The God Who is Affected by Human Problems: Atonement Through Israelite Purification Offerings

Ancient Israelite purification offerings removed sins and physical ritual impurities from those who offered them and brought residual defilement from these evils into the sanctuary of God. The defilements that accumulated at the sanctuary throughout the year were ritually removed by special purification offerings on the annual Day of Atonement. This two-phase process of ritual atonement, which was unique in the ancient Near East, acknowledged and highlighted the effects on God when he is involved in freeing human beings from problems that they have caused.