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Bible Encyclopedias
Atonement, Day of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
or I. The Legal Enactments
1. Named
2. Leviticus 16
(1) Contents, Structure and Position
(a) Leviticus 16:1-10
(b) Leviticus 16:11-24
(c) Leviticus 16:25-28
(d) Leviticus 16:29-34
Use of Number Four
Place in Leviticus
(2) Modern Attempts to Disprove Unity of Chapter
II. The Significance of the Day of Atonement
1. The Significance for Israel
2. The Significance from a Christian Standpoint
III. On the History of the Day of Atonement
1. The Long Silence of History
(1) The Facts and the False Conclusions
(2) The Historicity of the Day of Atonement
2. Further Development
I. The Legal Enactments
1. Named
In addition to the chief passage, Lev 16, which is treated under a separate head, we have the following:
In Exodus 30:10 it is mentioned in the directions that are given for the construction of the altar of incense that Aaron, once a year, is to make an atonement on the horns of the altar, with the blood of the sin offering, which is used for the purpose of an atonement for sin.
In Leviticus 23:26-32 mention is made in the list of festivals of the Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month. It is ordered that for this day there shall be a holy convocation at the sanctuary, a fast, an offering by fire, and rest from labor from the 9th day of the 7th month in the evening.
According to Leviticus 25:9 the year of jubilee begins with the Day of Atonement.
Nu 18 speaks of the duties and the rights of the priests and the Levites. In contrast with the latter, according to Numbers 18:7 , Aaron and his sons are to perform the duties of the priesthood in all matters pertaining to the altar and of the service within the veil and shall render this service. We have here doubtless a comprehensive law for the entire priestly order, so that from this alone it cannot be determined that the service within the veil, by which reference is made to the ceremony of the Day of Atonement, has been reserved for the high priest alone, just as in Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 33:8 , everything that pertains to the whole tribe of Levi is found combined, without thereby the division into high priest, priests and Levites, being regarded as excluded (compare EZEKIEL , II, 2, (1), c).
Numbers 29:7-11 contains in connection with the laws treating of sacrifices also the enactment, that on the 10th day of the 7th month there shall take place a holy convocation at the sanctuary, fasting and rest from labor. In addition to the sin offering, which is brought for the purpose of atonement for sin, and in addition to the regular burnt offerings and the accompanying meal offerings and drink offerings, burnt offerings also are to be brought, namely, one young bullock, one young ram, seven lambs of the first year (all without blemish); then meal offerings, namely, three-tenths (compare Numbers 28:12-14 ) of fine flour mingled with oil for each bullock; two-tenths for each ram; one-tenth for each lamb; then a sin offering, namely, one he-goat.
Ezekiel in his vision of the new temple, of the holy city and the holy country (chapters 40 through 48), in Ezekiel 45:18 , gives a series of enactments for the festivals and the sacrifices. According to these, on the 1st day of the 1st month and on the 7th day of the 1st month (on the 1st day of the 7th month according to the Septuagint), the sanctuary is to be cleansed through a young bullock without blemish, the priest taking some of the blood of the sin offering and putting it on the posts of the temple, on the four corners of the altar and on the posts of the gate of the inner court; and this is to be done for the sake of those who perhaps have sinned through error or ignorance. Further, that sacrifice which is to be brought on the Passover by the princes for themselves and all the people of the land (compare Ezekiel 45:22 ) appears to present a clear analogy to Lev 16. As for the rest, Ezek 40 through 48 cannot without further consideration be put on the same level with the other legal enactments, but are to be regarded as an ideal scheme, the realization of which is conditioned on the entrance of the wonderful future (compare EZEKIEL ).
2. Leviticus 16
(1) Contents, Structure and Position
Lev 16:1-28 contains instructions given by Yahweh to Moses for his brother Aaron (Leviticus 16:1 , Leviticus 16:2 ).
