Lord had made their fathers dwell in tents[1] in the deserts. All the men [2] of Israel were to appear on these three festivals [3] before the Lord in the Tabernacle, and later on in the Temple.
There was also to be a day of expiation[4], kept as a most solemn fast[5]. On that day the High Priest was to sacrifice a calf in atonement for his own sins, and a he-goat for the sins of the people. After the sacrifice he was to raise the veil, and enter into[6] the Holy of Holies, taking with him the blood of the victim and the golden censer; he was then to incense the Propitiatory, or cover of the Ark, and to sprinkle it and the front of the Ark with the blood[7].
Finally, Moses consecrated Aaron as High Priest, his sons as priests, and the other men of the tribe of Levi as ministers[8] of
- ↑ Tents or Tabernacles. Hence the name of Feast of Tabernacles.
- ↑ All the men . From twelve years old and upward. Old men, women and children were not bound to appear, but they might take part in the pilgrimage, if they chose.
- ↑ On these three festivals. Besides these annual feasts, every seventh year was set apart as a year of Sabbath or of rest, and every fiftieth year as a year of Jubilee. In the year of rest, no work of cultivation of the earth was allowed, and everything that grew naturally on it was common property; nor could any debts be claimed during the year. The Jubilee-year was also a year of rest from labour, and of exemption for debtors. In that year, moreover, all slaves received their freedom; and possessions that had been sold reverted to their first owner without purchase, the reason for this being given by God in these words: ‘‘The land shall not be sold for ever: because it is mine, and you are strangers and sojourners with me.'* By this decree, the impoverishment of individual families and tribes was prevented.
- ↑ Day of expiation. Kept five days before the Feast of Tabernacles.
- ↑ Solemn fast. Every person, with the exception of the sick and children, was bound to observe a strict fast, touching no food till after sunset. They also had to pray, confess their sins, and implore God's mercy.
- ↑ Enter into. This was the only day in the year on which he entered it.
- ↑ Sprinkle with the blood. After his return from the Holy of Holies, he took another goat and, having laid his hands on its head, he confessed the sins of the whole people, and then drove the goat away into the wilderness, laden with the people’s sins. This was a typical ceremony, and was meant to indicate that the sins of the people were taken away and lost in the infinitude of God's mercy.
- ↑ Ministers. Hitherto the first-born son had been set apart for the service of God, but from henceforward the tribe of Levi was chosen for the priestly office and the service of the Tabernacle. In other words, hitherto priests had been taken from all tribes and all families, but now a peculiar priesthood was instituted. The priestly office was hereditary in Aaron’s family. The first-born of this family was always to be High Priest, and the other male descendants priests. The other men of the tribe of Levi were to assist the priests in the service of God, and were known by the name of Levites.
