the goat for the people's sins and repeat this process with its blood.

Aaron was making atonement for the holy place because of Israel's uncleanness and transgressions in all their sins. He also made atonement for the tabernacle of meeting, which remained among them due to their uncleanness. During this ritual, no one else could enter the tabernacle until Aaron had finished making atonement.

Aaron would exit the tabernacle to sprinkle blood on its altar, cleansing and consecrating it from Israel's defilement. After completing this task, he would bring the live goat before the Lord. Aaron laid both hands upon the goat's head, confessing all Israel's iniquities, transgressions, and sins. He then sent the scapegoat into the wilderness by a fit man.

The live goat carried away all their iniquities to an uninhabited land. Aaron would return to the tabernacle and remove his holy garments before washing himself with water. He would put on new clothes and come out to offer a burnt offering for himself and the people, making atonement for both.

The priest burned the fat of the sin offering on the altar. The one who released the scapegoat washed their clothes, bathed in water, and re-entered the camp. Both the bullock and goat were taken outside the camp to be burned with their skins, flesh, and dung. Those responsible for burning them also washed their clothes and bathed before returning.

This ritual would become a perpetual statute for Israel: on the tenth day of the seventh month, they must afflict their souls by not working and instead focus on atonement and cleansing through prayer. The priest who made atonement was anointed to serve in his father's place and wore sacred linen garments to purify himself.

The priest would make atonement for the sanctuary, tabernacle, altar, priests, and all Israelites. This annual ritual ensured that Israel remained holy and atoned for their sins before the Lord.