(A) Leviticus 16:1-10
Leviticus 16:1-10 contain presuppositions, preparations and summary statements of the ceremonies on the Day of Atonement. According to Leviticus 16:1 , Leviticus 16:2 , Aaron is not allowed to enter the holy place at any time whatever, lest he may die as did his sons with their unseemly fire offering (compare Leviticus 10:1 ); Leviticus 16:3-5 tell what is necessary for the ceremony: For himself four things: a young bullock as a sin offering (compare Leviticus 16:6 , Leviticus 16:11 , Leviticus 16:14 , Leviticus 16:15 , Leviticus 16:27 ); a ram for burnt offering (compare Leviticus 16:24 ); sacred garments, namely, a linen coat, linen breeches, linen girdle, linen mitre (compare Leviticus 16:23 , Leviticus 16:32 ); a bath. For the congregation: two he-goats as a sin offering (compare Leviticus 16:7 , Leviticus 16:15-22 , Leviticus 16:25 , Leviticus 16:27 , Leviticus 16:28 , Leviticus 16:32 , Leviticus 16:33 ), a ram as a burnt offering (compare Leviticus 16:24 ). The passages in parentheses show how closely the succeeding parts of this account are connected with this introductory part, Leviticus 16:1-10 . In other parts of Lev also it is often found that the materials used for the sacrifices are mentioned first, before anything is said in detail of what is to be done with this material. Compare Leviticus 8:1 , Leviticus 8:2 with Leviticus 8:6 , Leviticus 8:7 , Leviticus 8:10 , Leviticus 8:14 , Leviticus 8:18 , Leviticus 8:22 , Leviticus 8:26 and Leviticus 9:2-4 with Leviticus 9:7 , Leviticus 9:8 , Leviticus 9:12 , Leviticus 9:15-18 . In Leviticus 16:6 Aaron's sin-offering bullock is to be used as an atonement for himself; Leviticus 16:7-10 refer to the two goats: they are to be placed at the door of the tent of meeting ( Leviticus 16:7 ); lots are to be cast upon them for Yahweh and Azazel (Leviticus 16:8 ); the first to be prepared as a sin offering for Yahweh (Leviticus 16:9 ); the second, in accordance with the law, to be sent into the desert (Leviticus 16:10 ).
(B) Leviticus 16:11-24
Leviticus 16:11-24 describe the ceremony itself and give fuller directions as to how the different sacrificial materials mentioned under (A) are to be used by Aaron: Leviticus 16:11-14 speak of the atonement for Aaron and his house; Leviticus 16:11 , of his sin-offering bullock to be killed; Leviticus 16:12 , of burning coal from the altar and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small to be placed behind the veil; Leviticus 16:13 , of the cloud of incense to be made in the Holy of Holies, so that the top covering is hidden and Aaron is protected from the danger of death; Leviticus 16:14 , of some of the blood to be sprinkled once on the front of the top covering and seven times in front of it. Leviticus 16:15-19 prescribe the ceremony with the first sin-offering goat for the congregation: in Leviticus 16:15 , Leviticus 16:16 , the ceremony described in Leviticus 16:14 is directed also to be carried out with the goat, as an atonement for the inner sanctuary, cleansing it from blemishes; in Leviticus 16:16 the same thing is directed to be done in regard to the tabernacle of revelation, i.e. the holy place, in Leviticus 16:17 , no one is permitted to be present even in the holy place when these ceremonies take place; in Leviticus 16:18 , Leviticus 16:19 , the altar too is directed to be cleansed by an atonement, some of the blood of both sin-offering animals being smeared on the horns and sprinkled seven times on the ground. Leviticus 16:20-22 prescribe the ceremony with the second sin-offering goat for the congregation: Leviticus 16:20 directs it to be brought there; in Leviticus 16:21 there takes place the transfer of guilt; Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the goat; shall confess all guilt over him; shall lay them upon the head of the goat; shall through a man send him into the desert; in Leviticus 16:22 , the goat carries the guilt into an uninhabited land; in Leviticus 16:22 , he is not to be let go until he is in the desert. Leviticus 16:23 , Leviticus 16:24 , the concluding act: in Leviticus 16:23 , Aaron takes off his linen garments in the tent of meeting, and in Leviticus 16:23 puts them down there; in Leviticus 16:24 , he bathes in the holy place and again puts on his usual clothing; in Leviticus 16:24 he brings the burnt offering for himself and his people. (The statement 'for himself and his people' at this place concludes the ritual as such.)
