Leviticus 16:11-19

The blood-sprinkling rites 16:11-19

Leviticus 16:11-14 describe the purification offering that Aaron was to offer for himself and the other priests. The act of offering incense represented the act of offering prayer that God would mercifully accept the sacrifices offered to cover the nation’s sins and uncleanness.

"The purpose of the incense-smoke was to create a screen which would prevent the High Priest from gazing upon the holy Presence." [Note: Hertz, p. 156.]

The second stage of the ceremony, the casting of lots over the goats, was rather simple and required little explanation. The third stage was the sacrificing of one of the goats as a sin offering for the people (Leviticus 16:15-19). This sacrifice cleansed the sanctuary of the defilement that the sins of the people caused, making it possible for a holy God to continue to dwell among sinful people (Leviticus 16:16; Leviticus 16:19-20).

The sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat once (Leviticus 16:15) was for the removal of the sins of the people. [Note: See Douglass Judisch, "Propitiation in the Language and Typology of the Old Testament," Concordia Theological Quarterly 48:2-3 (April-July 1984):221-43, which deals with the Hebrew words translated "cover."] The sprinkling of the blood before the mercy seat seven times (Leviticus 16:19) was for the cleansing of the sanctuary from the people’s sins. The high priest then sprinkled blood on and before the altar of burnt offerings (Leviticus 16:18-19).