Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 


The book of Leviticus

This book was written by Moses. It covers the time from when the tabernacle was finished until the time that the Israelites left Sinai (about 50 days). The purpose of this book was to give the laws and guidelines to live a moral and pure life. God would live there with the Israelites if they were clean and pure. They made sacrifices to give valuable things to God. Before they learned these laws, the Israelites only knew about worship from the Egyptians. The Egyptians worshipped idols;  they did not worship the one true God. 

Leviticus 14 - 16
More rules about diseases
Rules about houses with mold and mildew
Rules about the Day of Atonement


Leviticus 14

After someone is healed of a bad skin disease. 

If a person has a bad skin disease and then he is healed, a priest must check him. 
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:

The priest will go out of the camp to see the person.  If the priest thinks the skin disease is finished, the priest will ask someone to bring:  2 clean birds,  a stick from a cedar tree, red yarn, and a branch from a hyssop tree.
[3] And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
[4] Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

 

Picture of hyssop
 from
Wikipedia

The priest will tell the person to kill one of the birds. He should kill the bird in a clay bowl that contains spring water.  Then, he should dip the living bird, the cedar, the red yarn, and the hyssop into the water in the bowl. They should sprinkle some of the water on the person who had the bad skin disease. They should sprinkle water on him 7 times.  The priest will say the person is clean again. Then they will let the living bird fly away free. 
[5] And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
[6] As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
[7] And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.


Then the person who had the skin disease should shave all of his hair. He should also wash in water.  Then he can go back to the camp, but must stay out of his tent. After 7 days, he should shave all of his hair again. This should be the hair on his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and all of his hair everywhere. He should wash his clothes and take a bath. Then he is clean. 

[8] And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
[9] But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.


After 8 days, he should take an offering to the tabernacle. He should take two 1 year old perfect male lambs and one 1 year old perfect female lamb. He should also take 5 pounds of flour mixed with oil,  and a half-pint of oil.
 
[10] And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.


The same priest who said the person was clean will take him and the things he is offering to the Lord in the tabernacle. The priest will wave 1 lamb and the half-pint of oil back and forth in the air as a wave offering. This shows they belong to God.  
[11] And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
[12] And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:


The lamb is a trespass offering. The priest will kill the lamb in the same place as the priests kill the sin and burnt offerings. The offering is very holy.  The priest will then keep this offering for himself
[13] And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:


The priest will take some of the blood from the trespass offering. He will put the blood on the tip of the right ear of the person who is clean now. He should also put blood on the person's thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

[14] And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:


Then the priest will pour some of the oil into the palm of his left hand. The priest will dip his right finger in the oil in his hand.  Then he will sprinkle the oil 7 times toward the tent. 
[15] And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:
[16] And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:


Then the priest will put the rest of the oil from his hand on the person. He will put it on the tip of his right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. He will put the oil on top of the blood that he put on him earlier.

[17] And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:


There will be oil leftover in the priest's hand.  He will pour this oil on the head of the person.  This will forgive the person's sins. Then the priest will offer the sin offering to forgive the person's sins.  The priest will also kill the burnt offering.  He will make the burnt offering and the grain offering.  Then the person is clean. 

[18] And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.
[19] And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:
[20] And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.


The offerings for people healed of skin diseases, but who cannot afford the usual offering


If the person is poor, and he cannot bring 2 lambs, he can bring 1 lamb, a half-pint of oil, and 2 pounds of flour mixed with oil.  

[21] And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;


He must also bring what he can: 2 doves or 2 pigeons. One bird will be a sin offering, and one bird will be a burnt offering. 
He should bring them to the priest at the door of the tabernacle on the 8th day.
[22] And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.
[23] And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD.

The priest will wave the lamb and the oil back in the forth in the air for a wave offering. This shows that they belong to God.
[24] And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:


The priest will then kill the lamb. The priest will put some of the lamb's blood on the person. He will put the blood on the tip of the person's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the toe of his right foot.
[25] And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:


The priest will pour the oil into the palm of his own left hand.  Then he will put his right finger into the oil, then sprinkle the oil 7 times toward the tent.
[26] And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:
[27] And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:


Then the priest will put oil on top of the blood on the person's right ear, his right thumb, and his right big toe.
[28] And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:


The priest will take the rest of the oil from his left hand and put it on the head of the person who is healed of the bad skin disease. This will forgive the person's sins.
[29] And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.


