Jeremiah 13 - 15

The purpose of Yom Kippur was to resolve a problemIsrael was the community of God’s people living in a world of impurities– some impurities resulted from contact with natural sources (not sinful)• others resulted from violations of God’s religious and social laws• these impurities affected the entire community, even God’s sanctuary and its furnishings– every year, atonement was made for the people and the sacred tent• Kippur, is usually translated as “atonement” and means “cover”◦ the lid of the Ark of the Covenant is called a covering (same word)• on Yom Kippur the priests purified God’s dwelling and his people by covering their sins◦ the people and sanctuary were covered for the past year