Leviticus 16:1-15

Atonement Rite for High Priest and his Family. The holy place within the veil, i.e. the inner of the two compartments of the shrine, is not to be entered at will, but only on New Year's Day (Leviticus 16:29). Otherwise the intruder would be killed by the Shekinah which dwelt there in solitary majesty. (For the veil, see Exodus 26:31 *; for the mercy-seat, see Exodus 25:17 ff.*) The priest, wearing less ornate robes than at his consecration (Leviticus 8:7 ff.), presents the bullock as his own sin offering, and the two goats; on these he casts lots (to make atonement for him (Leviticus 16:10) is probably a gloss; atonement is not mentioned in connexion with this goat; and to whom does him refer?). He enters the inner shrine twice; first with the censer to produce the protecting cloud (cf. Judges 6:22; Isaiah 6:5; Exodus 24:1; Exodus 24:9), and then with the bullock's blood, which he has to sprinkle seven times on the mercy seat (cf. Leviticus 8:11).