Les Feldick Bible Study

What did Aaron do to the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement?

On the Day of Atonement, Aaron brought the live goat, laid both his hands upon its head, and confessed over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel. After finishing the ritual in the tabernacle, he placed Israel's sins on the scapegoat, which pictured Christ.

Les explains that after the high priest finished the ritual within the little tent—reconciling the holy place and the tabernacle of the congregation—he came back out to the goat that had been left alive. Aaron then laid both hands upon the head of the live goat and confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel. Les emphasizes that even this scapegoat pictures Christ.

Leviticus 16:21

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: