The burning coals were placed at once in front of the Ark of the Cov'e-nant, and were sprinkled with finely grount incense until the Tabernacle was filled with a silvery cloud of smoke, symbolic of praise and prayer.
Aa'ron then returnt for the vessel of blood, and sprinkled some of it upon the Mercy Seat as an a-tone'ment for his own sins and those of the priests who assisted him. This act of worship was performed seven times as a token of completeness.
When Aa'ron stood once again before the Great Altar in the court of the Tabernacle, he was presented with two young goats which were just alike in appearance, and size, and value. These were placed by the altar with their backs toward the assembled people, and their faces toward the sanctuary of the LORD.
Two lots of the same size, shape, and material were placed in an urn; on one was written, "for the LORD," while the other said, "to be sent away." After lifting this urn toward the people and shaking it, Aa'ron drew out the lots and placed one on the head of each goat. He then tied a piece of scarlet cloth around the neck of the goat which had been chosen for the LORD, and a similar cloth was tied on the horns of the one which was to be sent away.
The goat on which the lot "For the LORD" had been placed was given as a Sin Offering for the people. This sacrifice was made in the same manner as the offering of the bullock. The blood was carried by the High Priest alone into the Holy of Holies, and was sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat as an a-tone'ment for the sins of all Is'ra-el. By various ceremonies the Tabernacle and all its furnishings were newly sanctified. Thus full a-tone'ment was made for the sins of all the people, and by ceremonial rites they were dedicated anew to the service of the LORD.
Then the High Priest turnt again to the Great Altar where there still remained the goat on which the lot "to be sent away" had fallen. This goat, which was given the name "scapegoat," was then turnt to face the assemble people, waiting for their sins to be laid upon him. Then it was sent into the wilderness, to a land "not inhabited."
Before the goat was sent away, however, the priest laid his hand on its head and made the following prayer:
"O LORD, the house of Is'ra-el, thy people, have trespassed, rebelled, and sinned before
thee. I beseech thee, O LORD, forgive their trespasses and sins which they have committed,
that they may be clean from all their sins before the LORD."
The "scapegoat" was then led away to some distant place in the wilderness, so far away that it could never find the way back, and was turnt loose to wander wherever it pleased.
In the sacrifice of the first goat there was blood a-tone'ment for sin, while the second goat was an example of the results of the a-tone'ment. Through the mercy and grace of God the sins of the people were carried away into the wilderness, never to return to the people from whom they had been separated, indicating full and perfect remission of sins. Having completed these ceremonies Aa'ron removed the white garments designed for the Great Day of A-tone'ment, donned his regular priestly robe, and made Burnt Offerings for the people as a token of gratitude and renewed consecration.
Instructions were then given by Mo'ses for continuing the Great Day of A-tone'ment, and rules for its annual observance were announced. It was to be observed by the entire nation, whether in their own land or among foreign people, and was set apart as a Sab'bath of rest. All worldly pursuits were to be laid aside during the sacred observances, and the whole thought of the people was to be centered upon the sacrifices, ceremonies, and rites of that Great Day. It was also required that the day be observed with deep sorrow, humble confession of sin, and genuine repentance toward God. This Annual Feast Day was faithfully observed by Is'ra-el to the time when its symbols of A-tone'ment were wonderfully fulfilled by the LORD Jesus in His death on Calvary.
