[[Lev-16]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Lev-15]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Lev-17]] --- ### 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. The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: The ritual of the 'scapegoat' (Azazel) involves the symbolic transfer of the nation's total guilt onto an animal that is then banished to a solitary land, predicting a future mechanism for the absolute removal of human sin. *Historical context*: Theological scholars and the New Testament ([[John-01#v29|John 1:29]], [[1 Pet-02#v24|1 Peter 2:24]]) identify Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this 'sin-bearer.' Historically, this is linked to the crucifixion of Jesus outside the gates of Jerusalem ([[Heb-13#v11|Hebrews 13:11]]-12), signifying the removal of sin from the community. Unlike the annual repetition of the Levitical rite, this was considered a 'once for all' event in approximately 30-33 AD. *Related to*: ### Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat... This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: The text establishes a restriction where access to God's presence is limited to a single mediator (the High Priest) who enters only once a year with the blood of sacrifices. This serves as a prophetic 'shadow' or pattern of a future, superior mediation. *Historical context*: This is recognized by historians of religion and theologians as being fulfilled by the high priesthood of Jesus. [[Heb-09#v11|Hebrews 9:11]]-12 and 9:24-26 describe Jesus entering not a man-made sanctuary, but 'heaven itself' as a Great High Priest. The 'veil' mentioned in Leviticus is historically linked to the tearing of the Temple curtain during the crucifixion ([[Matt-27#v51|Matthew 27:51]]), which symbolized the end of the restricted access predicted by the Levitical law. *Related to*: ### He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil... and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: The requirement of blood being applied to the 'mercy seat' (kapporet) to cover the sins of the people predicts a future sacrifice where blood would satisfy the requirements of divine justice (propitiation). *Historical context*: The Greek term for 'mercy seat' (hilasterion) is used in the Septuagint and later applied to Jesus in [[Rom-03#v25|Romans 3:25]]. The historical fulfillment is found in the 'blood of the new covenant' shed during the Roman execution of Jesus, which replaced the need for animal blood as the final covering for transgressions, as argued in [[Heb-10#v4|Hebrews 10:4]]-10. *Related to*: --- #ai_prophecy