Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:29

"And this shall be a perpetual statute for you; in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you⌃ shall humble your souls, and shall do no work, the native and the stranger who abides among you."
Leviticus 23:32—Was the feast observed on the ninth day or on the tenth day?
Contrasting Link: Leviticus 23:32

Problem:

According to this verse the fast associated with the Day of Atonement was to begin on the “ninth day of the month.” But earlier in

Leviticus 16:29

they were to begin fasting on the “tenth day of the month.”

Solution:

This fast began on the ninth day and extended over to the tenth day (cf.

Lev. 23:27

). Hence, it was appropriate to speak of it as being either day. There are several other problems of a similar nature. For example, in like manner the feast was both seven days (

Ex. 12:15

) or six days (

Deut. 16:8

). God ended His work of creation on the seventh day (

Gen. 2:2

) and yet did it in six days (

Ex. 20:11

). Also, “after eight days” means the next Sunday (

John 20:26

; cf.

20:19

).