On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. (Leviticus 23:27–28)
The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei every year––ten days after Rosh Hashanah––and during September or October on the Gregorian calendar. This day was set apart by the Lord for the people of Israel to rest and receive the atoning sacrifice for their sins, foreshadowing the ultimate atoning sacrifice of Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) the Messiah for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
Biblical Institution
In Leviticus 16 and 23, God gave the people of Israel specific instructions on how to observe this holy and solemn day. He commanded the people to hold a convocation, humble their souls, present sacrificial offerings, and rest from work.
- Hold a convocation.
God told the Israelites to gather for worship on this solemn day of repentance, sacrifice, and atonement.
- Humble your souls.
God also told the people of Israel they were to humble their souls before God on this day. This command was so serious that God said, “If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 23:29). Jewish tradition has interpreted this command as a directive to fast because throughout Scripture, fasting is equated with humbling one’s soul (cf. Isaiah 58:3). The high priest was also commanded to humble himself by wearing plain linen garments instead of his usual colorful ensemble and to purify himself by bathing his entire body before offering the sacrifices (Leviticus 16:4, 24).
- Offer sacrifices.
The Day of Atonement centered around the high priest’s sacrificial offerings. God had instituted the sacrificial system as the primary means of atonement for sin: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). Since the consequence of sin is death (Genesis 2:17), God allowed the Israelites to sacrifice innocent animals to die in their place. This showed the seriousness of sin and pointed toward the ultimate innocent sacrifice––the Lamb of God, Yeshua the Messiah.
The Day of Atonement served as the only day of the year when the high priest entered the Temple’s holy of holies to sprinkle atoning blood for his and Israel’s sins on the mercy seat, atop the ark of the covenant. Before the high priest could offer an atoning sacrifice for the nation’s sins, he first had to offer one for himself and for his family’s sins by sacrificing a bull, followed by sprinkling its blood on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:11–14). Then, he was to select two male goats and cast lots to help decide between the one that would serve as a sacrifice for Israel’s sins and the one that would serve as a scapegoat, or Azazel (Leviticus 16:8). He would sacrifice on the altar the one chosen as a sin offering and sprinkle its blood on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:15). He would then place his hands on the head of the scapegoat who would be sent away into the wilderness, carrying the people’s sins with it (Leviticus 16:21–22).
Since the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE—about forty years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven—Jewish people have not been able to observe these commands related to the atoning sacrificial offerings. During Jesus’ time, the Second Temple remained standing, with a functioning high priest.1 In addition, during this time, there was no mercy seat, cherubim, or ark of the covenant in the holy of holies, since they were stolen during the Babylonian captivity years prior. Instead, the high priest sprinkled the animals’ blood on a rock called “the foundation stone” in the holy of holies.2 During the Second Temple period, there was clearly a substantial need for a righteous high priest who could offer atonement.
- Rest from work.
God commanded the Israelites to “do no work at all” (Leviticus 23:31) and to observe “a sabbath of complete rest” on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:32).
Yom Kippur in Light of Yeshua
In Yeshua’s day, Jewish people everywhere gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem to worship, pray, and repent of their sins before God. The sacrifices in the Temple on the Day of Atonement pointed toward the ultimate sacrifice of Messiah Himself, who would offer a once-for-all sacrifice for sin,
But when Christ [Messiah] appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11–12)
Messiah, our High Priest, entered a heavenly holy of holies and made atonement for our sin through His sacrificial death on the cross. Therefore, believers in Yeshua—whether Jewish or Gentile—can rejoice on Yom Kippur, knowing our Messiah and High Priest has atoned for our sins. The Jewish prophets foretold this ultimate day of atonement. The prophet Isaiah wrote,
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:5–6)
The Jewish prophet Jeremiah likewise prophesied of a future day when God would make a new covenant with the people of Israel after forgiving their sin,
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers . . . I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. . . . for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31–34, emphasis added)
Yeshua enacted this new covenant of forgiveness of sins through His atoning death. We can now enter God’s presence through Him, our High Priest, and receive atonement and forgiveness because of His intercession and sacrifice on our behalf.
The Jewish prophet Daniel also prophesied of this coming “Anointed One” (often used to refer to the Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures) who would atone for sin before the destruction of the Second Temple. This anointed one would come “to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place” (Daniel 9:24). He would then “be cut off” (die a violent death, Daniel 9:26); and later, someone would “destroy the city and the sanctuary” (destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, Daniel 9:26).
