Talk:Micah 1:1-2:11

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Scapegoat on Day of Atonement[edit]

Sorry, I should probably just let this drop, but I can't help thinking about this idea of the remnant as the scapegoat (cf. Isa 27:7). If the Day of Atonement is in mind here, then reading in Micah 2:12 about the remnant as sheep/goats seems another possible relation. Like the scapegoat was an offering for Azazel, rebellious Israel is left to wander in the wilderness. But the Lord, in his mercy, decides to go into the wilderness (the lone and dreary world) which Israel has chosen, and gather up those who have repented. In this way, the wandering in the wilderness is tantamount to the probationary state discussed in Alma. That is, we have a chance to repent and choose to be agents of God instead of Azazel. I think this is contrary to most interpretations of the sacrificial goats, but they also seem at least somewhat speculative to me. I'd also be interested in looking at NT passages for scapegoat discussion (isn't there something in Romans and/or Hebrews?). Perhaps the goat that was designated for YHWH is symbolic of the contrite heart offering and rebirth we are supposed to go through (cf. Isa 6).... --RobertC 15:35, 24 Oct 2006 (UTC)