Coverings

A sinful or ritually unclean person cannot exist in the “presence” of AVINU . When a human’s sin or uncleanness is exposed, immediate death results. There must always be a “covering” (kippur – Atonement) between AVINU and man. Here are some examples of different “coverings” that were used in Scripture:

Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when [they] give an offering unto Avinu, to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before Avinu, to make an atonement for your souls.

• Here is an example of “money” being used for an atonement. This “atonement” money was to be paid by every Israelite man, 20 years old and older. This “atonement (covering)” was the result of a census that Moshe was told to take. The “atonement” “cleaned up” the men in the armed forces allowing Avinu to be in their midst when they went to war.

Exodus 32:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moshe said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Avinu; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

• Moshe was telling Israel that hopefully, he would be able to persuade Elohim to forgive Israel over the Golden Calf incident and not kill them.

Leviticus 12:7 Who shall offer it before Avinu, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This [is] the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtle doves, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

• Here we see that an “atonement” was needed to complete the “cleansing” ritual for a woman who became “unclean” from normal bleeding after giving birth. This “uncleanness” is treated the same as sin when it comes to coming into Elohim’s presence. An “unclean” person defiles the things and people that they come into contact with while being in a state of uncleanness. They are not allowed in the midst of anything that AVINU is involved in i.e. the camp or the Tent of Meeting.

Leviticus 14:18 And the remnant of the oil that [is] in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before Avinu. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

• These passages are discussing the procedure for a person with tzaraat to be cleansed. This “uncleanness” on the skin was the result of loshan hara (evil tongue) usually tied to speaking harmful words against someone. The atonement is made on the altar but the oil is sprinkled in front of the veil. We see from this passage that a “spiritual / physical defilement” occurs when a person speaks negatively about or to someone.

Leviticus 14:53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

• Here we see another way that atonement is made. There is no altar involved. The “atonement” is made for a building that has also been defiled by Seraot and it needs to be completely cleansed of the condition and atonement made in order to be declared “clean”.

Leviticus 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. Leviticus 15:15 And the priest shall offer them, the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before Avinu for his issue.

• Here is a situation where a man has an emission from his body. This situation renders him “unclean”. His condition must have been stopped for seven days and an atonement must be made for him before he can be pronounced “clean” and allowed back into AVINU ’s presence.

Leviticus 15:30 And the priest shall offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before Avinu for the issue of her uncleanness.

• Here is a situation where a woman has become “unclean” because of her monthly cycle. Her bleeding must have been stopped for seven days and Atonement must be made for her as part of her coming into a “clean” state and being allowed to come into the presence of AVINU .

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

• Avinu states that the “substitute” blood of a certain animal is given to us as an instrument of atonement for certain conditions.

Numbers 5:2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is unclean by the dead: 3 both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell. 4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp; as Avinu spake unto Moshe, so did the children of Israel.

• Here we see Avinu telling Moshe to put the “unclean” persons outside of the camp. This pictures the “atonement” that we find in Leviticus 16 where the temple is being cleansed.

Numbers 8:19 And I have given the Levites [as] a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

• Notice that the “atonement” protects the children of Israel from getting a “plague” if they come into the sanctuary of the temple without the atonement being performed for them.

Numbers 16:46 And Moshe said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Avinu; the plague is begun. 47 And Aaron took as Moshe commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

• Notice that Aaron used a censor and incense to make an “atonement (covering)” to protect the children of Israel from a deadly plague that had broken out among the people because of their sin.

Numbers 25:13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, [even] the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his Avinu, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

• Here we see that Pinkas made “atonement” for Israel by killing an idolatrous Israelite and his “lover”. No sacrifice or incense but the sin of idolatry in Israel was stopped by a “zealous act”.

Numbers 31:50 We have therefore brought an oblation for Avinu, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before Avinu.

• These “gifts” were given to make atonement because the soldiers had disobeyed Moshe and taken forbidden booty from the Midianites. These were part of the men who paid the half shekel to the Levites for an atonement for their past sins and uncleanness. After they paid the atonement, they sinned again and had to bring another “atonement” to keep from being killed.

2 Samuel 21:3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of AVINU ?

• Atonement (covering) was accomplished here by delivering up 7 grandsons of Saul to be hanged by the Gibeonites. Saul had attacked them in violation of a peace treaty that Joshua had made with them and David was trying to reconcile the situation.

• I found that the Greek word that is translated “Atonement” in some versions is also translated “reconcile, reconciled and reconciliation in other versions.

Ephesians 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto Avinu through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

• In this verse we see two statements. Through the sacrifice of Yeshua, the Jews and Greeks are equal in their standing before AVINU . Second, through the sacrifice of Yeshua, both groups are “atoned” for. The blood of Messiach has become our “atonement” before AVINU .

Mt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

• This verse adds some clarity to the understanding of “atonement” and how it works. This negative situation between “brothers”, not necessarily “blood” relatives, has the ability to “block” someone’s attempt to get an “atonement” for himself.

Romans 5:10 For if, while we were enemies (sinners i.e. worshipers of an idol), we were reconciled to Avinu (able to have the “access” to have our sins forgiven) through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved (having our sins forgiven) by his life;

1 Corinthians 7:11 but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband (having a normal marriage relationship between the two parties); and that the husband leave not his wife

2 Corinthians 5:18 But all things are of Avinu, who reconciled us to himself through Meshiach, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

• “… the ministry of reconciliation …” is performed when we explain the salvation process to them and anoint them with oil. The oil represents the “atonement cover” and allows the recipient to have their sins forgiven and their healing accomplished.

2 Corinthians 5:19. to wit, that Avinu was in Meshiach reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word (message) of reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Meshiach, as though Avinu were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Meshiach, be ye reconciled to Avinu.

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to Avinu, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

• We have just learned what atonement is and how it works. The most wonderful thing that I learned is that by the blood shedding sacrifice of Yeshua, atonement was made giving me access to have my sins forgiven. No multiple atonements, just faith in our wonderful Messiach’s sacrifice. What a great gift AVINU has given to us!

Heb 9:20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which Avinu commanded to you-ward. 21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. 22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23  It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.