This prophecy amazingly predicted the Messiah would come while the Second Temple was still standing, and he would die an atoning death to bring an end to sin. This would be followed by the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Yeshua came during the first century while the Second Temple still stood; he lived a holy and perfect life in obedience to the law of Moses and he shed His blood to purchase the forgiveness of sins. The same Scriptures which outlined God’s laws concerning atoning sacrifices on Yom Kippur foreshadowed the coming Anointed One who would sacrifice Himself for all our sins, once and for all.
Interesting Phenomena Recorded After Yeshua’s Death
The Talmud, in tractate Yoma 39b, records how four miracles occurred on Yom Kippur year after year until they suddenly stopped forty years prior to the Temple’s destruction in 70 CE. Yeshua’s death occurred forty years prior to the Temple’s destruction in approximately 30 CE. Yoma records,
Forty years prior to the destruction of the Second Temple, the lot for God did not arise in the High Priest’s right hand at all. So too, the strip of crimson wool that was tied to the head of the goat that was sent to Azazel did not turn white, and the westernmost lamp of the candelabrum did not burn continually. And the doors of the Sanctuary opened by themselves as a sign that they would soon be opened by enemies.3
- The lot for God no longer landed in the high priest’s right hand.
In Leviticus 16:8, God instructed the high priest to cast lots “for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat [Azazel].” The goat whose lot was “for the Lord” would be sacrificed, and the other goat would be led into the wilderness. Jewish tradition considered it a good omen if the lot marked “for the Lord” landed in the high priest’s right hand, and the lot drawn “for Azazel” landed in his left hand.4 According to the Talmud, the lot marked “for the Lord” continually landed in the high priest’s right hand until forty years before the Temple’s destruction, a possible indication that God accepted Yeshua’s sacrifice over that of goats.
- The crimson sash in the Temple stopped turning white.
The Talmud records how, every year, the people would attach a crimson sash to the door of the Temple, and after the goat was sent to Azazel—bearing the Israelites’ sins with him—the sash would turn white. This miracle signified to the people that God had forgiven their sins, as He said in Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” Every year, the red sash would miraculously turn white, but, according to the Talmud, this miracle stopped occurring around approximately 30 CE, the time of Yeshua’s atoning death and resurrection.
- The westernmost lamp of the Temple menorah (candelabrum) stopped burning continually.
Jewish tradition believes the westernmost lamp of the Temple menorah would miraculously remain lit until the day following Yom Kippur so the priest could use its fire to light the next day’s candles.5 The Talmud records that this miracle stopped occurring around approximately 30 CE, the time of Yeshua’s atoning death and resurrection.
- The doors of the Temple began opening on their own.
Forty years before the Temple’s destruction, the Talmud records that the Temple doors began opening on their own. The rabbinic sages viewed this as an ominous sign signifying the Jewish people’s enemies would soon open its doors, in fulfillment of Zechariah 11:1, “Open your doors, O Lebanon, that a fire may feed on your cedars.” This ominous sign and prophecy came to fruition in 70 CE when Rome destroyed the Temple with fire. The sages believed the Temple’s destruction was God’s judgment upon their people for ungodliness and baseless hatred.6 Yeshua predicted the Temple’s destruction and prophesied it would occur because of His people’s rejection of God’s visitation to Israel through Him (Luke 19:44; cf. Luke 21:5–6).
Jesus Our High Priest
Perhaps these four phenomena indicated that God had already sent His perfect High Priest, Yeshua the Messiah, to atone for sin. Perhaps the lot marked “for the Lord” stopped landing in the high priest’s hand because God no longer needed the sacrifice of goats. Perhaps the crimson sash stopped turning white because God had already made a way for sins to be forgiven.
The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews wrote about Yeshua’s sacrifice for all time,
Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He [Jesus], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. . . . For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them. . . . And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” [quoting Jeremiah 31:31–33]. Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:11–18, emphasis added)
The God of Israel, who instituted the Day of Atonement and required blood to be shed to atone for sin (Leviticus 17:11), Himself became our atonement and shed His own blood for the Jewish people and the whole world. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, there is no savior other than God Himself, “I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me” (Isaiah 43:11). Thank God we have a merciful and loving High Priest who “is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Jennifer Miles is the director of communications for the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem and a staff apologist for Chosen People Ministries. She earned her master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stockton University. She is passionate about sharing biblical truth about Israel and the Jewish people and reaching God’s chosen people with the good news of their Messiah.
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1 Mitch and Zhava Glaser, The Fall Feasts of Israel (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1987), 94.
2 Glasers, The Fall Feasts of Israel, 101.
3 Yoma 39b, The William Davidson Talmud, https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.39b.6?lang=bi.
4 Glasers, The Fall Feasts of Israel, 100.
5 Glasers, The Fall Feasts of Israel, 105.
6 Glasers, The Fall Feasts of Israel, 105.