(C) Leviticus 16:25-28
Leviticus 16:25-28 are explanatory, with three additional directions. In Leviticus 16:25 , the fat of the sin offering is directed to be consumed into smoke on the altar; Leviticus 16:26 , he who has taken away the second goat must wash his clothes and bathe himself, and only then is he permitted to enter the camp; Leviticus 16:27 , the fat, flesh and dung of the sin-offering animal, and then the blood that was brought into the (inner) sanctuary, are to be burned outside of the camp; Leviticus 16:28 , he who has burned these must wash his clothes, and must bathe, and only after this can he enter the camp. (In this case Leviticus 16:25 and Leviticus 16:27 correspond, and also Leviticus 16:26 and Leviticus 16:28; and in addition Leviticus 16:26 , Leviticus 16:27 , Leviticus 16:28 are united by their reference to the camp.)
(D) Leviticus 16:29-34
Leviticus 16:29-34 : Over against these sections (A)-(C) (16:1-28), which contain the instructions for the high priest, we have a fourth ( Leviticus 16:29-34 ), which already through the address in the second person plural and also by its contents is intended for the congregation. In Leviticus 16:29-31 , the demand is made of the congregation. As in Leviticus 23:26; Numbers 29:7 , a fast and absolute rest are prescribed for the 10th day of the 7th month as the Day of Atonement; in Leviticus 16:32-34 , a number of directions are given in a summary to the congregation on the basis of Leviticus 16:1 , namely, Leviticus 16:32 , how the atonement is to take place: the priest who is anointed; he shall be consecrated; that he perform the service in his father's place; in his linen garments; Leviticus 16:33 prescribes when and for whom the atonement is to take place: for the holy of holies; for the holy place; for the altar; for the order of priests and all the people; in Leviticus 16:34 , the one Day of Atonement in the year for all sins is declared to be an everlasting statute. The statement that Aaron (Leviticus 16:2 ), according to Yahweh's command, did as Moses directed aptly closes the whole chapter.
Use of Number Four
The number four appears to occupy a predominating place in this chapter, as the bird's-eye view above already shows, and as this can be traced still further in the details of the accounts. But even if this significance of the number four in the division of the chapter is accidental, although this number appears almost as a matter of course, and in Ex 35:4 through 40:38, in Gen 12 through 25, in the story of Abraham, Lev 11 through 15, and Dt 12 through 26 naturally fall into four pericopes with four subdivisions, yet this chapter is, as far as contents are concerned, so closely connected, and so well organized as a whole, that all attempts to ascribe it to different sources, concerning which we shall speak immediately, must come to naught in view of this fact.
Place in Leviticus
At this point we first of all draw attention to the fact that Lev 16 has its well-established place in the whole of the Book of Lev (compare LEVITICUS ). The whole book has as its purpose to regulate the dealings of the Israelites with their God, and it does this in such a way that the first part (Lev 1 through 17) removes the hindrances that have been caused by sin. In this the ordinances with reference to the Day of Atonement (Lev 16), and with reference to the significance of the blood (Lev 17), constitute a natural acme and excellent conclusion, while this prepares for the positive sanctification, which is discussed in Lev 18ff. In Leviticus 15:31 we find in addition a clear transition to the thoughts of Lev 16, for in this passage mention is made of the uncleanness of the Israelites, which contaminates the dwelling-place of Yahweh that is in their midst.
