Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Leviticus 16:15/ספורנו על ויקרא ט״ז:ט״ו

אהַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר לָעָם. אַחַר שֶׁהִשְׁלִים לְכַפֵּר בַּעֲדוֹ בְּחַטָּאתוֹ, כְּעִנְיַן ״הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ וָקֹשּׁוּ״ (צפניה ב:א), וְעִם זֶה נִרְאֶה אֶת פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ.
1החטאת אשר לעם. After he had completed offering the sin offering for his own atonement, also the people would be on the level where they could face the “King.” The sequence described here which at fist glance might seem as if the High Priest were more concerned with his own atonement than that of the people whom he represented, is confirmed by the prophet (Tzefaniah 2,1) in the words התקוששו וקושו, which is interpreted in Sanhedrin 18 as “attend to your own integrity before you attend to the integrity of others.”