What was done with the live goat after the sins of Israel were placed on it?
The live goat, after Israel’s sins were symbolically placed on it, was presented alive before the Lord, then taken alive far out into the unknown, untracked wilderness and released as the scapegoat. It was not sacrificed but let go, carrying the blame away.
Les explains that the two goats were chosen by lot: one goat was the Lord’s and was sacrificed as a sin offering, while the other remained alive as the scapegoat. The live goat was presented alive before the Lord to make atonement, or covering, with it, and then, with Israel’s sins symbolically placed on it, it was taken alive clear out into the unknown, untracked wilderness and let go. Les uses the modern term scapegoat to illustrate someone who takes the blame for the wrongs and sins of someone else, and he contrasts Israel’s barren Judean wilderness with our part of Oklahoma.