When scapegoating was a literal thing

Letting your sins go.

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Leviticus 15

The NRSV was certainly clearer than the YLT as to the things discussed. Although not explained as the reason, it appears that:

1. Another person’s bodily fluids and blood are unclean, or the LORD believed them to be.
2. People who are apparently sick should be separated from others.

Except for very intimate couples, we still think, “ew, gross” to the secretions of others, and rightly so: we don’t know what may contaminate us. If I had read ahead, I would have lumped this chapter with yesterday’s, as it has the same theme. The next chapter goes in a different direction.

Leviticus 16

Several chapters ago it was indicated that for the Israelites the New Year began in late March. I projected that the Day of Atonement would be in early October. And so it is. It’s Yom Kippur in modern Judaism and the holiest day of the year.