Yom Kippurim/Day Of Atonements - Traditional Hebraic Perspective
Day of Atonement (Yom HaKippurim)—Leviticus 23:27 calls for a day of confession, a most Holy day! “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.”
To observe Yom Kippurrim on the 10th day of the seventh month (Num. 29:7)
To observe, on Yom Kippurrim, the service appointed for that day, regarding the sacrifice, confessions, sending away of the scapegoat, atonement for the altar, sanctuary, priests, people and all Israel. (Lev. 16:3-34)
To offer up additional sacrifices on Yom Kippurrim (Num. 29:7-8)
To offer the sin offering in addition to the atonement offering on Yom Kippurrim (Num. 29:11)
The High Priest shall bathe and attire himself in the Holy garments (Lev. 16:4)
The High Priest shall perform the ritual of the sin offering and the scapegoat (Lev. 16:7-10)
The High Priest shall make atonement for himself and his family (Lev. 16:11)
The High Priest shall perform the ritual of incensing the Holy of Holies so that he dies not in the presence of The LORD (Lev. 16:12-13)
The High Priest shall sprinkle the ark cover with blood of his bullock sin offering (Lev. 16:14)
The High Priest shall sprinkle the ark cover with blood of the goat sin offering … for the people (Lev. 16:15)
The High Priest shall make atonement for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar (Lev. 16:16-20)
The High Priest shall confess all the sins of the people of Israel and transfer them to the live goat set aside for Azazel before taking it to the wilderness (Lev. 16:21-22)
The High Priest shall cleanse himself and offer the burnt offerings to The LORD to make atonement for himself and the people (Lev. 16:23-25)
The bullock and goat of the sin offerings shall be taken outside the camp and burned whole (Lev. 16:27)
Not to do work and convocate on Yom Kippurrim (Lev. 23:31)
To afflict your souls in solemn rest (Lev. 16:29; Lev. 23:32; Num. 29:7)
Both the home born and the sojourner shall observe Yom Kippurrim (Lev. 16:29)
From a traditional Hebraic perspective sin is most egregious to G_D. Sin represents the very partition that keeps people from partaking of the created being to Creator relationship and represents a transgression against the Law and the Everlasting Covenant.
In traditional Rabbinic thought the means of combating sin and overcoming its consequences is achieved through introspection, confession, repentance and doing the commandments. [Presumably this outlook is responsive to the destruction of the Holy Temple and the inability for the Jewish people to satisfy the requirements within the auspices of Torah.]
In traditional Rabbinic thought people are held accountable for their sins … even every word and deed and if these sins are not balanced through a relationship with G_D and the good works of the law than a person shall be blotted out of the book of life.
In traditional Rabbinic thought Yom Kippurim is the last day … symbolic of the last chance that a believer has to make confession and clean the slates so that they can be placed into the book of life and have it sealed!
Consequently it is understandable why in most Jewish communities the Yom Kippurim Mo’ed is the holiest and most important day of the Jewish annual cycle. Per Chabad.org … “Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to G d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day he will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G d” (Leviticus 16:30). … For nearly twenty-six hours—from several minutes before sunset on 9 Tishrei to after nightfall on 10 Tishrei—we “afflict our souls”: we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.”
On Yom Kippur many Jews follow a tradition of symbolically casting their sins away within the rites of the “tashlik ceremony”. In this ceremony Jews gather by a river or stream and cast pieces of bread, representative of their sins, into the water so that they will be consumed by fish and taken far away. Modern Rabbinic tradition upholds the custom although the traditional rite itself failed to be treated within the Talmud itself.
At first glance it would seem that the traditional Jewish perspective regarding sin and atonement are reasonable and in all probability in alignment with the Mo’ed as ordained within Holy Scriptures … or at least one would think. Regarding Yom HaKippurim being the holiest of G_D’s appointed times however … it is noted that with the evidence presented thus far we should readily acknowledge that there can be no Holy Day held in higher elevation than the sacred Shabbat … the parent Mo’ed of all Appointed Times … as declared by G_D himself.
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Because the Yom HaKippurim Mo’ed would seem to be … and is … essential to G_D’s grand plan of restoration, we should have little difficulties finding suitable Holy Scriptures to provide details surrounding this specific Mo’ed and to a broader extent the issues of sin and atonement.
