Leviticus 16-18 Atonement and Purity

Thoughts

Leviticus 16

7th day of 10th month: Once a year Aaron (or the High Priest) is to enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement (or “The Day”)

He must wear holy linen garments (NOT the usual attire – we were always taught that he wore bells into the Holy Place to hear if he died or not…but he wouldn’t have been wearing those) and wash himself.

Aaron offers a bull to make atonement for himself and his household (his sin offering).
He casts lots over two goats (peoples’ sin offerings):

• One is for the Lord (to be sacrificed).
• The other is the scapegoat (to be sent into the wilderness/Azazel)

Some have said Azazel עֲזָאזֵל means “escape goat” itself because (ez) = “goat” and אָזַל (azal) = “to go away” or “to disappear”. But that doesn’t really answer why it’s a proper noun (due to the “le” prefix, meaning “to” someone or something). So the goat is “for” Azazel. Some have said this is the name of the wilderness while others say it is a demon (mentioned in Enoch)

Aaron cleanses holy spaces and sprinkles blood

Afterwards, he changes into his priest clothes and offers burnt offerings

It says it shall be a statute forever – today we know it as Yom Kippur

Leviticus 17

God tells the people if they slaughter an animal for sacrifice it MUST be brought to the tabernacle- they could not sacrifice wherever they pleased.

The word in verse 7 for goat demons is lasse’irim (לַשְּׂעִירִם) or “to the hairy ones”. It’s used in a few other places in bible in reference to demon goats.

God reminds them not to eat blood – and this applies to foreigners who dwelt with them as well as Israel. We see in Deuteronomy 14:21 that foreigners outside of Israel still might partake in this.

Leviticus 18

God tells His people that His statutes lead to life – do not be like others – you are a chosen people.

A lot of verses are dedicated to incest, so I am guessing this was a problem. Most of the people mentioned in these chapters would have probably shared a family household.

Other Forbidden Acts 

• Sexual contact during menstruation- some say this is to protect the woman or “give her a break” in addition to purity laws
• Adultery with a neighbor’s wife
• Child sacrifice to Molech. I unfortunately read up on what this looked like and I’m horrified and disgusted. Writing this through tears.
• Male homosexuality
• Bestiality – some rituals for idols involved this

Warning and Consequences 

• These practices defile the land; they are the reason other nations are being driven out.
• Israel must keep God’s laws and not do these detestable things.
• If they do, they too will be vomited out of the land.
• Those who do these acts shall be cut off from their people.

Questions

God says Day of Atonement shall be a statute forever. Does Yom Kippur cover this?

Why is female on female sex not mentioned here? Is it because Leviticus law is male-centric? I know Romans 1 mentions it.

What does “cut off from the people” mean? Exile? Forever? Death?

Application
Again, through these chapters, we see the seriousness of sin and how it separates us from God. Yet we also see God’s deep desire to be close to us and to make a way for atonement. He lays out a framework so that, even before Jesus, there was a path to draw near to Him. We’re also reminded that we are called to live differently from the world around us, even when it seems strange. Just as the Israelites were called to be set apart, so are we as Christians who have been grafted in.