Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why could Aaron enter the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Aaron
Aaron, detail of a 3rd-century fresco from the synagogue at Doura-Europus, Syria; in the National Museum, Damascus
Aaron was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies—the most sacred, innermost area of the tabernacle—specifically on Yom Kippur to perform essential ritual duties.1
As the high priest, Aaron was tasked with the solemn responsibility of cleansing the inner sanctum. Clothed in white linen, he entered the enclosure to burn incense and sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals. Through these actions, he sought to achieve atonement for his own sins, the sins of the priesthood, and the sins of all Israelites. This ritual was a perpetual statute established by God, who had consecrated Aaron and his sons to serve in these priestly and cultic matters.231