Sifra
Acharei Mot, Chapter 2
Acharei Mot, Chapter 2
1) (Vayikra 16:7) ("And he shall take the two he-goats and he shall stand them before the L–rd at the door of the tent of meeting.") "And he shall take the two he-goats": We are hereby taught that they are mutually exclusive. "before the L–rd at the door of the tent of meeting": They are stood at the east of the azarah to the north of the altar, their backs to the east and their faces to the west.
2) (Vayikra 16:8) ("And Aaron shall place on the two he-goats lots, one lot for the L–rd, and the other lot for Azazel." "And Aaron shall place on the two he-goats lots": lots of any substance. I might think two on this and two on the other; it is, therefore, written "a lot for the L–rd and a lot for Azazel." I might think "for the L–rd and for Azazel" on this, and "for the L–rd and for Azazel" on the other; it is, therefore, written "one lot for the L–rd and one lot for Azazel." There is only one for Azazel.
3) If so, why is "lots" written? That they both be alike: That one not be large, and the other small; one of silver and the other of gold; one of marble and the other of box-wood.
4) (Vayikra 16:9) ("And Aaron shall present the he-goat on which the lot came up for the L–rd, and he shall make it a sin-offering.") "And Aaron shall present the he-goat on which is the lot for the L–rd": I might think that he places it on its back; it is, therefore, written "on which the lot came up for it" — It came up for His name from the ballot box.
5) "and he shall make it": that if one of them died after he had cast the ballot, he brings the others and casts the lot upon them as in the beginning, and says: If the one for the L–rd died, then this one, for whom the lot came up "for the L–rd" is in its place. And if the one for Azazel died, then this one, for whom the lot came up "for Azazel" is in its place, and the second one is to die. These are the words of R. Yehudah. The sages say: It is made to graze until it sustains a blemish, and is sold, and its monies are given for a donative offering. "and he shall make it a sin-offering": He says: "For the L–rd, a sin-offering." R. Yishmael says: He did not have to say "a sin-offering," but only "for the L–rd."
6) (Vayikra 16:10) ("And the he-goat on which the lot came up for Azazel shall be stood living before the L–rd, to make atonement over it, to send it to Azazel to the desert.") "and the he-goat on which is the lot": I might think that he places it on its back; it is, therefore, written "on which the lot came up for it" — It came up for its name from the ballot box. "shall be stood living before the L–rd": What is the intent of this? Because it is written "to send it (to Azazel"), I might think that it is to be sent to life; it is, therefore, written "shall be stood living before the L–rd." How is this to be understood? His standing is "living before the L–rd," and its death is (to be precipitated) from Tzor (a mountain).
7) How long must it be kept alive? Until the sprinkling of the blood of its mate. These are the words of R. Yehudah. R. Shimon says: Until he makes atonement over it, as it is written "to make atonement over it," atonement through its body. "to send it": so that if the blood were spilled out, the scape-goat is to die. If the scape-goat dies, the blood is to be spilled out.
8) "to Azazel": to the "hardest" (az) place in the mountains. I might think in a settled area; it is, therefore, written "to the desert." And whence is it derived that it must be on a peak? From (Vayikra 16:22) "to the land of gezeirah" (lit., "cutting").
9) (Vayikra 16:11) ("And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering which is his, and he shall make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bullock of the sin-offering which is his.") "And Aaron shall present the bullock … and for his household": This, as has been stated, is verbal confession. How did he (the high-priest) confess? "Ana Hashem, I have sinned, I have transgressed, and I have offended before You — I and my house and the sons of Aaron Your holy nation, for on this day, etc." And they answer after him: "Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever."