According to Leviticus, on which day of the month was the Day of Atonement observed?

According to Leviticus, the Day of Atonement was observed on the tenth day of the seventh month.

Leviticus 16 and 23 describe the observance, known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur. It was a solemn day for self-denial, cessation of ordinary labor, and sanctuary rituals carried out by the high priest. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with sacrificial blood and performed rites for the cleansing of the sanctuary and the people.

The seventh month was especially significant in the biblical calendar. It also included the Festival of Trumpets on the first day and the Festival of Booths beginning on the fifteenth day. These dates are distinct, so the Day of Atonement should not be confused with either festival.

The ritual involving two goats is especially famous: one was sacrificed, while the other was sent into the wilderness after symbolically bearing the people’s sins. This is the background of the modern expression “scapegoat.”