Lev, overview
Author: Moses (date of writing: c 1440-1400
BC).
Period: c 1440-1400 BC.
Title: "Leviticus" is the Latin form of the Greek word
meaning "pertaining to the Levites". The Hebrew title is taken from the first
word of the book: "vayyiqra' " ("And he [the LORD] called...").
Having brought His people out of bondage in Egypt, God gave
them laws which had two functions: (1) to provide a code of behavior which would
enable them to worship Him, and indeed, be His holy people (Lev 20:26), and (2)
to enable them to have a practical law to assist in their daily living.
The Hebrew title ("and He called") may be said to apply to the
whole of Israel: as a nation called by God for a special purpose (Exo 19:6). The
words also apply to the specific priests, the sons of Levi, whose task it was to
oversee the spiritual (and secular) life of the people.
Summary: The third book of the Pentateuch takes its
name from one of the twelve sons of Jacob, Levi, whose family was ordained by
God to minister to Him as priests. The book covers the laws of the Israelites
regarding worship and religious activities, both personal and national,
including the Day of Atonement and sacrificial offerings. It contains laws
regarding cleanliness, morality, ethics and hygiene that pertained to the people
of Israel on a day-to-day basis. Animal sacrifice was introduced as an atonement
for the individual and national sins of the people.
In modern terms Leviticus is significant in that it shows the
way in which followers of Christ should endeavor to live their lives. Leviticus
contains details of the sacrifices and offerings, required to be made by the
people in recognizing their complete dependence on God and the necessity always
to honor Him. Lev describes sacrifices and offerings to be made for a wide
variety of reasons: some as a recognition of sin; some as "free- will"
offerings, of voluntary devotion.
The most important offering was made to honor the day of
Atonement (Lev 16:1-34), when a lamb without any blemish was offered as a
sacrifice to "atone" for the sins of the nation. This pointed forward to Jesus
who, as the lamb without blemish, offered himself as a sacrifice once and for
all, an atonement for the sins of many (Heb 9:28). Through identifying with
Jesus we can obtain the forgiveness which is promised (Mat 26:28).
We are not required, under the new covenant, to offer
sacrifices in the way the children of Israel were required. We do need to offer
ourselves as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1) to the service of God. Our whole
life should the of continual service to Him.
Outline
Lev 1:1 - 7:38 Sacrifices and offerings
- Lev 1:1-17 Burnt offering
- Lev 2:1-16 Meal and fruit offerings
- Lev 3:1-17 Peace offering
- Lev 4:1-35 Sin offering
- Lev 5:1-19 Trespass
offering
- Lev 6:1 - 7:38 Further explanations of
the law concerning offerings.
Lev 8:1 -- 10:20 Consecration of priests
Lev 11:1 -- 15:33 Laws discerning cleanness and uncleanness
Lev 16:1-34 The Day of Atonement
Lev 17:1 -- 20:27 Miscellaneous laws
Lev 21:1 -- 22:33 Responsibilities of the priests
Lev 23:1-44 The Feasts
- Lev 23:4-8 Passover and Feast of Unleavened
Bread
- Lev 23:9-14 The Firstfruits
- Lev 23:15-22 The Feast of Pentecost
- Lev 23:23-32 The Feast of Trumpets
- Lev 23:33-44 The Feast of Tabernacles
Lev 24:1 -- 27:34 Further miscellaneous laws including
reference to:
Lev 25:1-55 The year of the Sabbath and the year of Jubilee
Lev 26:1-13 Promise of blessing
Lev 26:14-46 Promise of punishment
Lev 27:1-34 Vows and tithes
