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The high priest has to present a bull for his own sin offering. The people have to provide two goats. Lots are cast over the goats. One goat is to be offered as the people’s sin offering. The other goat is to be offered to Azazel. The precise meaning of Azazel is not known. It could be a name for the goat, i.e., the scapegoat or the name of a demon or the name of a wilderness location to which the goat departs. The parallel language, “for the Lord” and “for Azazel” (niv “for the scapegoat”), favors the view that it is the name of a demon to which the goat is sent. Some object that the Scriptures would not prescribe a sacrifice to a demon. But there is no hint of this goat’s being a sacrifice. This goat is not ritually slain, there are no rites with its blood, and it is not burned on an altar. Rather, it carries the sins of the congregation to Azazel and leaves them at their source. This ritual has atoning merit, for by returning sins to their source, the power of these sins over the congregation is completely broken. Similarly, Jesus, who was made sin for us (2Co 5:21), descended into hell after his death in order to leave sins there at their source and break the power of sin in the lives of all who believe on him.