RESTORING A PEOPLE, REBUILDING A NATION
The Day Of Atonement/Yom Kippur
Begin sunset: Ethanim 10th
Ending sunset: Ethanim 11th
The day of Atonement/Yom Kippur, is the most important day to the Israelites.
Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" which just means a day to set aside to "afflict the soul."
On this day it is commanded to be kept on the 10th day of the seventh month.
Only the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, only he was allowed
to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before The Creator. Having made
a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy of
Holies and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat, the throne of The Creator
(Leviticus 16:14-15). Two goats are brought before the High Priest, one is sacrificed
and the other is released into the wilderness (Lev. 16:20), as the sins of Israel are atoned for.
The goat bears the sins of Israel into the wilderness as the high priest lays his hands on
the goat confessing the sins of Israel, this act of the goat would only be kept when we return
back to the land that was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but until then it is kept today
by doing no work, atoning for your sins, fasting and attending a holy convocation Leviticus 16:29-30;
Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11.
THE DAY OF ANTONEMENT
On this day you are to fast by refraining from eating and drinking (even water). This restriction can be lifted on this day if it is a threat to one's life or health. Children and woman that are pregnant are not permitted to fast. If older children fast they are permitted to break the fast if they feel that it is needed. People with other conditions such as illnesses should either consult their physicians or Moreh. This would consist of a 24 hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending at sunset on the day of Yom Kippur. The first Yom Kippur took place after Moses returned from Mt. Sinai a second time with the replacement set of tablets containing The Law. He had broken the the first set when he returned the first time to discover the children of Israel worshipping a golden calf, rather than the The Creator who brought them out of the land of Egypt/Mizram.
Moses pleaded with The Creator on the behalf of the children of Israel. When Moses was absence for the second time to replace the set of tablets, the nation fasted from sunrise to sunset. Upon returning, Moses found the nation truly repentant and announced that YHWH had forgiven them. He decreed that the tenth day of Ethanim (seventh month) would remain a day of atonement for all generations.
"And this shall be an eternal law for you. Each year on the tenth day of the seventh month you must fast and do no work. This is true of the native born and of the proselyte who comes to join you. This is because on this day you shall have all your sins atoned, so that you will be cleansed. Before G-d you will be cleansed of your sins. It is a Sabbath of Sabbaths to you, and a day upon which you must fast. This is a law for all time." (Leviticus 16:29-31)
After the sin of the golden calf, the Israelites wandered the desert, with the understanding that actions taken every Yom Kippur helped ensure their atonement for their sins.
"YAHOWAH SAID UNTO MOSES, SAYING, ALSO ON THE TENTH DAY OF THIS SEVENTH MONTH THERE SHALL BE A DAY OF ATONEMENT: IT SHALL BE A HOLY CONVOCATION UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL AFFLICT YOUR SOULS, AND OFFER AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO YAHOWAH." LEVITICUS 23:27
