What is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)?
Answered from the commentary of The Christian's Friend, Morrish Bible Dictionary, C. E. Stuart and 9 others
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, was Israel’s solemn annual day of atonement, kept on the tenth day of the seventh month as a holy convocation and Sabbath of rest. On that day the people were to do no work and afflict their souls, acknowledging their sin and their need of the work done for them by the high priest. The high priest alone entered the holiest with incense and sacrificial blood, making atonement for the people and for the sanctuary, so that God could dwell among them. He then confessed the people’s sins over the live goat, which was sent into the wilderness bearing them away.
The two goats showed the work in two aspects: the slain goat’s blood met God’s claims, and the live goat pictured the removal of the people’s sins. This annual rite provided a covering for Israel’s sins, but its repetition recalled those sins and showed that animal sacrifices could not take them away permanently. Many of these passages teach that the day foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice, which they describe as the once-for-all work that fulfils what the yearly rite could only picture. Some also say the day looks ahead to Israel’s future repentance and forgiveness when the people recognize the Messiah they pierced.
Verses: Leviticus 16:1, Leviticus 16:2, Leviticus 16:3, Leviticus 16:4, Leviticus 16:5, Leviticus 16:6, Leviticus 16:7, Leviticus 16:8, Leviticus 16:9, Leviticus 16:10, Leviticus 16:11, Leviticus 16:12, Leviticus 16:13, Leviticus 16:14, Leviticus 16:15, Leviticus 16:16, Leviticus 16:17, Leviticus 16:18, Leviticus 16:19, Leviticus 16:20, Leviticus 16:21, Leviticus 16:22, Leviticus 16:23, Leviticus 16:24, Leviticus 16:25, Leviticus 16:26, Leviticus 16:27, Leviticus 16:28, Leviticus 16:29, Leviticus 16:30, Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 16:32, Leviticus 16:33, Leviticus 16:34, Leviticus 23:26, Leviticus 23:27, Leviticus 23:28, Leviticus 23:29, Leviticus 23:30, Leviticus 23:31, Leviticus 23:32, Numbers 29:7, Numbers 29:8, Numbers 29:9, Numbers 29:10, Numbers 29:11, Exodus 30:10, Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 9:24, Hebrews 9:25, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:27, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:2, Hebrews 10:3, Hebrews 10:4, Hebrews 10:11, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:13, Hebrews 10:14
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What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Jehovah set apart the tenth day of the seventh month in each year, as the Day of Atonement. On that day the sins of the nation were atoned for — or covered, for "atonement" means "covering". It was only in this way that Jehovah could dwell amongst Israel.
A brief rehearsal of the ceremonies of this great day of atonement, with a few explanatory remarks, will help in a better understanding of this chapter. The day of atonement was for the full atonement of all the sins, transgressions and failures of Israel, so that Jehovah in His holiness might tabernacle in their midst. On that day alone the Holiest was opened for the high priest to enter in. That all connected with this day is the shadow of the real things to come, and that in the New Testament we have the blessed substance, is well known. The Epistle to the Hebrews is in part the commentary to Israel's great day of atonement. The way into the Holiest by the rent vail which is revealed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, was not made known on the day of atonement. The day itself was celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month, and it was a Sabbath of rest in which they were to afflict their souls (chapter 23:27-29). What is called "afflict" was fasting, the outward sign of inward sorrow over sin. When this was omitted the atonement did not profit anything "for whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people." Only true faith manifested by repentance gives the sinner a share in the great work of atonement.
"The day of atonement" had a very prominent place in the "feasts of Jehovah" which the children of Israel were commanded to observe. It was "an holy convocation" on the tenth day of the seventh month in each year. So important and solemn was it, when carried out according to the direction which Jehovah gave by Moses, that all in Israel were bound to cease from work, and to afflict their souls, or they would be destroyed from among the people. They were to look on, and see how Aaron, by the sin-offering and burnt-offering, made an atonement for all their sins. It was done "once a year" to typify that one sacrifice which Christ offered once for all.
Ten days later the service of the Great Day of Atonement commenced. This was a fast issuing into a feast. Food could not be eaten nor could work be performed on that day under penalty of death. The commandment was, "Ye shall afflict your souls and shall rest your rest." As its observances have been referred to in a previous chapter, they are not mentioned here. The effect of that great day was the cleansing away of Israel's sins and the impurities of Israel's worship, and at its close there was produced absolute reconciliation between God, the priests, and the people.
This was one of the most solemn days in the whole year, being, in common with the Sabbath, the only occasion on which the people were commanded to cease from work entirely. On the day of atonement they were also to afflict their souls, and that by a statute for ever. Lev. 16:29-31. The time of the year in which the day fell — the tenth day of the seventh month — is very significant, especially when viewed in connection with the other feasts. See FEASTS.