(2) Modern Attempts to Disprove Unity of Chapter
A large number of attempts have been made to destroy the unity of this chapter, which has been demonstrated in division (1) above. Thus Stade separates Leviticus 16:3-10 as the original kernel from the echplanatory and changing details that were added in 16:11-28. But we have already seen that Leviticus 16:3-10 are the preparation for all that follows, so that these verses demand Leviticus 16:11 as a necessary complement. Again Oort separates Leviticus 16:1-4 , Leviticus 16:11 , Leviticus 16:14 , Leviticus 16:16 , Leviticus 16:18 , Leviticus 16:19 , Leviticus 16:23 , Leviticus 16:24 , Leviticus 16:25 , Leviticus 16:29 from the rest, by using the purification of the sanctuary and the atonement of the people as the measure for this separation; but above all it is proved by Ezekiel 45:18-20 that just these two thoughts are inseparably united. In recent times it has become the custom, following the leadership of Benzinger, to divide the text into three parts. Baentsch divides as follows: (a) Leviticus 16:1-4 , Leviticus 16:6 , Leviticus 16:12 f, 34b contain a single pericope, which on the basis of the fate of the sons of Aaron, described in Lev 10, determines under what circumstances Aaron alone is permitted to enter the Holy of Holies; (b) Leviticus 16:29-34 contain "an older, relatively simpler law in reference to the yearly day of penitence and atonement"; (c) Leviticus 16:5 , Leviticus 16:7-10 , Leviticus 16:11 , Leviticus 16:14-28 are a "later enlargement of this ritual, with a more complicated blood rite," and above all with "the rite of the sin goat." Of these three pieces only (a) is thought to belong to the original Priest Codex, as proved especially by its reference back to Lev 10; (b) is regarded as belonging to the secondary parts, because the day of repentance is not yet mentioned in Neh 8ff; compare III, 1; at any rate the anointing of all the priests is there not yet presupposed (compare LEVITICUS ); (c), however, is declared to be very late and its separate parts are regarded as having originated only after the others (Thus recently also Bertholet). It is impossible here to enter into all the minor parts eliminated by the exegetes; and in the same way we do not intend in our examination to enter into all the incorrect views found in these criticisms. We confine ourselves to the chief matter. The very foundation of the criticism is wrong. What Aaron's sons experienced according to Lev 10 could very easily have furnished a connecting link for that ritual which is introduced in Leviticus 16:2 , but could never have furnished the occasion for the composition of the pericope described above (a); for Nadab and Abihu had not entered into the Holy of Holies at all. Just as little justifiable is the conclusion drawn from chapter 10, that chapter 16 originally followed immediately on chapter 10. For who could possibly have conceived the thought of inserting chapters 11 through 15 in an altogether unsuitable place between chapters 10 and 16 and thus have split asunder a connection so transparent? In general, the different attempts to break the unity of this chapter show how subjective and arbitrary these attempts are. They are a characteristic example of the manner in which the Priest Codex is now being further divided (compare LEVITICUS ). In general, sufficient material for the positive refutation of such attempts has been given above.
II. The Significance of the Day of Atonement
1. The Significance for Israel
The significance of the day is expressed in the name "Day of Atonement"
2. Significance from a Christian Standpoint
"The Day of Atonement, the good Friday of the Old Testament" - these words express not only the highest significance of the day but also its limitations. As the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, the entire law, Thus too the Day of Atonement in particular contained only the shadow of future good things, but not these things themselves (Hebrews 10:1 ), and is "like in pattern to the true" (Hebrews 9:24 ). Christ Himself entered into the holy place, which was not made with hands, namely, into heaven itself, and has now appeared before God, by once for all giving Himself as a sacrifice for the removal of sin (Hebrews 9:23 ). By this act the purpose of the Old Testament sacrificial cult and its highest development, namely, the Day of Atonement, understood in its typical significance, has been fulfilled, and at the same time surpassed and thereby abrogated (compare LEVITICUS ). Accordingly, our hope, too, like an anchor - (Hebrews 6:19 ), penetrates to the inner part of the veil in the higher sense of the term, i.e. to heaven.
