Leviticus 16:20-22
Atonement involves both cleansing from sin and the removal of sin from God’s people.
20 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.
21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on 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 on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready.
22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.
Atonement involves both cleansing from sin and the removal of sin from God’s people.
This passage completes the atonement process by transferring Israel’s sins onto the live goat and sending it away into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of their iniquities.
Leviticus 16:20-22 follows the blood rites for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting, and the altar in Leviticus 16:11-19. The movement now turns from purification of the sanctuary to the ritual removal of Israel's sins by the live goat. This unit prepares for the priestly bathing, garment changes, burnt offerings, and disposal rites in Leviticus 16:23-28.
The Day of Atonement instructions are given to Israel in the wilderness after the death of Aaron's sons, within the larger Levitical concern for holy access to the Lord's dwelling.
The Day of Atonement: Cleansing the Sanctuary and Bearing Away Israel's Sins
The holy LORD provides annual atonement through His appointed high priest, blood, substitution, confession, cleansing, and removal so that He may continue dwelling among His sinful and unclean people.