Leviticus 16:10

"Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer him for a sin offering."

Key Reflection

In Leviticus 16:10, Aaron is instructed to present the goat that was designated by lot as the "scapegoat" (azazel in Hebrew) and offer it as a sin offering. This ritual underscores the symbolic removal of sins from the community; while one goat is sacrificed for atonement within the sacred space, the other is sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the carrying away of those sins to a place beyond the camp, thus cleansing the community ritually.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

On which the lot fell to be the scapegoat -Rather, on which the lot ‘for Azazel’ fell. An atonement with him -The goat “for Azazel” was to be considered as taking his part along with the other goat in the great symbol of atonement. For a scapegoat into the wilderness -Rather, “to Azazel, into the wilderness.”

More from Leviticus 16

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