Scape Goat
a term applied to one who is made to bear the blame due to another. The idea is drawn from the Jewish ritual, in which a scape goat was a goat designed to 'scape, i.e., escape, as opposed to one killed and offered in sacrifice. Once a year, on the great day of atonement, after Aaron had offered a bullock in sacrifice for the sins of himself and his house (Lev. xvi. 1-8), he was to take two goats "for a sin offering." Lots were to be cast, one for the Lord, and one for Azazel. The goat on which Jehovah's lot fell was to be offered for a sin offering. Under the later Judaism the goat was thrown over a precipice about 12 miles from Jerusalem. The scape goat is generally considered the clearest type of the substitution of Christ for sinners, and His eternal removal of their transgres sion (Isaiah liii. 11-12; I. John Heb. ix. 28; I. Peter ii. 24).