Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies

This week I am going to deal with the subject of Yom Kippur as recorded in Leviticus 16 and 17. We will leave the subject of “clean and unclean” for the moment. Yom Kippur has an extremely important message for all believers.

Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the tenth day of the first month the Passover Lamb was separated from the flock. It would be slaughtered on the 14th day for the Passover sacrifice. Now exactly seven months later, two goats were taken from the herd and presented to the priest.

“And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.” (Leviticus 16:5)

After making a sin offering for himself, Aaron, the high priest, presented the two goats before the Lord.

“And he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.” (Leviticus 16:7-8)

The goat for the sin offering was slaughtered and the blood sprinkled on the place of covering (the mercy seat) and in front of the mercy seat.

“Then 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 bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:15)

Next, he would deal with the scapegoat (goat of removal).

“Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands of the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins, and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. And the goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21-22)

There are two different types of offering being made. The blood of the goat that was the sin offering provided a covering for the tent of meeting (because it sat in the midst of the impurities of the sons of Israel), as well as providing a covering for the sins of the people. This was for transgressions that had been committed during the year since the previous “day of atonement.” The word for sin is “chatah”. On the other hand, their iniquities (ahon) were confessed over the head of the goat of removal. This refers to the tendency of the sons of Israel to sin. Therefore, they confessed that their sins committed during the past year were covered and that their tendency to sin was being removed from them for the year to come. This was an awesome faith statement. If we are living a crucified life and walking in the Spirit, we can believe that not only are our sins being covered but God is removing our tendency toward sin. Some would call this sanctification.

We readily understand that the sins of the people needed to be covered for them to continue to live in relationship with God. But why did the tent of meeting require a covering? Because the tent stood in the midst of the people of Israel, it was considered somewhat defiled and hence needed a covering. As believers we should recognize that the tent of meeting is a type for the church. The invisible church also rests in the midst of God’s people and therefore requires a covering. 

One final thought on this subject. The mechanism of atonement is stated in Leviticus 17:11.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” (Leviticus 17:11)

The currency in the Kingdom of God is life expended. Paul declared that the wages of sin is death. The only covering for our sins is Jesus’ life poured out on the cross. In this manner the Bible declares that all have been justified to life. (Romans 5:18)

In order to grasp the significance of the events leading to the death of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, we must consider the entire setting for this event. The Tabernacle had been erected and the Glory of the Lord had filled it. All the congregation of Israel witnessed this awesome heavenly event. Afterward, the Lord called Moses and commanded him concerning the offerings (Korban or approaches) which outlined how Israel was to approach the Lord. Next came the distinguishing of the priest from the common people (ordination). Moses dressed Aaron and his sons in their priestly attire and made sin, peace, gift and burnt offerings for them. He sprinkled them with the blood of the offerings and with the anointing oil. Aaron and his sons were not permitted to leave the tent of meeting for seven days, the days of consecration.

On the eight day, after being instructed by Moses, Aaron and he and his sons prepared to make offering for the sons of Israel. This was the first time Aaron and his sons acted in this capacity. When the “olah” was prepared and placed on the altar, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the offering. All the people saw this. They shouted and fell down on their faces. A “holy fire” had been kindled on the altar.

Evidently, following the seven days that Aaron and his sons were separated from the sons of Israel and from their families, they must have left the tent of meeting and returned to their families. They must have been in a celebratory mood from completing the days of consecration and having been greatly exalted before the congregation. From the comments made after the death of Nadab and Abihu, they must have gotten into the toddy at bit too much (Leviticus 10:9). 

A part of their priestly duty was to place fire in their firepans and burn incense before the Lord. Later, we see the incense as representing the “prayer of God’s people” symbolically being placed in the presence of the Lord (Revelation 5:8). The fire that should have been used was from the supernatural burning on the altar which occurred when fire from the Lord had devoured the “olah” (burnt offering) which had just been made. We conclude that due to their intoxication, Nadab and Abihu must have placed something like burning coals from their home fire and carried it into the Holy Place. The fire of the Lord came out and consumed them. They died there. Their bodies were carried out by Levites who were chosen for that duty and they were buried outside the camp.

We learn an awesome lesson from this event. The Lord declared to Moses: 

“By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored” (Leviticus 10:2).

The Lord declares:

“Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44b)

As a follower of Messiah Jesus, I believe that we should take this message very seriously. We, as believers, confess that in Messiah Jesus we have been called to come near to the Lord, to know Him and to serve Him. I have no tolerance for false humility or fake honor but I believe that when we come before the Lord in prayer or worship we should do so exhibiting the deepest respect and honor to the Lord. I don’t believe in wearing such things as exalted religious robes but I don’t believe we should be too casual either. Certainly, God is moved more by a loving, humble spirit than by our outward attire. I always think in these terms: if I were invited to attend an important function to honor some individual who had attained great fame or honor, would I come in jeans, t-shirt and shower shoes. No, I would dress appropriately for the occasion. In prayer and worship we confess that we are appearing before the King of Kings, and the Lord of the Universe. Don’t come drunk and bring a coat and tie.