The Dispensation of Law began when God gave Moses the commandments at Mount Sinai after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Unlike previous dispensations, this era was marked by a detailed code of conduct, rules for worship, and a system of sacrifices. Through these laws, God sought to establish Israel as a nation set apart, highlighting His holiness and calling the people to recognize their need for atonement.
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“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
Following generations of slavery in Egypt, Israel needed clear guidelines to restore their relationship with God and understand His standards. The Mosaic Law prescribed rituals that would serve as reminders of God’s holiness, requiring purity and sacrificial offerings. By adhering to the Law, Israel not only learned of their responsibility toward God but also anticipated the coming Redeemer who would ultimately fulfill these regulations and rituals.
Context of Sacrificial Offerings in the Old Testament
Before the Mosaic Law, sacrifices existed as simple expressions of worship and devotion. In the accounts of Adam, Abel, and Noah, we see sacrifices that serve as early forms of offering, symbolizing dependence on God. Abel’s acceptable offering of a lamb was a foreshadowing of sacrificial atonement, an act pleasing to God because it followed divine principles rather than human ideas.
After Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the sacrificial system under Moses became a central component of the covenant relationship. The Law transformed these early sacrifices into a structured system, with regular and seasonal offerings symbolizing repentance, gratitude, and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty. This new structure provided a way for the people to atone for their sins and connect with God despite their imperfections.
“Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives… So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.’” (Genesis 8:15-20)
The Sacrificial System Under the Law
The Mosaic Law introduced a comprehensive sacrificial system that addressed Israel’s sins, celebrated festivals, and provided a way to maintain fellowship with God. This system included regular sacrifices (burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt offerings) and annual festivals (Passover, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles). The sacrificial offerings emphasized the necessity of blood to atone for sin, a concept rooted in the principle that life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11).
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11)
Through these sacrifices, Israel recognized that sin required a substitute, foreshadowing the ultimate substitution in Christ. The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, was central among these rituals as the time set aside for national repentance. On this day, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, offering sacrifices to cleanse the sanctuary and the people from sin.
The Day of Atonement and the Two Goats: Key Symbolism and Significance
The Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16, presents the two goats as central symbols of atonement. This ritual is unique in that it involves two animals that each serve distinct purposes in the sacrificial process.
The Sacrificial Goat
The first goat, chosen by casting lots, was designated as the sin offering for the people. The high priest would slaughter this goat and carry its blood into the Holy of Holies, sprinkling it on the mercy seat to atone for the people’s sins. This act of bloodshed symbolized the covering of sin, addressing the people’s guilt before God.
“He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way, he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place…” (Leviticus 16:15-16)
This sacrificial goat represented propitiation, satisfying God’s judgment and restoring fellowship with Him. The blood shed on behalf of the people pointed to the seriousness of sin and the necessity of substitution, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice in Christ, who would offer His blood to redeem humanity.
The Scapegoat
The second goat, known as the scapegoat, symbolized the removal of sin. After the first goat was sacrificed, the high priest would place his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessing over it all the sins of Israel. This ritual act transferred the people’s guilt onto the scapegoat, which was then led into the wilderness, symbolizing the expulsion of sin from the community.
“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness…” (Leviticus 16:21-22)
The scapegoat illustrated expiation, the removal of sin’s guilt, and separation from the presence of God’s people. Through this act, the Israelites saw that sin’s consequences could be borne away from the community, foreshadowing the spiritual liberation provided by Christ’s sacrifice.
Significance of the Two Goats
The two goats together represent a comprehensive atonement: the sacrificial goat symbolizes the appeasement of God’s wrath through death, while the scapegoat shows the removal of sin’s burden. This dual symbolism foreshadows Christ’s role in atoning for humanity’s sins. As both sacrifice and scapegoat, Christ’s blood not only satisfies God’s justice but also purifies and removes sin’s consequences.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
Other Rituals with Similar Symbolism
The symbolism seen in the two goats finds parallels in other aspects of Israel’s worship system, particularly the Passover lamb and the burnt and sin offerings.
The Passover Lamb
The Passover lamb, sacrificed during the exodus from Egypt, symbolized deliverance from death and God’s protection. This foreshadowed Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose blood would deliver believers from eternal death.
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Burnt and Sin Offerings
In the regular sacrificial system, burnt and sin offerings continuously reminded Israel of their need for cleansing. These offerings, like the Day of Atonement, pointed to the need for a mediator, emphasizing that sin’s stain could only be removed by a worthy substitute.
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.” (Hebrews 10:1)
Connection to Priesthood
The priests maintained these rituals, symbolizing the need for a mediator between humanity and God. The high priest’s role on the Day of Atonement foreshadowed Jesus, the High Priest, who would fulfill this role perfectly.
Fulfillment in Christ: The Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sin of the World
The two goats of Leviticus 16 foreshadow the redemptive work of Christ, who fulfilled the roles of both sacrificial offering and scapegoat. Christ’s death on the cross provided the final atonement, achieving what the Law’s sacrifices could only temporarily address. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are reconciled to God once and for all.
Christ as the True Atonement
Jesus’ death satisfied the requirements of the Law, not just for a single day but for all time. He became the propitiation for sin, absorbing God’s wrath and redeeming humanity.
“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)
Christ’s Blood as the Ultimate Propitiation
As both sacrificial offering and scapegoat, Christ’s blood purifies believers from sin, removes guilt, and grants peace with God.
“The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Through Christ’s atonement, believers are liberated from sin’s power and receive new life in Him.
Conclusion: The Two Goats as Shadows of a Greater Redemption
The Day of Atonement’s two goats offer profound insight into God’s plan for salvation. They represent a dual aspect of atonement—propitiation and expiation—that is fully realized in Christ. As the Lamb of God, Jesus fulfilled every aspect of the sacrificial system, offering a perfect atonement that both satisfies God’s judgment and removes sin entirely.
“We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
The Old Testament sacrifices, while unable to permanently remove sin, served as a shadow of the greater work accomplished through Christ. By understanding the symbolism of the two goats, believers gain a deeper appreciation for the completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice, which accomplishes both the covering and removal of sin.
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New International Version (NIV)
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