Leviticus 15-16

Chapter 15: Other Types of Un-cleanliness

The Lord speaks to Aaron and Moses about skin issues and other unclean things. We learn in Matthew 9:19-21, that a “…woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him (Jesus), and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” (Matthew 9:19-22)        

This woman had a disease with her blood, that made her unclean to the rest of the world. The fact that Jesus turned around and spoke with this woman, probably did not go over with many people, but shows the great love Jesus had for everyone. He had compassion on her, because of the great faith that she had.

We learn more about that “un-cleanliness” in the 15th chapter of Leviticus, where the Lord reveals these things to Moses and Aaron:

“…if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: a whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean…” (Leviticus 15:19)

After that “probation” period of seven days, if she is still unclean, she will remain unclean. The woman in Matthew had suffered being “unclean” for twelve years!

Chapter 16: Forgiveness by Atonement

If the congregation of Israel sins, then the priest (in this case Aaron) will receive 2 goats, and he will cast lots (basically like flipping a coin) to find out which goat will be sacrificed and which goat will become the “scapegoat”. The scapegoat is let free and resides in the wilderness until after the other goat is slain and sacrificed to the Lord as a burnt offering. Most of the same rituals and ceremonies that we have discussed in previous chapters are completed here as well. The only difference is that the blood is sprinkled seven times east -ward on the mercy seat.

After those ceremonies are completed the priest will then bring back the scapegoat and which both his hands placed on the head of the scapegoat, all of the sins and transgressions of the children of Israel at that moment are placed upon the head of this one goat. I am guessing that this is where we got the word “scapegoat” as the one who gets blamed for something that he or she really had no part in.

The Atonement is completed after this, as the scapegoat takes the sins of the children of Israel.