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Section 5: Yehuveh’s Time System, Article 10 Day of Restarting (Atonement) A Detailed Look at Atonement in Leviticus 16 Page 9 - Leviticus 16:1-3 |
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With comments, Leviticus 16:1-34 reads as follows: 16:1 And Yehuveh spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before Yehuveh, and died; Comments: The story of the death of Nadab and Abihu, as recorded in Leviticus 10:1-3 provides the background for the restarting required by Yehuveh in this chapter. Leviticus 16:1-28 verses present the cleansing required by Yehuveh before Aaron and his remaining two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar can be reinstated to their priestly work. These first 28 verses describe a necessary restart for these three men, not an annual ceremony for all Yehuveh’s people, as is taught by most of the “far-too-casual” Scriptural commentators. With this reality in mind, here is a brief examination of this chapter. 16:2 And Yehuveh said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Comments: In contrast to the teaching that from this time onward the high priest was only once a year allowed to enter the second or inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place of the wilderness tabernacle and later of the established temple, this statement is of a far more immediate concern. Aaron and his two remaining sons had not been appropriately reinstated after their loss of their two sons and brothers. Until they were fully cleansed and made right with Yehuveh, they were in no spiritual condition to come into such intimacy with Yehuveh, and for the preservation of their own lives, Yehuveh forbade them from doing so. As discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:4, there are two very different Hebrew words for the negative (no, not, never): lo' [H3808], a permanent “no,” and 'al [H0408], a temporary “no.” It is the latter, 'al, the temporary “no,” which is used in Leviticus 16:2. Yehuveh was not making a permanent injunction about the priests being able to enter the Most Holy Place only once a year, for this was their place of ongoing instruction from Yehuveh, but rather stating that until matters were made right, they dare not risk their lives by doing so. This tragic incident with Aaron and his sons did, however, make Yehuveh keenly aware of how very much every individual needs to restart their lives afresh every year, and therefore He ends this discussion with a re-newed focus and emphasis on the already-established (Exodus 30:10) annual national Day of Restarting (Atonement). 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. Comments: As discussed in What About Sacrifices and Offerings?, each of these four elements have a very significant personal spiritual application. “A young bullock” represents our attachment to and valuation of our personal lifestyle and possessions, including our family ties and affections. While Scriptures have not so stated, it is quite possible that Aaron had been indulgent with his sons, as was the later high priest Eli (1 Samuel 1:3-4:18), and that he was thereby partially responsible for their deaths. If this were the case, Yehuveh definitely needed Aaron to relinquish this perverted attachment before he would again be fit to minister His tabernace. “A sin offering” is surrender of our errant patters of thinking and acting, which Aaron definitely needed to relinquish at this time. “A ram” represents our recognition of a wrong act and our personal determination to make it right, and “a burnt offering” is a full and complete consecration. Within the circumstances of this story, both are needed. Gael Bataman Originally Written: 7 December 2009 Latest Update: 7 December 2009 Complete Study Guide to Article 10: Leviticus 16 Return to first of Article 10: Day of Restarting (Atonement) Return to list of Leviticus 16 texts Return to Zadok Home Continue . . . Return One Page Go to Section 5: Time Go to Historical Calendar Go to Daniel 11-12 Go to Revelation Go to Years of Returning (Darius) |