Today here in chapter 16, we're looking at the Day of Atonement, commonly in modern times thought of as Yom Kippor. This was the most important day of the Jewish religious calendar, and Leviticus 16 is the introduction of this day. There's no coincidence, likely, that it's found here at the center of the priestly manual, the center of the book of Leviticus. And not only in the center of Leviticus, but really if you space it out, it's at the center of the Torah itself, Genesis through Deuteronomy. This is an important day, and the ceremonies described here were for the priests to engage in on this special day.
Read more