Aaron shall place lots on the two goats... (Leviticus 16:8) Why should he do this, and walk that goat to Azazel, and bring him to a great, hard mountain, and push him until he is cut up into many pieces? It is to teach you that we ask from the Creator that just like this goat, which is bearing the sins of Israel on it, just like the goat falls and becomes many pieces, and there remains of it no substance and no benefit, so too, you, King of Kings of Kings, the Holy Blessed One, let fall our transgressions, and may they be lost from your book, and may they have no standing.
And there are those who explain that Israel says: leave the evil inclination, and cast it out [hashlikhu] from upon you, like this goat that is sent out [mishtaleach], and about that is said, the goat bore on it all their sins (of the children of Israel) [to a land cut off] (Leviticus 16:22).