Leviticus 16:23-28

THE OFFERING COMPLETED 16:23-28
TEXT 16:23-28

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 garments, 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 burn 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 shall 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 shall come into the camp.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:23-28

358.

Why put off the linen garments? Were they ever used again? Discuss.

359.

What kind of bathing? Where? Why? Why offer the burnt offering now?

360.

The fat represented what?

361.

Why was there a need for cleansing on the part of the man who led the scapegoat?

362.

Show how Hebrews 13:11-13 relates to Leviticus 16:27.

363.

God wanted man to feel clean or unclean? Which?

PARAPHRASE 16:23-28

Then Aaron shall go into the Tabernacle again and take off the linen garments he wore when he went behind the veil, and leave them there in the Tabernacle. Then he shall bathe in a sacred place, put on his clothes again, and go out and sacrifice his own burnt offering and the burnt offering for the people, making atonement for himself and for them. He shall also burn upon the altar the fat for the sin offering. (The man who took the goat out into the desert shall afterwards wash his clothes and bathe himself and then come back into the camp.) And the young bull and the goat used for the sin offering (their blood was taken into the Holy Place by Aaron, to make atonement) shall be carried outside the camp and burned, including the hides and internal organs. Afterwards, the person doing the burning shall wash his clothes and bathe himself and then return to camp.

COMMENT 16:23-28

Leviticus 16:23-28 After the living goat had been sent away, Aaron was to go into the tabernacle, i.e. the holy place of the dwelling, and there take off his white clothes and lay them down, i.e. put them away, because they were only to be worn in the performance of the expiatory ritual of this day, and then bathe his body in the holy place, i.e. in the court, in the laver between the altar and the door of the dwelling, probably because the act of laying the sins upon the goat rendered him unclean. He was to put on his clothes, i.e. the coloured state-dress of the high priest, and offer in this the burnt-offerings, for an atonement for himself and the nation (Cf. Leviticus 1:4), and to burn the fat portions of the sin-offerings upon the altar. (Leviticus 16:26) The man who took the goat into the wilderness, and those who burned the two sin-offerings outside the camp (Cf. Leviticus 4:11; Leviticus 4:21) had also to wash their clothes and bathe their bodies before they returned to the camp, because they had been defiled by the animals laden with sin. (Keil and Delitzsch)

We found the words of Andrew Bonar so beautifully descriptive and instructive we reproduce them for your edification:[1]

[1] Bonar evidently exerpted them from J. A. Seiss

It has been a wondrous day from the very first dawn to the last streak of setting sun. At the third hour of the morning (nine o-'clock) every street or way of the camp had been trodden by a people going up to peculiar serviceeach moving along serious and awe-struck. As many as the courts could contain enterspecially aged men and fathers of Israel; the rest stand near in thousands, or sit in groups under green bushes and on little eminences that overlook the enclosing curtains. Some are in the attitude of prayer; some are pondering the book of the law; some, like Hannah, move their lips, though no word is heard; all are ever and again glancing at the altar, and the array of the courts. Even children sit in wonder, and whisper their inquiries to their parents. The morning sacrifice is offered; the priest's bullock and ram standing by, and other victims besides. They wait in expectation of what is to follow when the smoke of the morning lamb has melted into the clouds. They see the lots cast on the two goats, the priest enter the sanctuary with his own offering, and return amid the tremblings of Israel, who all feel that they are concerned in his acceptance. They see one goat slain and its blood carried in by Aaron. The scape-goat is then led down through their trembling ranks, out of the camp; and soon Aaron reappears to their joy. The murmur of delight now spreads along, like the pleasant ruffling of the water's surface in the breeze of a summer's evening. The silver trumpets soundthe evening lamb is offered; Israel feels the favour of their God, and returns home to rest under His shadow. O Lord, Thou wast angry with me, but Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortest me.

How intensely interesting, to have seen this day kept in Jerusalem! The night before, you would have noticed the city become silent and still, as the sun set. No lingerers in the market; no traders; no voice of business. The watchmen that go about the city sing the penitential Psalms, reminding themselves of their own and the city's secret sins, seen through the darkness by an all-seeing God; and the Levites from the temple sing responsively as they walk round the courts. When next morning the sun has risen over the Mount of Olives, none go forth to the streets; no smoke rises from any dwelling; no hum of busy noise; for no work is done on a holy convocation day. The melody of joy and health ascends from the tabernacles of the righteous. But at the hour of morning sacrifice, the city pours out its thousands, who move solemnly toward the temple, or repair to the heights of Zion's towers, of the grassy slopes of Olivet, that they may witness as well as join in all the day's devotion. They see the service proceedthey see the scape-goat led awaythey see the priest come out of the Holy Place; and at this comforting sight every head in the vast, vast multitude is bowed in solemn thankfulness, and every heart moves the lips to a burst of joy. The trumpet for the evening sacrifice sounds; Olivet re-echoes; the people on its bosom see the city and the altar, and weep for very gladness; all know it is the hour for the evening blessing. When the sun set, an angel might have said to his fellow, Look upon Zion, the city of solemnities! behold Jerusalem, a quiet habitation!

FACT QUESTIONS 16:23-28

372.

In what place was Aaron to remove his linen clothes?

373.

What was he to do with them? Why do this?

374.

Where did Aaron bathe himself? Why?

375.

What was his first act after putting his high priestly robes back on?

376.

The man who led the goat into the desert and the men who burned the bodies of the sin offerings could not get back into camp until they did what?

377.

Discuss Bonar's pictorial descriptions of the Day of Atonement.