Information for the Book of
Leviticus

OVERVIEW

Authorship and Origin:

Leviticus is the third of the five Old Testament books ascribed to Moses. It is also called "The book of the Law of the Priests" in that it contains very little historical information, but is mostly priestly legislation and the practice of the law among the people. It records God's instructions, given at Sinai, for worship by His people. See Exodus for information on the dates and origins of this book.

Overview and Significant sections

This book addresses two groups of people, the priests, and the people as a whole. There are three major themes taht can be identified throughout the book. The first theme can be summarized by the word 'Holy'. This word is used 87 times in the book, and shows that the true importance of worship is more than just ritual. The second theme is summarized in the word 'Sacrifice'. This word, or words meaning the same (e.g. offering) is used more than 300 times. The final theme is 'attonement', which appears some 49 times. In studying Leviticus, these three key themes help to define how we can better understand our relationship with God, what He has done for us, who He is, and what He expects from us.

Significant sections:


Some special notes:
In Chapter 8:1-36, Aaron's sons are ordained. Aaron is of the tribe of Levi, and this defines the Levites from now on as being the priests for Israel.

In Chapter 9:1-24, the sacrificial system is defined as the method for the people to seek forgiveness and re-establish God's acceptance. This practice or covenant stood until Jesus came to be the final all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of all. Only through forgiveness and atonement, can a right relationship with God be attained.

What is atonement? The word means to cover or to 'wipe away'. It is key in reconciliation. The message of atonement which God communicates is that through the sacrifices, God would wipe away the sin.

In Chapter 23, the various 'feasts' were defined. These include the 'Sabboth', 'Passover', 'First fruits', 'Feast of Weeks', 'Feast of Trumpets', 'Day of Atonement', and 'Feast of Tabernacles'. Hanukkah, or the 'Feast of Lights' was added much later after 164 B.C., just before the time of Jesus.

 


AN INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS

                               

I.   TITLE:

     A.   Hebrew:  In Hebrew the title for this book comes from the opening words wayyiqra

	      (aqyw) meaning "and he called" 1:1

     B.   Greek:  In the Greek LXX the term is Leuitikon (LEUITIKON) an adjective used to 

	      describe the book as dealing primarily with ritual worship

     C.   Latin:  The Vulgate (a revision of the Old Latin) rendered the Greek heading Liber 

	      Leviticus (Book of Leviticus) from which the English is derived (note 1)

          1.   This is an adjective suggesting the complete title "the Levitical book" or 

		       the "book pertaining to the Levites"

          2.   The book is really about cultic service which the descendants of Levi would 

		       participate in. (note 2)  The principle  people in the book are Aaron and the

               priests to whom was committed the Aaronic priesthood

          3.   Later a distinction was made between the Levites and the Priests, and thee 

		       Levites could not claim Aaronic descent

II.  CHRONOLOGICAL SETTING:

     A.   The Passover occurred on the first day of the first month of the year (Ex 12:2)

     B.   The tabernacle was erected at Mount Sinai exactly one year after the Exodus  (Ex 40:2, 17)

     C.   One month later the nation prepared to leave Sinai for the Promised Land (Num 1:1)

     D.   It seems that the book of Leviticus was given to Moses during the one month 

	      period between the erection of the Tabernacle and the departure of the people 

		  for the Promised Land from Mount Sinai Because YHWH is now dwelling among His 

		  people in holiness, He provides prescriptions mediated through Moses for the 

		  people to remain in relationship with Him (e.g., through ritual and cleanliness).

III. AUDIENCE:

     A.   Aaron and his sons as the priests to serve in the

          rituals and duties of the tabernacle (Lev 6:9--7:38;

          11:1; 13:1; 15:1; 21:1)

     B.   The Redeemed nation at Sinai (Lev 18:2; 19:2; 23:2;

          26:46)

IV.  PURPOSES:

     A.   Priests:  To remind the priests who officiate before

          YHWH that He must be treated as holy and honored before

          all the people (Lev 10:3)3

     B.   Individual:  To instruct the individual that they must

          come before YHWH in worship through cleanness,

          atonement, and holy living4

     C.   Nation:  To remind the nation of their covenant

          obligations which are necessary for continued

          occupation of and blessing in YHWH'S HOLY LAND5

     D.   Culture:  To instruct Israel to establish their culture

          by narrating the revelation and the first steps in

          approaching into God's presence as well as the

          revelation of living with God

     E.   Stipulations:  To present his redeemed, covenanted

          people with a collection of cultic, civil, social,

          moral, and economic stipulations in order that the Holy

          God may continue to dwell amid an unholy people as He

          continues His work through them in the world.  These

          stipulations are designed to prevent the withdrawal of

          YHWH from His people who will bring about defilement of

          the sanctuary

     F.   Reveal:  To reveal YHWH in His holiness, righteousness,

          mercy, and sovereignty who blesses Israel with His

          presence dwelling in the midst of their nation

          administered in specific instructions for approaching

          God's presence and for living in the community of God's

          people6

     G.   Model:  To demand that the Israelites live in a way

          that would show to the contemporary Near Eastern

          nations the true nature of holiness7



___________________________

     1 R. K. Harrison, Leviticus: An Introduction and Commentary

(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 13.

     2 Exodus 13:2, 13; 22:29; Numbers 3:12.

     3 Philip Powers, "Analysis of Leviticus" a paper presented

in 371 Seminar in the Pentateuch (DTS, November 1989), 10.

     4 Ibid.

     5 Ibid.  The emphasis is not on conditions for God's

presence, but on conditions for the people to be in the land with

His presence!  The danger is that the individual will be cut off

from the people in the land and that the Nation will be removed

from the Land.

     6 Elliott E. Johnson, "Notes in 371 Seminar on the

Pentateuch (DTS, Fall 1989).

     7 R. K. Harrison, Leviticus, 26.