The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. On this day — the 10th day of the seventh month (Tishri) — the high priest made atonement for the sins of the entire nation. The ceremony had several elements: (1) The high priest bathed and put on plain linen garments (not his glorious high-priestly robes). (2) He sacrificed a bull for his own sins and those of his family. (3) Two goats were brought before the LORD; lots were cast on them. One goat was "for the LORD" and was sacrificed as a sin offering; its blood was carried into the Holy of Holies — the only day of the year the high priest entered that inner sanctuary. (4) The other goat was "for Azazel" (the scapegoat). The high priest laid both hands on its head and confessed over it all the sins of Israel, symbolically transferring them to the goat. The goat was then led away into the wilderness and released — bearing the sins away forever. (5) The people were to "afflict your souls" (fast and mourn) throughout the day. The entire ritual pointed to Christ. The book of Hebrews explains: Christ is the better High Priest who did not enter an earthly tabernacle but heaven itself (Hebrews 9:11-12). He did not offer the blood of bulls and goats but His own blood, "having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12). He did not need to repeat the sacrifice year after year because His single offering was "once for all" (Hebrews 9:26). Christ is both the goat slain and the scapegoat who carries sin away. The Day of Atonement prefigured what Calvary accomplished forever.