The laws which have been outlined in Leviticus 11–15 serve as the backdrop for the rituals on the Day of Atonement. These rituals were designed to cleanse the tabernacle of the uncleannesses of the Israelites
(Leviticus 16:16). Wenham1 writes, Without these chapters we should be at a loss to know what was the purpose of the ceremonies described in ch. 16.
1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,