Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 16

Verse 2

16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at {a} all times into the holy [place] within the vail before the mercy seat, which [is] upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

(a) The high priest entered into the holiest of holies just once a year in the month of September.

Verse 8

16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the {b} scapegoat.

(b) In Hebrew it is called Azazel, which some say is a mountain near Sinai, where this goat was sent. Rather it is called the scapegoat because it was not offered but sent into the desert, as in Leviticus 16:11.

Verse 12

16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the {c} vail:

{c} The holiest of holies.

Verse 14

16:14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat {d} eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

(d) That is, on the side which was toward the people: for the head of the sanctuary stood westward.

Verse 16

16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that {e} remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

(e) Placed among them who are unclean.

Verse 18

16:18 And he shall go out unto the {f} altar that [is] before the LORD, and make an 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.

(f) Upon which the sweet incense and perfume was offered.

Verse 21

16:21 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 in all their sins, putting them {g} upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

(g) In this goat is a true figure of Jesus Christ, who bears the sins of the people, Is 53:9.

Verse 24

16:24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in {h} the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.

(h) In the court where the laver was, Exodus 30:28.

Verse 29

16:29 And [this] shall be a statute for ever unto you: [that] in the {i} seventh month, on the tenth [day] of the month, ye shall {k} afflict your souls, and do no work at all, [whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

(i) Which was Tisri, part September and part October.

(k) Meaning, by abstinence and fasting, Numbers 29:7.

Verse 31

16:31 It [shall be] a {l} sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

(l) Or a rest which you shall keep most diligently.

Verse 32

16:32 And the priest, {m} whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments:

(m) Whom the priest shall anoint by God’s commandment to succeed in his father’s place.