The Day of Atonement includes a unique ritual involving two goats, as described in Leviticus 16, where the second goat is associated with the Hebrew term azazel, translated as "goat of departure." Strong's Concordance defines azazel not as a name, but as meaning "goat of departure," with roots indicating a goat or kid and the concept of going away or disappearing. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon further defines it as "complete removal," aligning with the instructions in Leviticus 16 for the goat to bear sins to an uninhabited land, thus removing them from view. In the ritual, the two goats together form a single sin offering, with lots cast to determine their roles—one for the Lord to satisfy His justice through sacrifice, and the other as the goat of departure to accomplish the removal of sins. The goat of departure is presented alive before the Lord to be sanctified for its purpose, not for judgment, as it stands as a symbol of innocence until the priest lays hands on it to transfer the sins. This sanctification parallels the cleansing ritual in Leviticus 14 involving two birds, where the live bird is dipped in the blood of the sacrificed one before being set free, indicating a necessary preparation for its role in removal. The goat of departure's purpose is to demonstrate the complete removal of sin from view, ensuring that sins are not only paid for but also expunged from awareness. This aspect of the sin offering addresses the lingering effects of sin beyond mere payment, providing a fuller resolution by making sins depart from memory and consciousness.

The church of God is committed to truth, rejecting non-biblical traditions and seeking to understand Scripture through diligent study. In the context of Leviticus 16, questions arise about the live goat, often termed the azazel or "Goat of Departure," and its symbolic role. God's stated purpose for this goat is to bear all the iniquities of the children of Israel to an uninhabited land, completely removing them from view. In the ritual, the high priest lays both hands on the goat's head, confessing over it all the transgressions and sins of the people, indicating a symbolic transference and substitution. The Day of Atonements, as the holy day is literally named due to the plural Hebrew term "kippurim," involves multiple atonements and sacrificial animals, each pointing to the Messiah. The first goat cleanses the holy place, while the second goat, the Goat of Departure, bears the iniquities away. Scripture clearly states that our iniquity was laid on Him, Jesus Christ, who bore our sins and took them away, fulfilling the actions of the live goat. If either purpose—access to God or forgiveness of sins—were missing, true atonement and growth in God's image would be incomplete. Through Christ's sacrifice, we have both access to God and forgiveness, as the New Covenant provides a way to know Him and have sins forgotten. Lots were cast to determine which goat would fulfill each function, as Proverbs 16:33 teaches that every decision of the lot is from the Lord. This practice reminded the Israelites of the priest's fallibility and God's authority in dictating the terms of worship. God determined which goat would be for Him and which would be sent away, focusing on functions rather than personalities, ensuring that He remained the arbiter in the matter.

The second goat in the Day of Atonement ritual, known as the goat of departure or azazel, played a significant role in the visible removal of sins from the congregation. This live goat bore the sins of the people, carrying them out of sight to an uninhabited land, symbolizing a complete separation from their transgressions. The Hebrew term for this uninhabited land means a land cut off, reflecting a state of being removed or destroyed, akin to the grave where memory and knowledge cease. This act of bearing sins to a land of forgetfulness illustrates not just payment for sin, but a deliberate choice by God to disregard and ignore those sins, ensuring they no longer influence His actions toward His people. The bearing of sins by the goat of departure finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who bore the iniquities of many in His own body, as a singular and complete act. His sacrifice both cleansed the sanctuary and removed sins from view, taking them to the land of forgetfulness, as He was cut off from the land of the living. This removal is an active work, paralleled with intercession, ensuring sins are carried away as far as the east is from the west. Furthermore, the goat was led away by a suitable man who required cleansing afterward, mirroring how Christ was led to crucifixion by those who were later forgiven through His plea for their ignorance. The symbolism of the goat of departure points solely to Christ's work, emphasizing His role in the complete removal of sin. The act of releasing the goat into the wilderness underscores a freedom and separation that aligns with Christ's bearing of sins to a place of forgetfulness, ensuring they are no longer a factor in God's relationship with His people.

The concept of the azazel, often misunderstood, is central to the Day of Atonement, which focuses on the complete cleansing of sin. The Hebrew word azazel, derived from two roots, simply means the goat of departure. In the Bible, it is not a name but describes a function, representing the removal of sins from view. Leviticus 16:5 clarifies that the two goats together constitute a single offering for sin. One goat is sacrificed as a propitiation to pay the death penalty, while the second, the goat of departure, remains alive and departs after the sins of the nation are symbolically placed on its head, illustrating their complete removal. The goat of departure, like all sacrificial animals, must be without blemish to represent an innocent party. This role aligns with the work of Jesus Christ, who not only pays the penalty for our sins but, as our living High Priest, also cleanses our consciences, ensuring sins are entirely removed. The Day of Atonement thus emphasizes Christ's perfect work in addressing sin, highlighting the profound cleansing and reconciliation achieved through His sacrifice and priesthood.

On the Day of Atonement, the unique offering for the sins of Israel involved two goats. The first goat was killed, and its blood was used by the high priest to cleanse the sanctuary and holy objects. The second goat, known as the azazel or the goat of departure, had all the sins of the people laid on its head, bearing them to an uninhabited land, a place cut off. This ritual symbolizes the removal of sins from the community, ensuring their separation from God is addressed through cleansing and expiation. Jesus Christ fulfills the role of the goat of departure by bearing the sins of many and taking them to the land of forgetfulness, the grave. As described in Colossians 2:14, Christ has lifted up, taken away, and expiated the record of sins against us, mirroring the action of the azazel in lifting and carrying away the sins placed on its head. Hebrews 9 and 10 further emphasize this fulfillment, showing that Christ's sacrifice put away sin, canceling it and bringing it to nothing for those who repent and come under His blood. His work is complete, as evidenced by His sitting down at the right hand of God, indicating that the bearing and removal of sins do not depend on any future act. The ceremony of the azazel focuses solely on the sins of the people, not involving any other entity in the process of atonement. Hebrews 10:17-18 reinforces that under the New Covenant, God remembers sins and lawless deeds no more, signifying they have been borne to a place of forgetfulness. Thus, the role of the goat of departure, as part of the compound offering for sin, has already been fulfilled by Christ, ensuring remission of sins for those under His blood without awaiting any further resolution.