On the day of atonement there was a manifested basis of sacrifice with singular solemnity. It was the one standing fast of the holy year, a sabbath of rest, where all Israel abstained from all work and afflicted their souls on pain of being cut off. It was the sole day in the year when the high priest entered the holiest where he put the blood of the bullock for himself and for his house, and the blood of the goat for the people; as he made atonement also for the sanctuary and for the tent of meeting. Then followed his confession of Israel's iniquities over the living goat's head, before it was sent away bearing them into the wilderness. The slain bullock and goat were carried outside the camp and burnt with fire.
Since so much depends on the ritual of the great Day of Atonement, some careful attention must be given to this, as described in Leviticus 16. Although certain important actions are repeated, we shall consider at the moment only Leviticus 16:11-14 and 20-22. Aaron was first to slay the sin offering; then, for the only occasion in Israel's year, to lift the veil and enter into the Holiest. His first action there was to put sweet incense on coals of fire from the altar, thus filling the sanctuary with a cloud of incense, "that he die not". He was then to sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on and before the mercy-seat on the ark, thus making a propitiation before God for his own sins and later for those of the people, and indeed for the sanctuary itself. When these sacrificial actions were finished, Aaron came out, confessed the sins of the people over the head of a live goat, which then bore them away into a land of forgetfulness.
On the great day of atonement everything is done. The sins of the people are dealt with; the nature of God is met, before and on the mercy-seat: the defilement of the tabernacle removed (that is, of the heavens itself, and of the altar); and the people's sins are confessed on the head of the scapegoat.
Then comes the central and crowning regulation of the great day of atonement, which stands out from all before and after. There is the testimony that the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest in the very provision for Aaron's coming there once a year with incense and not without blood; then expiation was made for the priestly house and for the people, the blood being sprinkled upon and before the mercy-seat. But atonement was also made for the sanctuary, the tabernacle, and the altar, representing the reconciliation of all things, as well as all saints, by Christ's blood; and then confession of Israel's sins was made on the living goat (Azazel) which was not killed but let go into the wilderness. This set forth the remission of the people's sins, as the slain goat maintained the righteous majesty of God in the judgment of sin.
The day of atonement was that upon which the efficacy of every sacrifice in Israel depended. On that day alone was the holiest entered and the blood of atonement put upon the mercy-seat before God "once a year." This alone sanctified for them the tabernacle and all its appointments, with the altar itself.
Verses
- Leviticus 16:1–341And Jehovah spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Jehovah and died; 2and Jehovah said to Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the sanctuary inside the veil before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark, that he die not; for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. 3In this manner shall Aaron come into the sanctuary with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering. 4A holy linen vest shall he put on, and linen trousers shall be upon his flesh, and he shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired these are holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on. 5And of the assembly of the children of Israel shall he take two bucks of the goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering. 6And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. 7And he shall take the two goats, and set them before Jehovah, before the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel. 9And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for Jehovah, and offer it [as] a sin-offering. 10And the goat upon which the lot fell for Azazel shall be set alive before Jehovah, to make atonement with it, to send it away as Azazel into the wilderness. 11And 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 slaughter the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself. 12And he shall take the censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah, and both his hands full of fragrant incense beaten small, and bring it inside the veil. 13And he shall put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat which is upon the testimony, that he die not. 14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle with his finger upon the front of the mercy-seat eastward; and before the mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the blood seven times with his finger. 15And he shall slaughter the goat of the sin-offering, which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat; 16and he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, [to cleanse it] from the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and from their transgressions in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tent of meeting which dwelleth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement in the sanctuary until he come out; and he shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and for the whole congregation of Israel. 18And he shall go out unto the altar which is before Jehovah, and make atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about; 19and he shall sprinkle upon it of the blood with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the children of Israel. 20And when he hath ended making atonement for the sanctuary, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the living goat; 21and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the living goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away to the wilderness by the hand of a man standing ready; 22that the goat may bear upon him all their iniquities to a land apart [from men]; and he shall send away the goat into the wilderness. 23And Aaron shall go into the tent of meeting, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the sanctuary, and shall leave them there; 24and he shall bathe his flesh with water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and go forth, and offer his burnt-offering, and the burnt-offering of the people, and make atonement for himself, and for the people. 25And the fat of the sin-offering shall he burn upon the altar. 26And he that letteth go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water; and afterwards he may come into the camp. 27And the bullock of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the sanctuary, shall one carry forth outside the camp; and they shall burn with fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water; and afterwards he may come into the camp. 29And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you. In the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, the home-born, and the stranger that sojourneth among you; 30for on that day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins shall ye be clean before Jehovah. 31A sabbath of rest shall it be unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls [it is] an everlasting statute. 32And the priest who hath been anointed, and who hath been consecrated, to exercise the priesthood in his father's stead, shall make atonement; and he shall put on the linen garments, the holy garments. 33And he shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary; and for the tent of meeting, and for the altar shall he make atonement; and for the priests, and for the whole people of the congregation shall he make atonement. 34And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel [to cleanse them] from all their sins once a year. And he did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.