Where did Judas belong?

¹⁶ “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his homestead be made desolate,
And let no one dwell in it’;

and,

‘Let another man take his office.’ (Acts 1:16-20)

During the day of Atonement, the annual holy day where the sins of the nation were paid for, two goats were presented.

⁷ He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting. ⁸ Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:7-8)

The cliff notes and other translations have the word scapegoat translated as Azazel, which is understood to be a demon, or literally “goat of removal”

One goat stayed in the sanctuary and was offered as an offering for the sins of the nation

⁹ Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the LORD fell, and make it a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:9)

 The other goat had the High Priest place both his hands on its head and the sins of the nation confessed over it and then sent out into the wilderness to a demon, led by someone trained to do so.

¹⁰ But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:10)

²⁰ “When he finishes atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. ²¹ Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. ²² The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:20-22)

Jesus was the Passover lamb, which could have been a sheep or a goat. While He was taken into the sanctuary and condemned to die to pay for the sins of all, Judas also was brought to the High Priest where the High Priest confessed their sins to Judas, they weren’t shepherding the people.

³ Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” (Matthew 27:3-4)

Judas who was then being led by Satan is sent out into a desolate place where something is waiting for him and he dies.

¹² While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:12)

References

Acts 1:16-20

Leviticus 16:34

Leviticus 16:17-10

Leviticus 16:20-22

Matthew 27:3-4

Luke 22:3

John 17:12

Hebrews 11:37-40

Exodus 12:5

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Romans 6:9-10

1 Corinthians 5:5

Matthew 25:33