Leviticus 16 details the solemn ritual of the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Israelite calendar. This chapter outlines the elaborate procedures for Aaron, the high priest, to make atonement for himself, his household, and the entire community of Israel. Central to the ritual are the two goats: one sacrificed for a sin offering, and the other, the “scapegoat,” sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of the people, symbolizing their removal. This annual event underscored the gravity of sin and the necessity of divine cleansing.
