The purpose of Yom Kippur was to resolve a problem

Israel was the community of God’s people living in a world of impurities
– some impurities resulted from contact with natural sources (not sinful)
• others resulted from violations of God’s religious and social laws
• these impurities affected the entire community, even God’s sanctuary and its furnishings
– every year, atonement was made for the people and the sacred tent
• Kippur, is usually translated as “atonement” and means “cover”
◦ the lid of the Ark of the Covenant is called a covering (same word)
• on Yom Kippur the priests purified God’s dwelling and his people by covering their sins
◦ the people and sanctuary were covered for the past year