Day of atonement in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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What is the Day of Atonement?
THE DAY OF ATONE'MENT
Lev 16; Lev 23:27-32. The only Jewish fast-day; the annual day of humiliation. It was kept five days before the Feast of Tabernacles, or on the tenth day of Tisri; i.e. in the early part of October. The fast lasted from sunset to sunset. It was kept as a solemn Sabbath. Once a year upon this day did the high priest alone enter the holy of holies. This was the preparation. It was ordained that he should bathe himself, and then dress in holy white linen. He was then to bring forward his sacrifices, which must be his purchases -- a young bullock for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering. These he offered for himself and family. Besides these, he brought forward two goats for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering. These, being for the benefit of the people, were paid for out of the public treasury. The two goats were then led up to the entrance of the tabernacle and lots cast upon them, one lot marked "For Jehovah." the other marked "For Azazel" The latter is a phrase of unusual difficulty. But the best modern scholars agree that it does not designate the goat, but the personal being to whom the goat was sent. See Goat, Scape. The high priest offered the bullock, carried live coals in a censer from the altar, with a handful of incense, into the holy of holies. There he sprinkled the blood with his finger upon the mercy-seat, eastward, and before it seven times. He then killed the goat "for Jehovah" and sprinkled its blood in the same manner. Over the goat "for Azazel" the sins of the people were confessed by the high priest, and then it was sent away by "the hand of a fit man into the wilderness." The ceremony was now over. Accordingly, the high priest again bathed, put on his usual garments, and offered the two rams.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'day of atonement' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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