Lev 16:1-2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 16:1-34: 16:1-34 The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month (see 16:29 ; 23:27 ; Num 29:7 ), was the most solemn day of the year for Israelites. It was the only required fast, and it was a Sabbath of rest for all the people (Lev 23:32 ). Introduced by the Festival of Trumpets (Num 29:1 , 7-11 ), it was the day when the corporate sins of the community were atoned for. Only the high priest (Aaron) could officiate, because only he could represent all the people, including other priests (Aaron’s sons). The Day of Atonement is celebrated today as Yom Kippur.

a16:1-34►

b16:29►

c23:27►

dNum 29:7►

eLev 23:32►

fNum 29:1►

g7-11►

h16:2►

i1:1►

jEsth 4:11►

‏ Leviticus 16:1-2

Summary for Lev 16:1-34: 16:1-34 ^a The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month (see 16:29 ^b; 23:27 ^c; Num 29:7 ^d), was the most solemn day of the year for Israelites. It was the only required fast, and it was a Sabbath of rest for all the people (Lev 23:32 ^e). Introduced by the Festival of Trumpets (Num 29:1 ^f, 7-11 ^g), it was the day when the corporate sins of the community were atoned for. Only the high priest (Aaron) could officiate, because only he could represent all the people, including other priests (Aaron’s sons). The Day of Atonement is celebrated today as Yom Kippur.
16:2 ^h An inner curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Conceptually, the sanctuary was God’s palace, the Most Holy Place was his throne room, and the Ark was his throne (see 1:1 ⁱ). In the ancient Near East, entering the presence of a king without invitation meant risking death (Esth 4:11 ^j). The Most Holy Place, therefore, was not a place that Aaron could enter casually. It was off-limits even to the high priest, except when his presence was required by God as part of the ritual of the Day of Atonement.