Leviticus 16:5-10 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Shall take of the congregation ... two kids of the goats ... and one ram. The sacrifices were to be offered by the high priest respectively for himself and the other priests, as well as for the people. The bullock (Leviticus 16:3) and the goats were for sin offerings, and the rams for burnt offerings.

The goats, though used in different ways, constituted only one offering. They were both presented before the Lord, and the disposal of them determined by lot-a solemn appeal to God (Proverbs 16:33) which Jewish writers have thus described: The priest, placing one of the goats on his right hand and the other on his left, took his station by the altar, and cast into an urn two pieces of gold exactly similar, inscribed, the one with the words, "for the Lord," and the other, for "Azazel" (the scape-goat). After having well shaken them together, he put both his hands into the box and took up a lot in each: that in his right hand he put on the head of the goat which stood on his right, and that in his left he dropped on the other. In this manner the fate of each was decided.

Leviticus 16:5-10

5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.a

9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell,b and offer him for a sin offering.

10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.