The Two Goats
In Leviticus 16 when we read of the atonement ritual we read of two identical goats…one upon whom the sins of the people are laid who is then cast out of the camp to die and the other who being sacrificed on the altar has his blood sprinkled on the mercy seat and upon the many people.
The Bible says one is for the LORD and the other for Azazel and this has caused two views so I want to know how each of you see this…the Hebrew word “aza’zel” means “scapegoat” and we here in the west have our cognitive associations with that term…for example, Hitler used the Jewish people as a scapegoat and got the anger and suspicions of the masses roused against them when in fact they had done nothing wrong. But is that what the Bible means when it uses this term? Hmmm?
So my question is related to the two views…
One is that both goats are part of the same atonement and that Christ fulfills both roles as Leviticus 16:21-22 tells us the sins of the people were laid on the scapegoat and then he was cast out of the camp to die and the other makes atonement by the shedding/sprinkling/covering of blood…
The second view (and well supported by many and by their interpretation of scripture) says that only the goat slain on the altar represents Christ and the goat “for azazel” represents Satan who being the cause of all the sins ever will be cast out eternally…
Any thoughts? Or is this too deep to be bothered with (I mean it does not affect our salvation) so if no one wants to think this out that’s fine…I can somewhat defend each side so I will throw in curve balls now and then to promote discussion…
Thanks for even hearing about this as some never have but you bump into the controversy if you speak with some Jewish people, even those who are messianic…
Thanks
Brother Paul
In Leviticus 16 when we read of the atonement ritual we read of two identical goats…one upon whom the sins of the people are laid who is then cast out of the camp to die and the other who being sacrificed on the altar has his blood sprinkled on the mercy seat and upon the many people.
The Bible says one is for the LORD and the other for Azazel and this has caused two views so I want to know how each of you see this…the Hebrew word “aza’zel” means “scapegoat” and we here in the west have our cognitive associations with that term…for example, Hitler used the Jewish people as a scapegoat and got the anger and suspicions of the masses roused against them when in fact they had done nothing wrong. But is that what the Bible means when it uses this term? Hmmm?
So my question is related to the two views…
One is that both goats are part of the same atonement and that Christ fulfills both roles as Leviticus 16:21-22 tells us the sins of the people were laid on the scapegoat and then he was cast out of the camp to die and the other makes atonement by the shedding/sprinkling/covering of blood…
The second view (and well supported by many and by their interpretation of scripture) says that only the goat slain on the altar represents Christ and the goat “for azazel” represents Satan who being the cause of all the sins ever will be cast out eternally…
Any thoughts? Or is this too deep to be bothered with (I mean it does not affect our salvation) so if no one wants to think this out that’s fine…I can somewhat defend each side so I will throw in curve balls now and then to promote discussion…
Thanks for even hearing about this as some never have but you bump into the controversy if you speak with some Jewish people, even those who are messianic…
Thanks
Brother Paul