The Yom Kippur Offering
29: 7-11
The Yom-Kippur Offering DIG: How is most of the Day of Atonement spent? What was the purpose of the Day of Atonement? Why the need for a Purification Offering? In what way was the Yom Kippur Offering a pleasing aroma to ADONAI? Why is this special day considered the most holy day of the year?
REFLECT: Define atonement. What meaning does this word have in your life? How does Messiah’s atonement affect your relationship with God, fellow believers, and unbelievers? Why is Yom Kippur especially significant for believers today? What can you do to make this an important day for your family?
Yom Kippur will be fulfilled by the Great Tribulation.
This passage instructs the priests how to properly prepare for Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is an appointed time (to see link click Leviticus Dw – God’s Appointed Times) and the most holy day on the Jewish calendar. YHVH commanded that on the tenth day of this seventh month (Tishrei) the Israelites were to have a holy assembly. It is a Sabbath and a fast day so they are not to do any kind of work and are to deny yourselves (Ezra 8:1). See the comments on Leviticus 16 for an analysis of the Yom Kippur service (see Leviticus Ef – Yom Kippur).
The additional (mussaf) offerings of Yom Kippur are identical to those of Rosh ha’Shanah, except there are no New Moon sacrifices (see Ez – The New Moon Offerings). Prepare an ‘Olah Offering (see Leviticus Ao – The ‘Olah Offering: Providing Access to God) to make a pleasing aroma for ADONAI – one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs without defect in their first year with their Grain Offerings (see Leviticus Ap – The Minhah Offering: Assuring People of God’s Acceptance), consisting of fine flour mixed with olive oil – six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram, and two quarts for each of the seven lambs, all with their accompanying Grain Offerings and Drink Offerings – also one male goat as a Purification Offering to make atonement for you (see Leviticus Aq – The Chatta’th Offering: Communicating God’s Forgiveness). This was in addition to the regular morning and evening ‘Olah Offerings with their Minhah and Drink Offerings.668
All the offerings would be a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to ADONAI. The remark that those sacrifices were to be without defect reminds us how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Holy Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). The purpose of the Chatta’th Offering goat is explained in the tractate Shavu’ot of the Mishnah (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). The goat was a fail safe measure. It was meant to provide atonement for those who inadvertently desecrated the Tabernacle by coming near to God in a condition of ritual impurity.669
With the first goat being sacrificed as a Chatta’th Offering, one might naturally assume that no additional goats would be necessary for Purification Offerings, especially with the two goats described in Leviticus 16. However, the Torah corrects this assumption by stating that there should be two additional male goats for a Chatta’th Offering (29:11). Therefore, there are a total of three goats used in the Yom Kippur service. When we combine the list of offerings mandated in Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29, there were 9 lambs, 2 bulls, 3 goats, and 2 rams sacrificed for a total of 16 animals.
Since the Day of Atonement is marked by a fast, almost the entire day is spent in prayer and petition. As with Rosh ha’Shanah, the additional (mussaf) offerings of Yom Kippur are remembered in the traditional synagogue liturgy with a whole collection of mussaf prayers: Multiple repetitions of the Shemoneh Esrei (see Fe – The Rosh ha’Shanah Offering) with major embellishments, additional prayers of confession, contrition and petition, liturgical songs, poems, and hymns. As with the Rosh ha’Shanah prayers, the extensive prayers of Yom Kippur are typically contained in a separate volume. They are prayers of amazing depth and beauty, accompanied by heart-rendering melodies. Part of the mussaf involved a reading of the entire order of the service the high priest conducted as he carried out the list of sacrifices and rituals of the day. The following is an example of one of these Yom Kippur mussaf prayers that describes the joy of the community at seeing the high priest as he emerged from the Most Holy Place after completing all the rituals therein.670
Like the heavenly canopy stretched out over those who dwell above,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the lightning bolts emanating out from the radiance of the Living Creatures,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the fringes on the four corners of the garment,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the image of the rainbow amid the cloud,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the garments of light in which the Creator clothed His creatures,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like a rose that is placed in the middle of a precious garden.
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like a crown that is placed on a king’s forehead,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the graciousness granted to a bridegroom’s face,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the purity placed upon the turban pure,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the One who sat in concealment to plead before the King,
was the appearance of the high priest.
Like the morning star on the eastern border,
was the appearance of the high priest.671
For believers, Yom Kippur carries a special significance in that it is the day when we contemplate the Master’s work on our behalf. He is our Great High Priest, the Bridegroom, the One who sits in concealment. Traditionally, this is the holiest day of the Jewish year, and those who love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concern themselves with cleansing, atoning work of Messiah, which has satisfied every claim of ADONAI’s holiness and justice so that He is free to act on behalf of sinners.672 We joyfully await His reappearance from the Most Holy Place in the heavenly Tabernacle, to institute His Middle East peace plan.
Yom Kippur will be fulfilled by the Great Tribulation. Thank You that You do not destine Your children for wrath. We believe you will rapture Your children from the wrath of the Tribulation. For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah (FirstThessalonians 5:9). Father, my heart is heavy for family and friends who know about you and think you are very loving, but they desire to love themselves and to live to please themselves. They have not yet understood that to believe in You means to make a covenant of love with You to follow and to obey You in all they do. Please give them a moment of spiritual clarity, so they can see their sin for what it really is and be able to make a decision to either accept or reject You. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
Leave A Comment