What did the high priest do with blood on the Day of Atonement?
On the Day of Atonement, Aaron the high priest brought three animals. He killed one and sprinkled its blood on the mercy seat for his own sin. He then sprinkled the second animal's blood there for Israel's sins. Finally, he laid hands on the scapegoat, which was taken into the wilderness.
Les explains that to understand propitiation, he takes us back to Exodus and the tabernacle in the wilderness. The tabernacle was divided into two rooms, and in the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat. On the Day of Atonement, Aaron the high priest would bring three animals. He killed one and made his way back to the Holy of Holies, sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat first for his own sin. Then he took the blood of the second animal and sprinkled it there for the sins of Israel. After that, he went back and symbolically laid his hand on the head of the goat called the scapegoat, which was taken out into the wilderness. Les uses this to illustrate propitiation.