And the LORD G_D commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it; for in the day that thou eats thereof thou shall surely die.' …
And the woman said unto the serpent: 'of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, G_D hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' And the serpent said unto the woman: 'ye shall not surely die; for G_D doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as G_D, knowing good and evil.' …
And the LORD G_D said unto the serpent: 'because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shall thou go, and dust shall thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise their heel.' … And unto Adam he said: 'because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shall not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shall thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return.' And the man called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. And the LORD G_D made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 2:16-3:21)
And they shall make an ark of acacia-wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall thou overlay it, and shall make upon it a crown of gold round about. … And thou shall make an ark-cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shall make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shall thou make them, at the two ends of the ark-cover. And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the ark-cover shall ye make the cherubim of the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover shall the faces of the cherubim be. And thou shall put the ark-cover above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:10-22)
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat; and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Leviticus 9:23-10:2)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said unto Moses: 'Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the ark-cover which is upon the ark; that he dies not; for I appear in the cloud upon the ark-cover. Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired; they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on. And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering. And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. And he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer him for a sin-offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before the LORD, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness. And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself. And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the ark-cover that is upon the testimony, that he dies not. And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the ark-cover on the east; and before the ark-cover shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before the ark-cover. And he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness. And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make 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. 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. And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 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, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of an appointed man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land which is cut off; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. … And Aaron … shall offer his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. And the fat of the sin-offering shall he make smoke upon the altar. And he that lets go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. And the bullock of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. And he that burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. And it shall be a statute forever unto you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the home-born, or the stranger that sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever. And the priest, who shall be anointed and who shall be consecrated to be priest in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. And he shall make atonement for the most holy place, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because of all their sins once in the year.' And he did as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:1-34)
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that eats any manner of blood, I will set my face against that soul that eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. (Leviticus 17:10-11)
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first; and I will write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou didst break. And be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me on the top of the mount. … And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, G_D, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and unto the fourth generation.' (Exodus 34:1-7)
Yet say ye: Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father with him? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sins, it shall die; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father with him, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son with him; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him; for his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Says the LORD G_D; and not rather that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered; for his trespass that he trespassed, and for his sin that he has sinned, for them shall he die. (Ezekiel 18:19-25)
I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was as white snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)
Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and let them not come into Thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; let Thy salvation, O G_D, set me up on high. (Psalm 69:28-29)
For the Leader … A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the wicked, methinks--there is no fear of G_D before his eyes. For it flatters him in his eyes, until his iniquity be found, and he be hated. (Psalm 36:1-3)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; but the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; but he loves him that follows after righteousness. There is grievous correction for him that forsakes the way; and he that hates reproof shall die. The nether-world and Destruction are before the LORD; how much more than the hearts of the children of men! (Proverb 15:8-11)
Come, and hearken, all ye that fear G_D, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I had regarded iniquity in my heart, the LORD would not hear; but verily G_D hath heard; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be G_D, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. (Psalm 66:16-20)
A Psalm of David. Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned. Happy is the man unto whom the LORD counts not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones wore away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; my sap was turned as in the droughts of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: 'I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto the LORD'-- and Thou, Thou forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:1-5)
Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let Thy compassions speedily come to meet us; for we are brought very low. Help us, O G_D of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake. (Psalm 79:8-9)
I will hear what G_D the LORD will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs out of the earth; and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Yea, the LORD will give that which is good; and our land shall yield her produce. Righteousness shall go before him, and shall make his footsteps a way. (Psalm 85:9-14)
Remember me, O LORD, when Thou favors Thy people; O think of me at Thy salvation; That I may behold the prosperity of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance. (Psalm 106:4-5)
Let Thy mercies also come unto me, O LORD, even Thy salvation, according to Thy word; that I may have an answer for him that taunts me; for I trust in Thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I hope in Thine ordinances; so shall I observe Thy law continually forever and ever; and I will walk at ease, for I have sought Thy precepts; I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved. I will lift up my hands also unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes. (Psalm 119:42-48)
A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things; his right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him. The LORD hath made known his salvation; his righteousness hath he revealed in the sight of the nations. He hath remembered his mercy and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our G_D. Shout unto the LORD, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises. Sing praises unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the horn shout ye before the King, the LORD. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein; Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together; Before the LORD, for he is come to judge the earth; he will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98:1-9)
Hallelujah. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the saints exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their beds. Let the high praises of G_D be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the nations, and chastisements upon the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written; he is the glory of all his saints. (Psalm 149:1-9)
Upon the wicked he will cause to rain coals; fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup (Psalm 11:6)
Thy hand shall be equal to all thine enemies; thy right hand shall overtake those that hate thee. Thou shall make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger; the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. (Psalm 21:9-10)
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Upon review of the pertinent inspired Scriptures it would appear that traditional Jewish thought surrounding Yom HaKippurim … as well as sin and atonement in general are at least grounded in fact. What we should recognize however is that the record within the Tanakh provides us with a significantly broadened perspective.
