SCAPE-GOAT, the Goat which was set at liberty upon the day of solemn Expiation. See above AZAZEL. The ceremony Levit. xvi. 5, 6, 7, &c.observed with relation to the Scape-Goat was as follows: The High-Priest received from the people two Goats for a Sin-offering; these he presented before the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle, and cast lots upon them, to see which should be sacrificed, and which set at liberty. That which was by lot appointed for the sacrifice, he sacrificed; and as to the other which was to be let go, he presented it alive before the Lord, used certain prayers over it, and putting both his hands upon the Goat’s head, he confessed all the Iniquities of the children of Israel, all their offences, and all their sins, saying, Lord I have been culpable, and have sinned before thee, I and my house: Forgive, O Lord, the sins, faults, and offences which we have committed, I and my house. To which the Priests and all the People answered, Let the venerable Name of his Kingdom be praised for ever and ever.
After having made this confession, and laid Petron. Satyr. in fine. Herodot. l. 2. c. 39.laid upon the Goat’s head his imprecations, and the penalty of the people’s sins, he sent it into the wilderness by the hands of one prepared for this purpose. This man carried it to some desart and steep place, where he let it loose. After this, he returned to the camp; but was not permitted to come in, till he had washed his body and his clothes in pure water. This is what the Scripture has ordained concerning the Scape-Goat. It is probable enough, that this Goat was of that kind of expiatory Sacrifices, which were loaded with curses, and were thought proper to divert the wrath of God from falling upon men. Of this sort were the men, whom the people of Marseilles threw from the top of a rock; and those beasts, the heads whereof the Egyptians cast into the sea, after having loaded them with imprecations. Some think the Scape-Goat was thrown down the steep place above-mentioned; and others, that it was only let loose, and left to Providence to dispose of, as that should please to appoint. See AZAZEL.