According to Jewish history, the first Yom Kippur occurred after Moses returned from his second trip to Mt. Sinai with the replacement set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Moses had broken the first set when he discovered that the Israelite children were not worshipping God, but rather a golden calf. While Moses was making his second trip, the followers fasted from sunrise to sunset hoping that God would provide them forgiveness. Moses descended the mountain on the tenth of Tishri (meaning the Jewish month now associated with September/October), and because they had repented, he announced that God had forgiven them. He decreed that the tenth of Tishri would remain a day of atonement for all generations. The book of Leviticus
…show more content…
The Holy of Holies was an inner sanctuary inside the temple where God's spirit dwelled and this area could only be entered during Yom Kippur by a High Priest. The High Priest would enter this area and place the sacrificial blood on the cover of the ark known as the “atonement seat”. He also would say the name of God out loud. “During Temple times, the true name of God held such power and inspired such awe and fear that people were afraid to hear it. The people made every effort not to hear that name! When the high priest uttered that mysterious name, they prostrated themselves on the ground and south to drown out his voice, proclaiming loudly in unison, “Praised be that glorious name forever!””2
The fate of the scapegoat is a controversial subject among theological historians. Some accounts state that the scapegoat was guided to a predetermined location and pushed off a cliff. Others insisted that he was left to wonder aimlessly through the wilderness burdened with sin, as a reminder to others that this could happen to them. Regardless, both theories do suggest that as the goat was led away from the city that the red cloth turned white. This symbolized that God had accept their offering and that they were forgiven of their
The Holy of Holies was an inner sanctuary inside the temple where God's spirit dwelled and this area could only be entered during Yom Kippur by a High Priest. The High Priest would enter this area and place the sacrificial blood on the cover of the ark known as the “atonement seat”. He also would say the name of God out loud. “During Temple times, the true name of God held such power and inspired such awe and fear that people were afraid to hear it. The people made every effort not to hear that name! When the high priest uttered that mysterious name, they prostrated themselves on the ground and south to drown out his voice, proclaiming loudly in unison, “Praised be that glorious name forever!””2
The fate of the scapegoat is a controversial subject among theological historians. Some accounts state that the scapegoat was guided to a predetermined location and pushed off a cliff. Others insisted that he was left to wonder aimlessly through the wilderness burdened with sin, as a reminder to others that this could happen to them. Regardless, both theories do suggest that as the goat was led away from the city that the red cloth turned white. This symbolized that God had accept their offering and that they were forgiven of their