In a Biblical Hebraic perspective we should understand that the sacrificial rites were first exposed in Genesis when G_D clothed Adam and Eve. The implication is that there was a “sin atonement offering” undertaken. As such we can be assured that the “grace and mercy” of G_D was prevalent from the very beginning. But … we also know that this sin still resulted in our first parent’s expulsion and exile from the Garden of Eden … this sin resulted in separation from G_D.
Within the revelation of the Sin Atonement Rite, provided to the Israelites in the wilderness, we assuredly gain greater insights into how this process actually works. Initially we are forced to look at the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony wherein we see the central focus of atonement activity taking place.
What we can readily see from the text is that G_D, only one time in a year, communes with the High Priest above the Ark Cover … while interestingly enough contained within the Ark itself are the tablets of the Law given to Israel by G_D. We should hopefully see a discrete picture herein of just what the state of the man to G_D relationship is all about at the most basic of levels. We should see that man’s approach to G_D is predicated first and foremost upon a judgment respective to human behavior in light of the mandated behavior contained with G_D’s Torah. But there is more to this Ark Cover than readily meets the eye in a typical English translation …
As can be seen the actual Hebrew word for the Ark Cover is “kapporet” meaning “Mercy-Seat”. We really need to take a hard look at this because it expressly depicts for us the fundamental nature of the human condition and just how loving of us is our G_D. Additionally we really need to view Yom HaKippurim in a dynamic that is not limited to atonement but is more discretely related to “mercy” ... and of course the one with the power and rights to dispense mercy.
Within the auspices of the Everlasting Covenant we then see that G_D, through the Mishkan … through the Holy Service … through the Rites of Yom HaKippurim … through his mercy, has provided Israel with the means of remaining in relationship with him on a perpetual basis despite their individual and corporate inability to remain in compliance with the Holy Law!
Furthermore as we can see there is much detail associated with the Sin Atonement Rite as depicted in Leviticus Chapters16 & 17 respectively. The key aspects are listed herein:
Sin is a transgression that infects the blood … the very life of the transgressor … it pollutes and decays the flesh;
Sin can only be atoned for by the sacrificial blood of an unblemished offering;
Sin atonement in accordance with the Everlasting Covenant is achieved only through the bringing of the blood of the sacrifice into the Holy of Holies … to the mercy-seat of G_D;
Sin atonement in accordance with the Everlasting Covenant is achieved only through the intercession of the anointed High Priest;
Approach to G_D in an unauthorized state results in being consumed by fire;
Sin atonement results in the transfer of confessed sins away from the people onto a host that is sent into the wilderness for destruction;
The inheritance of those that die in sin is death and they are given over to the wicked one as his portion;
The offerings of sin atonement are burnt (consumed) outside of the Tent of Meeting … outside the camp.
The reader should note that beyond this “annual” Sin Atonement Rite the Torah of G_D prescribes various sacrificial sin/guilt offerings that are to be made on a regular basis as circumstances dictate … of which numerous details related to same are provided for in Torah. The key difference with all of these other prescribed sin offerings is that in no situation is the blood of the sacrifice spread upon the kapporet … or mercy-seat. In all other instances, depending upon the guilty party, the blood is spread upon the horns of either the “Altar of Incense” outside the veil or upon the horns of the Sacrificial Altar outside the Holy Place all together.
What should be noted then is that this Yom HaKippurim Rite is indeed special and unlike the standard sin/guilt offerings presented to G_D. Unlike the standard sin/guilt offerings that enable an individual to remain in a covenantal relationship with G_D, the Yom HaKippurim Rite is far more important and essential in that this Rite enables man to be in the presence of G_D without being consumed … this Rite enables man to actually have their sin not just forgiven but removed from within their very fabric … this Rite actually creates for man a status of “living” as opposed to “dead” due to the “mercy” that is provided in addition to “forgiveness”.
But our brief review of sin atonement, within the original Biblical auspices depicted within the Tanakh, does not end just yet. The selected passages provide for us some other important details associated with this essential topic:
Sin is transgression against the Law of G_D;
Sin brings temporal and spiritual consequences;
The unrepentant individual has no fear of G_D;
G_D does not give any accord to the prayer of the unrepentant;
The individual who scorns correction will be accorded as unrighteous;
Sin atonement is strictly a function of G_D’s kind and long suffering mercy;
Forgiveness and mercy are afforded to those who fear G_D;
The sins of an individual