The Atonement Part 3: The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16

The “Sin” offering goat

Both goats are called a sin/purification/decontamination offering and the reason is that is that the lots have not been cast yet over these two. So, since we don't know yet which ones going to be the actual sin offering, they’re both referred to that way. We don't know which one’s going to be for the Lord, which one was to be for azazel. A better way to translate “Atonement” here is to make expiation with it, or to make a purging with it. The whole notion of the sin offering is decontamination and purification

Propitiation or Expiation (KPR language)

Both words presuppose that there is a barrier that must be removed to overcome sin. We need to look to see what is acted upon in order to translate KPR correctly. As we noted atonement language means to cover or purge but is the issue with humans, God, or sin?

Propitiation: means that the barrier lies within God himself; thus, it is usually interpreted as an action to satisfy divine wrath against sinners. This was the pagan concept of sacrifice, but Christians who hold to this say that God’s justice must be exercised, and sin must be paid for in order to receive forgiveness and the aversion of God’s wrath.

Expiation: means that the barrier lies outside of God, within humankind and/or a stain they leave on the world (sacred space), it is often interpreted as an action aimed at removing sin. To cover, wipe, or to purge sin.

Mercy Seat Translation-This is a common translation, but this is not a good translation. More literally, if atonement (kapper) means to purge then kapporeth (noun) should be the place of purging. In other words, we would really focus on the location not the result, because calling it the mercy seat is sort of reading the theological result into the word. The place is the cover of the Ark in the Holy of Holies which is the footstool of God’s throne. This is a throne room scene.

The Scapegoat or the goat for azazel. 3 views on what happens in this action:

1. The propitiation view (punishment). The goat bears the sin and wrath.

2. The azazel refers to the location (the desert) which theologically if the place where sin and evil lives or belongs (not in God’s camp)

3. Azazel is a proper name. This was the leader of the fallen angels/demons in 2nd temple Judaism. The goat transports the sin to Azazel.

Conclusions on the Day of Atonement

• The priest is stripped of all his garb and must do this ritual in a plain fashion
• Goat 1- the purification offering, is to cleanse the temple objects. Blood is not applied to anyone.
• The scapegoat is sent to Azazel. So, sin, the forces of death, are removed from the camp. This connects a little to last week’s episode in that God is rescuing his people from the forces of death.
• Neither of these goats are punished. It’s about expelling or purging God’s space (Expiation). The first goat (the one that dies) is more about cleaning the throne room of the stain of sin. The scapegoat doesn’t get killed.
• This is all about resetting sacred space (getting back to Eden)