On Tuesday and Wednesday this week Jews around the world will be celebrating the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar - Yom Kippur (יום כפור) or the Day of Atonement. Yesterday at
the Temple on Mount Zion Conference Bill Hamblin gave a presentation entitled "Jacob and the Israelite Day of Atonement" which can be viewed
here. It was a fascinating lecture wherein he argued that the sermon given by Jacob in
2 Nephi 6-10 was given at the temple on the Day of Atonement. Professor Hamblin made his point by showing that there are a number of themes contained in Jacob's sermon that are common with the Day of Atonement.
The following is a summary of the themes that Dr. Hamblin presented:
- New Year
- The Temple
- The High Priest
- Pilgrimage
- Creation narrative
- Prophecy
- Israel blessed by the High Priest
- Covenant
- God judges Israel
- Atonement
- Expulsion of Satan/Azazel
- Water cleansing
- Robes/investiture
- Mercy
- Reading law
- Memorial
- Way, gate, gatekeeper
- Revelation of ineffable name
- Removal of robes
- Confession
- Fast/feast
- Drink offering
- Holy of Holies
- Hymn
It is interesting to note that most, if not all, of these themes can also be found in our modern endowment ceremony. I believe that the endowment ceremony can be understood to be a Day of Atonement experience with the participant acting in the capacity of the High Priest.
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