After the death of Aarons two sons, who died when they encroached on the Lords presence, the Lord spoke to Moses and said to him: Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he pleases into the inner sanctuary, inside the veil, in front of the cover on the ark, lest he die, for I reveal myself in a cloud above the ark’s cover.

Only in this way may Aaron enter the inner sanctuary. He shall bring a bull of the herd for a purification offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

He shall wear the sacred linen tunic, with the linen pants underneath, gird himself with the linen sash and put on the linen turban. But since these vestments are sacred, he shall not put them on until he has first bathed his body in water.

From the Israelite community he shall receive two male goats for a purification offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

Aaron shall offer the bull, his purification offering, to make atonement for himself and for his household.

Taking the two male goats and setting them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting, he shall cast lots to determine which one is for the Lord and which for Azazel.

The goat that is determined by lot for the Lord, Aaron shall present and offer up as a purification offering.

But the goat determined by lot for Azazel he shall place before the Lord alive, so that with it he may make atonement by sending it off to Azazel in the desert.

Thus shall Aaron offer his bull for the purification offering, to make atonement for himself and for his family.

When he has slaughtered it, he shall take a censer full of glowing embers from the altar before the Lord, as well as a double handful of finely ground fragrant incense, and bringing them inside the veil, there before the Lord he shall put incense on the fire, so that a cloud of incense may shield the cover that is over the covenant, else he will die.

Taking some of the bulls blood, he shall sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the arks cover and likewise sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times in front of the cover.

Then he shall slaughter the goat of the people’s purification offering, and bringing its blood inside the veil, he shall do with it as he did with the bulls blood, sprinkling it on the arks cover and in front of it.

Thus he shall purge the inner sanctuary of all the Israelites’ impurities and trespasses, including all their sins. He shall do the same for the tent of meeting, which is set up among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

No one else may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters the inner sanctuary to make atonement until he departs. When he has made atonement for himself and his household, as well as for the whole Israelite assembly, he shall come out to the altar before the Lord and purge it also.

Taking some of the bulls and the goats blood, he shall put it on the horns around the altar, and with his finger sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times. Thus he shall purify it and sanctify it from the impurities of the Israelites.