III. On the History of the Day of Atonement
1. The Long Silence of History
(1) The Facts and the False Conclusions
The Day of Atonement is stated to have been instituted in the times of Moses (Leviticus 16:1 ); the ceremony takes place in the tabernacle (tent of meeting); the people are presupposed to be in the camp (Leviticus 16:26 ); Aaron is still the high priest. Very remarkably there is but little evidence of the observance of this prominent day in the later history of Israel. Down to the time of the Exile there is found a deep silence on this subject. The days of atonement in Ezekiel 45:18 (compare under I, 1) differ in number and observance from that in Lev 16. According to Zechariah 3:9 , God in the Messianic future will take away the guilt of the land in a single day; but this too presents no more than an analogy to the results of the Day of Atonement. On the other hand, there is no reference made to the day where we could expect it. Not only 2 Chronicles 7:7-9 in connection with the consecration of Solomon's temple, and Ezra 3:1-6 , in the account of the reintroduction of the sacrificial services after the return from the Exile, are silent on the subject, which fact could possibly be explained in an easy manner; but also Neh 8 f. According to Nehemiah 8:2 f, Ezra begins on the 1st day of the 7th month in the year 444 bc to read from the law; on the 2nd day of the 7th month remembrance is made of the ordinance treating of the feast of tabernacles, and on the 22nd day of the 7th month ( Nehemiah 8:13 ), this festival is observed; on the 24th day of the 7th month a day of penance is observed (Nehemiah 9:1 ); but of the Day of Atonement coming in between Nehemiah 8:1 and Nehemiah 9:1 , namely, on the 10th day of the 7th month, which would seem to make the day of penance superfluous, nothing is said. From these facts the Wellhausen school has drawn the conclusion, in accordance with its principles elsewhere observed, that all those legal enactments that have not in the history a sufficient evidence of having been observed, did not exist until the time when they have such historical evidence; that therefore the Day of Atonement did not originate until after the year 444 bc. It is claimed that the day originated in the two days of atonement mentioned in Ezekiel 45:18-20 (compare under I, 1); in the four national fast days of Zechariah 7:5 , and Zechariah 8:19 , and in the day of penance of 444 bc, just mentioned, on the 24th day of the 7th month, which is said to hav e been repeated on the following New Year's day, the 10th day of the 7th month; and that by the sacred character of its observance it soon crowded the New Year day upon the 1st day of the 7th month (compare Leviticus 23:23; Numbers 29:1; contrary to Leviticus 25:9 and Ezekiel 40:1 ). In this way it is thought that Leviticus 16:29 first originated, and that at a still later time the complicated blood ritual had been added (compare under I, 1, 2). But it is to be observed that in still later times there is found no more frequent mention of the Day of Atonement than in the earlier, although it is the custom of modern criticism to place a much larger bulk of Biblical literature into this later period. It is only when we come to Jesus Sirach (Ecclesiasticus 50:5ff) that the high priest Simon is praised, when he came forth from behind the veil; and this is certainly a reference. to the Day of Atonement, although no further mention is made at this place of the ceremony as such. Then there is a further silence on the subject down to Philo and the Epistle to the Hebrews (6:19; 9:7, 13ff; 10:1ff; compare under II, 2). It is probable too that the fasting mentioned in Acts 27:9 is based on the Day of Atonement. We have in this manner a characteristic example to show how carefully we must handle the argument from silence, if we do not want to arrive at uncomfortable results.
(2) The Historicity of the Day of Atonement
Since Lev 16 constitutes only one part of the Levitical legislation, the question as to the original and historical character of the day cannot be fully discussed at this place (see LEVITICUS ). At so late a period, naturally all the data that would lead to an explanation of the origin of such a fundamental institution as the Day of Atonement are lacking. It is all the more impossible to separate Lev 16 from the other priestly ordinances, because the name of the lid of the ark of covenant
2. Further Development
The Day of Atonement, in accordance with its purpose in later times, came more and more into the foreground and was called "the great fast" or "the great day," or merely "the day." Its ritual was further enlarged and the special parts mentioned in the law were fully explained, fixed and specialized. Compare especially the tract "Yoma" in the Mish; and for the further elaborations and stories in poetry and prose on the basis of the Talmud, see, e.g. Delitzsch's translation from Maim,
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Atonement, Day of'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/a/atonement-day-of.html. 1915.