The person who is healed of the bad skin disease brought 2 birds --either doves or pigeons. It depends on which birds he can afford.  One of the birds will be a sin offering, and the other bird will be a burnt offering. He will offer the birds and the grain offering he brought.  The priest will make the offering for him, and then he is clean again.

[30] And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get;
[31] Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.


These were the laws for people who had bad skin diseases but could not afford the usual offerings.

[32] This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.


The laws about houses that have mold or mildew


God talked to Moses and Aaron. He said that when the Israelites get to Canaan and have houses, there will be times when the houses have mold or mildew. 

[33] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[34] When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;

If the home owner sees mold or mildew in his house, he must go and tell the priest about it. The priest will tell him to take everything out of the house. If there are things left in the house, they will be unclean. Then the priest will go see the house.
[35] And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:
[36] Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:


The priest will look at the mold or mildew.  If there are green or red spots that seem to be eating into the walls, the priest will leave the house. He will order that they lock up the house for 7 days.
[37] And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;
[38] Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:


The priest will come back on the 7th day. He will look at the mildew again. If there is more mildew because it has spread (the spot is bigger), the priest will tell them to take the spots away. They should take the stones (rocks) that have the mildew on them out of the wall.  They should carry the rocks to an unclean place that is outside the city and throw them away.
[39] And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;
[40] Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:


They should scrape all of the plaster from the inside walls. They should take the plaster dust out of the city to the  unclean place.
 
[41] And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:


They should get new stones and replace the stones that were taken out of the walls. Then they should put on new plaster.
[42] And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house.


If they notice mildew again later,  the priest should come and look at the house.  If the priest sees that the mildew has come back, the house is unclean. They should tear down the house and take everything--the stones, the plaster, and the wood--to an unclean place outside the city.
 
[43] And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered;
[44] Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.
[45] And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.


Anyone who goes into the house while it is locked up is unclean until the evening.  Anyone that had lied down or eaten in the house must wash his clothes.
[46] Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.
[47] And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.


If no mildew appeared after they replaced the stones and the walls, the priest will check the house later.  If the priest does not see any mildew, the priest will say the house is clean. 
[48] And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.


The priest will then do a ceremony to make the house clean.  He will use 2 birds, some wood from a cedar tree, some red yard, and a branch from the hyssop tree.

[49] And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:


The priest will kill one of the birds in a clay pot that contains spring water.  Then he will take the wood from the cedar tree, the branch from the hyssop tree, the red yard, and the bird that is still alive.  He will dip all of them into the blood and spring water mixture.  Then he will sprinkle the blood around the house 7 times.
[50] And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:
[51] And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:
[52] And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:

Then the priest will let the living bird go free.  The bird will fly away in the open countryside. The house will then be clean. 
[53] But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

Those were the laws for skin diseases in people and mildew in clothes and houses. The laws teach when the people, houses, or clothing are unclean.
[54] This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,
[55] And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house,
[56] And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot:
[57] To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.



Leviticus 15

The laws about abnormal (from illness) discharges from men's bodies  


These laws are about men who have discharges. Discharges are liquids running out of the body.  A discharge makes a man unclean. This law is for discharges that are running or are stopped up.

[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
[3] And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.


Every bed that the man lies on or every place that the man sits on is unclean.  Any other person who touches the man's bed will be unclean until that evening. That person must wash his clothes and take a bath in water. 
[4] Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
[5] And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

If another person sits in the same place where the man sat, the other person must wash his clothes and take a bath in water. The other person is unclean until that evening. 
[6] And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.


If another person touches that man,  he must wash his clothes and take a bath. The other person is unclean until that evening.

[7] And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.


If the man with the discharge spits on another person, the other person must wash his clothes and take a bath. He is unclean until that evening.

[8] And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.


If the man with the discharge sits on a saddle (seat for riding a horse or camel), the saddle is unclean. Any other person who sits on the saddle is unclean.  If another person touches anything that was under the man, he is unclean.  Any other person who carries anything that was under the man is unclean. He should wash his clothes and take a bath. He will be unclean until that evening. 

