Leviticus-Chapter-16
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THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
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“Leviticus Chapter 16”
With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Leviticus Chapter 16 is the pinnacle of the
Priestly laws, detailing the instructions for the ‘Day of Atonement’. After the
preceding chapters established the laws of individual purity, this chapter
addresses the collective purification of the nation and the Sanctuary itself.
It provides the unique ritual framework for a yearly “reset”, allowing the
people to be cleansed of their transgressions and ensuring that the Divine
Presence remains in their midst despite human imperfection.
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Let us first read Leviticus
Chapter 16, verses 1 to 34: (JPS-1917 version of
the Torah). Below this chapter you will find my
commentary on same.
1 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron,
when they drew near before יְהוָה - the LORD, and died; 2 and יְהוָה - the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he
come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the ark-cover
which is upon the ark; that he die not; for I appear in the cloud upon the
ark-cover. 3 Herewith shall Aaron come into the
holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a
burnt-offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen
tunic, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded
with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired; they are
the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them
on. 5 And he shall take of the congregation of
the children of Israel
two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering. 6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the
sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement
for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall
take the two goats, and set them before יְהוָה - the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting. 8 And
Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for יְהוָה - the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot
fell for יְהוָה - the LORD, and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But
the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be
set alive before the LORD, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness. 11 And
Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his
house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for
himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of
coals of fire from off the altar before יְהוָה - the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and
bring it within the veil. 13 And he shall put
the incense upon the fire before יְהוָה - the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the ark-cover that
is upon the testimony, that he die not. 14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and
sprinkle it with his finger upon the ark-cover on the east; and before the
ark-cover shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within
the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and
sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before the ark-cover. 16 And
he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses
of the children of Israel,
and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so shall he do
for the tent of meeting, that dwelleth with them in
the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 And
there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement
in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and
for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 And
he shall go out unto the altar that is before יְהוָה - the LORD, and make atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of
the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the
altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of
the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it
from the uncleannesses of the children of Israel. 20 And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy
place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live
goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands
upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the
children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he
shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand
of an appointed man into the wilderness. 22 And
the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land which is cut off;
and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23 And
Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting, and shall put off the linen
garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave
them there. 24 And he shall bathe his flesh in
water in a holy place and put on his other vestments,
and come forth, and offer his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the
people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 And
the fat of the sin-offering shall he make smoke upon the altar. 26 And he that letteth go the
goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his
flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 27 And
the bullock of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood
was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth
without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh,
and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in
water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 29 And
it shall be a statute for ever unto you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day
of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the
home-born, or the stranger that sojourneth among
you. 30 For on this day shall atonement be made
for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean before יְהוָה - the LORD. 31 It is a Sabbath of
solemn rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; it is a statute for
ever. 32 And the priest, who shall be anointed
and who shall be consecrated to be priest in his father's stead, shall make the
atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 And he shall make atonement for the most holy
place, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar;
and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the
assembly. 34 And this shall be an everlasting
statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because
of all their sins once in the year’. And he did as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses”.
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Commentary on Leviticus Chapter 16:
Verses 1-2: (The Warning of Sanctity). The
chapter begins by referencing the death of Aaron’s sons, serving as a solemn
reminder that the Presence of the Creator must be approached with the utmost
care. This establishes that the High Priest cannot enter the Holy of Holies at
will; access is restricted to a specific time and requires total adherence to
the Divine protocol to ensure survival.
Verses 3-5: (Preparation and Humility). Aaron is
commanded to approach the holy place not in his usual ornate garments, but in
simple white linen. This change of attire signifies a stripping away of status
and pride, representing a state of pure humility. Before he can represent the
nation, he must prepare himself through ritual bathing and the preparation of
personal and communal offerings.
Verses 6-10: (The Two Goats and the Lot). A central feature of the day is the selection of two goats. By
casting lots, one is designated for יְהוָה - the LORD and the other for Azazel. This
ritual visually separates the act of sacrifice from the act of carrying away
the guilt of the people. While one goat serves as a sin-offering, the other
represents the complete removal of sin from the camp into the uninhabited
wilderness.
Verses 11-19: (The Atonement of the Sanctuary). The
High Priest enters the veil with a cloud of incense to shield himself from the
Divine manifestation. The sprinkling of blood on the Ark-cover and the Altar
serves to “cleanse” the physical structures of the Tabernacle. This teaches
that even the Sanctuary absorbs the spiritual “uncleanness” of the people and
must be periodically purified to remain a fit dwelling place for the Almighty.
Verses 20-28: (The Removal of Sin and Final Rites). Aaron lays his hands on the live goat and confesses the iniquities
of Israel,
symbolically transferring the nation’s guilt. The animal is then led away,
representing the total departure of transgression. After the ritual, the Priest
must wash himself and his garments again, signifying the transition from the
intense holiness of the inner chamber back to the common area of the camp.
Verses 29-34: (The Everlasting Statute). The
chapter concludes by establishing this day as a permanent law for all generations.
It is designated as a “Sabbath of solemn rest” where the people must “afflict
their souls”. This ensures that while the Priest performs the ritual, every
individual must engage in self-reflection and discipline, making the atonement
a collaborative effort between the leader and the people.
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My Closing Message:
Leviticus 16 demonstrates the profound mercy
inherent in the Law. It shows that while human error and impurity are
inevitable, they are not permanent. By providing a clear and orderly path for
national reconciliation, the Torah teaches that the relationship between the
Creator and Israel
can always be restored. It serves as a powerful reminder that holiness requires
both the diligent service of leadership and the sincere participation of every
individual soul.
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Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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