Definition: And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 16:16. It’s a really important passage about how God deals with sin and impurity. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a ritual sacrifice – a special offering – that God will make to cleanse the Israelites (the people of Israel) of their sins and to keep them separate from God. It's essentially a way for God to "make an atonement" or forgiveness. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Leviticus 16:16” : This is the verse itself, which is part of a larger section in Leviticus dealing with rituals and sacrifices. “And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place]…” – "Attonement" means to make amends or forgiveness. This phrase refers to the Tabernacle. “…because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel…” : This is the reason why this atonement is needed. The Israelites were deeply dirty and sinful. They had been wandering in sin, and God was angry at them. “Uncleanness” means being unclean or morally flawed. “…and because of their transgressions in all their sins:” - This continues to explain why – they were making bad choices and breaking God’s rules. It's a broad statement of their wrongdoing. “And so shall he do for the Tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” : This is the core of the verse. God decides to build a special structure – the Tabernacle – among the Israelites. This means it will be located within their messiness and impurity. It’s not just that they're near it; it’s inside it, representing their state of being. In simpler terms: God is setting aside a special, symbolic offering – the Tabernacle – to cleanse the Israelites of their sins and keep them separate from God while they are still living amongst them. It’s a way for God to show that He's watching over them and that they need to change. Why is this important? This story shows that sin has consequences, and God takes action to deal with it. It emphasizes that we all need forgiveness and a way to be cleansed of our guilt and wrongdoing. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the verse? Connect this passage to other parts of the Bible? Give some context about the Tabernacle itself?