The Day of Atonement^(A)

16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord.^{(B) 2} The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses^(C) into the Most Holy Place^(D) behind the curtain^(E) in front of the atonement cover^(F) on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear^(G) in the cloud^(H) over the atonement cover.

³ “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place:^(I) He must first bring a young bull^(J) for a sin offering^[a] and a ram for a burnt offering.^{(K) 4} He is to put on the sacred linen tunic,^(L) with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban.^(M) These are sacred garments;^(N) so he must bathe himself with water^(O) before he puts them on.^{(P) 5} From the Israelite community^(Q) he is to take two male goats^(R) for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

⁶ “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.^{(S) 7} Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁸ He is to cast lots^(T) for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.^{[b](U) 9} Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. ¹⁰ But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement^(V) by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

¹¹ “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household,^(W) and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. ¹² He is to take a censer full of burning coals^(X) from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense^(Y) and take them behind the curtain. ¹³ He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover^(Z) above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.^{(AA) 14} He is to take some of the bull’s blood^(AB) and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.^(AC)

The Ark^(A)

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark^[a](B) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[b] 11} Overlay^(C) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings^(D) on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^{(E) 14} Insert the poles^(F) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.^{(G) 16} Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,^(H) which I will give you.

¹⁷ “Make an atonement cover^(I) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸ And make two cherubim^(J) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim^(K) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(L) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.

³¹ “Make a curtain^(A) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim^(B) woven into it by a skilled worker. ³² Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.^{(C) 33} Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain.^(D) The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.^{(E) 34} Put the atonement cover^(F) on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. ³⁵ Place the table^(G) outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand^(H) opposite it on the south side.

⁷ But only the high priest entered^(A) the inner room,^(B) and that only once a year,^(C) and never without blood,^(D) which he offered for himself^(E) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^(F)

²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(A) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(B)

¹⁵ “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people^(A) and take its blood behind the curtain^(B) and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle^(C) it on the atonement cover and in front of it. ¹⁶ In this way he will make atonement^(D) for the Most Holy Place^(E) because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting,^(F) which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. ¹⁷ No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

¹⁸ “Then he shall come out to the altar^(G) that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.^{(H) 19} He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.^(I)

²² But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(A) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

²⁰ “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.^{(A) 21} He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat^(B) and confess^(C) over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. ²² The goat will carry on itself all their sins^(D) to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

²³ “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments^(E) he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.^{(F) 24} He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area^(G) and put on his regular garments.^(H) Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people,^(I) to make atonement for himself and for the people.^{(J) 25} He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

²⁶ “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat^(K) must wash his clothes^(L) and bathe himself with water;^(M) afterward he may come into the camp. ²⁷ The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp;^(N) their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. ²⁸ The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.^(O)

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.^{(A) 6} For we know that our old self^(B) was crucified with him^(C) so that the body ruled by sin^(D) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(E)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(F)