[9] And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
[10] And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.


If the man with the discharge touches another person, and he didn't wash his hands first, the other person should take a bath and wash his clothes.  The other person will be unclean until that evening.
[11] And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.


If the man with the discharge touches a clay pot, the pot must be destroyed.  If the man touches a wooden bowl, the bowl should be rinsed with water.
[12] And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.


After the discharge is finished, the man must wait for 7 days and then clean himself. He must wash his clothes and take a bath. Then he is clean. 

[13] And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.


On the 8th day, the man should take 2 doves or 2 pigeons to the Lord at the tabernacle. He should give the birds to the priest. The priest will offer 1 bird for a sin offering and 1 bird for a burnt offering.  Then the man's sins are forgiven. 
[14] And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
[15] And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.



The laws about normal (not from illness) discharges from men's bodies  



If a man has a natural, normal flow of semen, he must take a bath. He will be unclean until that evening. If the semen touches anything made of cloth or leather, it must be washed in water and will be unclean until that evening. 

[16] And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
[17] And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.


If the man and woman have sexual relations, they should both take a bath. They are unclean until that evening. 
[18] The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.



Rules for a woman's monthly period


If a woman has her monthly period, she is unclean for 7 days. Anyone who touches her will be unclean until that evening. Everything the woman lies on or sits on will be unclean. 

[19] And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
[20] And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.


Any other person who touches the woman's bed must wash his clothes and take a bath. He will be unclean until that evening. Also any other person who touches anything that the woman sat on must wash his clothes and take a bath. He will be unclean until that evening.
[21] And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
[22] And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
[23] And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.


If a man has sexual relations with the woman, and her blood gets on him, the man will be unclean for 7 days. Also the bed where the man lies will be unclean.

[24] And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.


Rules about a woman with abnormal bleeding (not her normal monthly period). 


If a woman has bleeding but it is not time for her monthly period, she will be unclean the same as if it were her monthly period.  Anything she sits on or any bed she lies on is unclean.  Any other person who touches her bed or something she sits on is unclean. He must wash his clothes and take a bath. He will be unclean until that evening.

[25] And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
[26] Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
[27] And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.



When the woman is better, she must wait 7 days. Then she is clean. On the 8th day, she will take an offering to the priest at the tabernacle.  She will take 2 doves or 2 pigeons. The priest will offer one bird as a sin offering and the other bird for a burnt offering.   Then, her sins will be forgiven. 

[28] But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
[29] And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[30] And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.


The rules about discharges

Those were the rules about normal and abnormal discharges. The people must be clean so they do not make the tabernacle unclean.  If they make the tabernacle unclean, they will die. 
[31] Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
[32] This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
[33] And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.



Leviticus 16

The Day of Atonement-- the day when the sins of the Israelites were forgiven


God talked to Moses after Aaron's 2 sons died. His sons were Nadab and Abihu. Back in n Leviticus 10, they did not obey God, and they were killed.  
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;


God told Moses to tell Aaron that he should not usually come into the most holy place in the tabernacle--the area behind the curtain where the Ark of the Testimony was (the box containing the Ten Commandments). God would be there in a cloud on the mercy seat (on top of the Ark). If Aaron went in unless it was a special time, he would die. 

[2] And the LORD 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.

 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com
 



There was one day of the year that Aaron could go into the most holy place. But he had to do some things first to prepare. He should sacrifice a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He should take a bath and then put on the holy priest's clothes--the special linen underclothes, the robe, the belt, and the turban (hat).

[3] Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
[4] He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.



The Israelites should bring offerings. They should bring 2 young goats and 1 male sheep. The goats are for a sin offering, and the sheep is for a burnt offering.

[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.


Aaron should bring an offering for himself. He should bring a bull for a sin offering.  This is an offering so God will forgive his sins and his family's sins.
[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.

Aaron will take the 2 goats from the Israelites to the door of the tabernacle.  One goat will be a sacrifice to God. The other goat will be called a "scapegoat." A scapegoat takes the blame of others. The scapegoat hasn't done anything wrong, but he gets the blame and gets punished. Aaron "cast lots" to see which goat would be the scapegoat and which goat would be the offering for God. "Cast lots" means to pick by chance, like flipping a coin or drawing straws. 
[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.


