One of the natural results of the sin of Na'dab and A-bi'hu, and of the severe penalty inflicted upon them, was to put in the mind of Aa'ron a feeling of dread, lest he, too, should err in the ministries of his office. For this reason the LORD soon appeared to Mo'ses with full instructions for the High Priest to carry out on the one day of each year in which he was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. That day was called the Great Day of A-tone'ment, and became the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
The sacrificial system of Mo'ses reached its highest point in the worship which took place on the Great Day of A-tone'ment. It was an annual day for Is'ra-el to make atonement for all the sins of the past year which might have escaped notice in the regular daily sacrifices. It was the day on which the entire nation received pardon for such sins, and the sacrifices and ceremonies then performed marked the climax of all the others.
The first observance of the Day of A-tone'ment took place soon after the tragic death of Na'dab and A-bi'hu for impiety, and was held on the tenth day of the seventh month in the He'brew year. It was at the critical period in Is'ra-el's history when the chosen nation was being firmly established, and when the Mo-sa'ic system of rites and ceremonies was being completed. It was also just before the Is'ra-el-ites departed from Si'nai for the journey to Ka'desh-Bar'ne-a, where they were to be severely tested as to their readiness to enter at once into the Promised Land.
The sacrifices of the Great Day of A-tone'ment were made by Aa'ron alone, and in this respect they were different from the daily sacrifices, which could be offered by any of the priests. As the High Priest, Aa'ron had to perform all the rites and ceremonies of the day without any help from the other priests. The refueling of the fire on the Great Altar within the courts of the Tabernacle, the filling of the lamps within the Holy Place, the lighting and burning of the incense, and all the daily offices required, were performed by the High Priest.
The appointed sacrifices for that day were a Sin Offering and a Burnt Offering. A bullock and two young goats, each one perfect in every respect, were furnished from the public treasury of the whole house of Is'ra-el. Before going out to make these offerings, Aa'ron washed himself thoroughly, and dressed in the priestly garments specially designed for this particular day.
On the Great Day of Atonement the High Priest wore fine white linen breeches next to his body, a fine linen coat, clean and white; a white linen girdle, and a linen mitre for his head. These garments were symbolic of perfect righteousness and complete purity. On this occasion the splendid golden garments which the High Priest ordinarily wore as a sign of his office were laid aside for the plain, simple garments of Holiness. The mitre with a plate of pure gold around the brow, the wonderful breastplate studded with twelve precious stones, the ephod with its onyx stones and tinkling bells of gold-all these were put away on the solemn Day of A-tone'ment.
First in the order of the sacrifices was that of a young bullock which was offered in atonement for the sins of the High Priest and his family. Aa'ron slew the bullock, and let its blood flow into a vessel used for that purpose while he entered the Holy of Holies, carrying a censer of burning coals in his right hand, and a platter of fragrant incense in his left.
