Aaron's Yom Kippur Confession Over His Own Sin-Offering Bull

Midrash Aggadah, Leviticus 16:6

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And Aaron shall bring near the bull of the sin offering which is his" (Leviticus 16:6) — that he should not offer from that which belongs to the community. "And he shall make atonement for himself and for his household" — this is the confession of words. And how would he confess? "Please, HaShem, I have sinned, I have transgressed, I have committed iniquity before You, I and my household. Please, HaShem, grant atonement, I pray, for the iniquities, for the transgressions, and for the sins that I have committed in iniquity, that I have transgressed, and that I have sinned before You, I and my household, as it is written in Your Torah: 'For on this day He shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins before HaShem shall you be cleansed' (Leviticus 16:30)." And they answer after him: "Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever."

Themes

AtonementSinPriesthoodRepentanceSacrifice

Biblical References

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