Aaron would sacrifice the goat that was picked for God.  The other goat, the scapegoat, was not killed.  They would show the live goat to God and ask God to forgive their sins.  Then they would take the scapegoat out in the wilderness (away from towns or people) and let him go free.
[9] And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, 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.


Aaron should bring a bull for a sin offering. This offering is to ask forgiveness for his sins and his family's sins. 
[11] And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:


Aaron should go into the tabernacle's holy place.  He should take hot coals (rocks) from the altar fire and go into the most holy place. He should then put incense on the hot coals.  This will make a cloud, and the cloud will cover the mercy seat that is on top of the Ark of the Testimony (box holding the Ten Commandments). If Aaron does not do this, he will die immediately.
[12] And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
[13] And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com
 

Aaron should take some of the bull's blood. He should sprinkle it on the front of the mercy seat. He should also sprinkle it in front of the mercy seat 7 times. 
[14] And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

Then Aaron should kill the goat. The goat is the sin offering for the Israelites. He should take the goat's blood into the tabernacle and do the same as before. He should sprinkle some of the goat's blood on the front of the mercy seat and some of the blood in front of the mercy seat.
[15] Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:


The Israelites sin, and they are unclean. The tabernacle is in the middle of the Israelites. This makes the whole tabernacle unclean. When Aaron performs this ceremony, it makes the most holy place clean from the sins.   So Aaron should do the same ceremony for the rest of the tabernacle to make the whole tent clean.
[16] And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.


Aaron is the only person allowed in the tabernacle at this time.  Aaron will go into the tabernacle. He will ask for forgiveness for himself and all of the Israelites.  Then he will come back out. While he is in the tabernacle, no one else is allowed to go in.  
[17] And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com
 


When Aaron comes out of the tabernacle, he must make the outside altar for burnt offerings clean.  He should take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood. He should put the blood on the horns on the corners of the altar. 
[18] And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.


The altar was unclean because of the Israelites' sins. Aaron should put blood on his finger then sprinkle it on the altar 7 times. This will make the altar clean again.
[19] And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.


 After the most holy place and the tabernacle are clean and holy, Aaron will bring the live goat (the scapegoat). He should put his hands on the goat's head. He should confess (tell God) every sin that the people have done. Then he should choose a good person to take the goat away from the camp into the wilderness. 

[20] And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
[21] And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
 

"The Scapegoat" by William Holman Hunt
From
The Victorian Web

The scapegoat takes all of the Israelites sins away from the camp. The wilderness has no towns or cities. 
[22] And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.


Aaron should go back into the tabernacle and take off his priest's clothes. He should leave the clothes there in the tabernacle.  He should wash himself with water in the tabernacle. Then he should put his regular clothes back on.  He should go outside and offer the burnt offerings. These are to ask forgiveness for the Israelites and for himself and his family. 
[23] And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
[24] And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
[25] And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.



The person who took the scapegoat out away from the camp should wash his clothes and take a bath in water. Then he can go back into the camp.

[26] And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.


Earlier they killed a bull and a goat, and they used the blood to make the holy places clean.  A person should take the bull and the goat outside and put them on the altar.  They should burn them whole--the skin, meat, and the intestines.
[27] And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.


The person who burns the bull and the goat should wash his clothes and take a bath in water. Then he can come back into the camp.

[28] And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.


This is a rule from now on. Every year on the 10th day of the 7th month, they should have this ceremony. All of the Israelites should do this and all of the other people who live with them should do this, too. They should fast (not eat) and should not work. 

[29] And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:


On this day, the priest will ask God to forgive all of their sins. Then they will be clean. 
[30] For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

They should follow the same rules as on the sabbath. They should not work or eat.  This is a rule forever. The priest should perform the ceremony and wear the special priest's clothes.
[31] It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
[32] And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:

The priest will ask for God's forgiveness for most holy place, the tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and all of the people.  This will be a rule forever.  Moses obeyed what God told him to do.
[33] And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
[34] And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

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