Definition: And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Leviticus 9:7. It’s a pretty complex verse, but I'll explain it in plain language. Here’s what it means: This verse is about how God’s judgment on Israel after the death of Moïse (Moses) – meaning after the death of the previous leader – was going to be handled with a very specific and solemn process. It’s essentially saying: “God is angry with Israel.” The verse starts by acknowledging that God is upset with the people of Israel because of their sins. “He needs to make amends.” God wants to bring about a way for him to restore some measure of peace and forgiveness, even though he’s still deeply disappointed. “It's a process – a ritual.” The verse describes a specific set of actions that God will take. It’s not just a quick apology; it's a detailed procedure. Let’s break down the parts: “And Moses said unto Aaron…” This tells us we’re talking about Moses, who was a key leader in Israel at the time. “…Go to the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people:” This is the core of the verse. “Sin Offering”: This refers to a sacrifice offered to cleanse the Israelites of their sins – a way to show remorse and repentance. “Burnt Offering”: This is a sacrifice that was specifically made to atone for the sins of the people. It’s a formal acknowledgement of wrongdoing. “Make an atonement for thyself, and for the people:” This means that Moses is instructing Aaron (who was previously a leader) to perform two things: Atonement for Himself: He needs to acknowledge his own sinfulness and take responsibility. Atonement for the People: The sacrifice he’s making is meant to atone for the sins of all the Israelites, as a whole group. “And offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.” This completes the process: "Offer the offering of the people..." – This means he needs to give a sacrifice specifically for the entire nation. "...and make an atonement for them;" - He will make a formal apology and offer a cleansing ritual that will atone for the sins of all Israel, as a whole group. In short: Moses is instructing Aaron to perform a ritualistic sacrifice – a burning offering – that will acknowledge the Israelites' sins and formally apologize for those sins as a whole. It’s a way for God to restore some peace and forgiveness after a period of wrongdoing. Important Note: This passage is considered very significant in Jewish tradition, especially within the context of the Old Testament. It’s a key part of understanding how God dealt with Israel's sins and ultimately led them out of Egypt. --- Do you want me to explain any of this further? For example, would you like me to: Explain the symbolism behind the sacrifice? Discuss what this verse might mean in relation to the story of Noah’s Ark?