Then: or “Next,” or “After that,” once again indicating the continuation of a sequence of events.

Go out to the altar: the Hebrew text may be understood in two different ways, depending on whether the altar referred to is the altar of sacrifice, located at the entrance to the Tent of the LORD’s presence, or the altar of incense, which was inside the first part of the tent. Jewish commentators generally prefer the second interpretation, but modern Christian commentators are almost unanimous in their support of the first. This means that Aaron goes “to the entrance of the Tent to the altar of sacrifice.” Good News Translation makes this simpler and clearer by specifying “the altar for burnt offerings.”

Which is before the LORD: this information, which serves to emphasize the holiness of the altar, has been left implicit in Good News Translation.

Make atonement for it: see 4.20 and 12.7.

Bull and … goat: see verses 11 and 15.

Horns of the altar: see 4.7.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .