Atonement

[Shimon]

“They are the holy garments. He should bathe his body in water, and put them on.”

– Leviticus 16:4, Tree of Life Version

The holy linen garments of white that were worn by the Kohein Gadol, for the Yom Kippur service, are the same worn by the kohein (priests) throughout the year. Usually, Aaron wore garments of gold, designating him as the Kohein Gadol; however, for the atonement service of Yom Kippur he wore the common garments of all the other kohein (priests). This is symbolic of the humility, necessary for him to approach the L’RD, on the holiest day of the year.

Before he dresses in these garments, he immerses himself in a mikveh of mayim (water). This serves as a purification, for the L’RD must be approached in purity. According to R' Bachya, the white color of the garments is symbolic of forgiveness. Thus, a connection may be inferred between the garments worn by the Kohein Gadol, and the hoped for result of the Yom Kippur service. For, the offerings were made in the hope that the entire nation of Israel would be forgiven for their sins.

Two he goats are to be used as offerings. One goat becomes a chatas – sin offering. The other goat, “is to be presented alive before AD’NAI, to make atonement upon it, by sending it away as the scapegoat into the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:10, TLV). The sins of the nation of Israel were placed upon the goat, when Aaron leaned his hands on it. Then, the goat, known as the “scapegoat” was sent live into the wilderness.   

“He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of G’d.”

• 2 Kehillah in Corinth 5:21, Tree of Life Version

“Then he is to slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, bring its blood behind the curtain” (Leviticus 16:15, TLV). The blood was brought “within the paroches,” that is within the kadosh kadoshim – the holy of holies – behind the veil or curtain that separated the inner sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was, from the rest of the Sanctuary.

Within the kadosh kadoshim, where the Kohein Gadol only entered once a year on Yom Kippur, is where the blood of the sin offering for the nation of Israel was placed upon the kapores, the cover of the Ark of the Covenant as part of the atonement service. The word kapores means atonement, signifying its connection to the atonement made for the nation of Israel on Yom Kippur.

This service on Yom Kippur is itself symbolic of the greater atonement made for the nation of Israel: “when Messiah appeared as the Kohen Gadol of the good things that have now come, passing through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands (that is to say not of this creation), he entered into Holies once for all – not by the blood of goats and calves but by but his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12, TLV).