Weekly Torah Lesson – 1
Parasha: Acharei Mot After the death
Torah: VaYikra 16:1 – 18:30
Leviticus 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before Avinu at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aharon shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for Avinu, and the other lot for the ahazel. 9 And Aharon shall bring the goat on which Avinu’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the ahazel, shall be presented alive before Avinu, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a ahazel into the wilderness.
The first goat’s role was to appease Avinu and to be sacrificed to Him; it was for Avinu’s satisfaction in the effecting of atonement process. Consider that the Israelites did not truly understand the intent of the sacrificial system. During the first century, the concepts that the Messiah would be Avinu-in-the-flesh and that He would be killed in fulfillment of the whole sacrificial system were entirely foreign. If there was ever a national consciousness that the first goat was a representation of the Creator Avinu, dying for the sins of the people, it was clearly forgotten by the time it was fulfilled!
Even though we can now read various psalms and prophecies related to the crucifixion and recognize them as Meshianic, the Israelites did not have this understanding; they thought the Messiah would be a human leader who would restore them to national greatness. In like manner, they certainly understood, not that one of the goats would represent Avinu, but that the goat was a sacrifice to Avinu. The instructions do not specify how the ritual would later be fulfilled—only what the goats were for.
Along these lines, azazel is not a name in the Bible, nor did the live goat represent a second personality, but instead it fulfilled a second purpose. It was chosen to accomplish just what the Hebrew root word means: departure, removal, or disappearance. The first goat was for Avinu because His justice (atonement) must be satisfied; it was for the cleansing of His house (Tabernacle and people). The second goat was for an additional step after the penalty for sin was paid: completely removing the sins from view by bearing them to an uninhabited land. Thus, while many infer that two personalities are in view in Leviticus 16:8, the construction does not require it. Rather, the lots were cast to determine which goat would fulfill each role within this compound atonement / removal of sin.
One lot for the Lord, the other lot for Ahazel. By taking from an urn tablet, alike in size and shape, describing the destination of each animal. Ahazel, better described as ‘dismissal’. In the Septuagint,’the one to be sent away’. The Authorized version, following the Vulgate, ‘the scapegoat’, or ‘escaping into the wilderness’.
Ahazel is not a proper name but rather a Hebrew noun. Ahazel, meaning dismissal or entire removal. It is an ancient technical Hebrew term for the entire removal of the sins of Israel that was symbolized by the ‘sending away’ of the goat into the wilderness. Ahazel was later applied to the place where the goat was hurled to it’s death because it was becoming increasingly harder to bring the goat to a place where it wouldn’t return to an inhabited area of Israel. Later, the word Ahazel came to represent a high ranking fallen angel. Ezra and Maimonedes later referred to Ahazel as a demon that lived in the wilderness.
** Remember, the blood sacrifice was not to take away our sins. The shedding of animal blood was to provide an atonement (covering) so the penitent could stand in the presence of Avinu and ask to have his sins forgiven. Yeshua’s sacrifice accomplishes the functions of both lambs.
Here are a couple of verses for you to consider:
*** “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of Avinu who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
** Now you can understand exactly which ‘lamb’ John was referencing.
*** “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Heb 10:4 )
** The blood of any animal could only provide atonement! After Atonement was effected, the next step in the salvation process was able to be performed.
*** “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9 )
** The sacrifice of Yeshua accomplishes the functions of both lambs but the sin must still be confessed and forgiveness requested.
*** “9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience — 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Meshiach came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Meshiach, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to Avinu, cleanse your conscience from dead works (sins) to serve the living Avinu?” (Heb 9:9-14 )
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:22 )
Remember: The Azazel took away the sins of Israel. Yeshua took away the sins of the whole world!
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