WHO WROTE:  Moses.  Anyone who would like to argue that this Book (and the other four Books of the “Pentateuch”) has to argue with Philip (John 1:45) and our Lord Jesus Himself (Mat. 8:4; Mark 1:44; 10:3; 12:26; Luke 5:14; 16:29 & 31; 20:37; 24:44; John 3:14; 5:45 & 46; 6:32; 7:19 & 22 & 23).  See also Exodus 24:4; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:9, 22; Joshua 8:32; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28.

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  The various ordinances contained in this Book were all delivered in the space of exactly one month (Compare Exo. 40:17 to Num. 1:1), that being in the first month of the second year after the Exodus.  In a side note:  Within this timeframe of one month the consecration of the priests came to exactly 8 days (Lev. 8:33; 9:1), which is not to be added to the one-month timeframe.

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  B.C. 1499 - B.C. 1489.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  This Book is so called “Leviticus” in the “LXX” (the “Septuagint”), and the “Latin Vulgate,” because they testifie chiefly of the Levitical service.  However, as with all other Books of the Old Testament, It is generally named by the Jews according to the first word, which is, “wayyikra’,” meaning, “And He called.”  By contrast, the Jews also have given this Book another name, based upon its contents, that being, “Law of the Priests.”

 

The main focus of the Book of Leviticus is “Holiness.”  This word occurs specifically 87 times in The Book of Leviticus.  The Hebrew word for “holy” used in Leviticus, is “qodesh,” which means:  “that which is set apart and marked off; that which is different; separateness; apartness; sacredness.”  The English word “holy” comes from the Old English word “halig,” which means:  “to be whole, to be healthy.”  Its English related word is, “sanctify,” and comes to us from the Latin word, “sanctis,” which means, “consecrated, sacred, blameless.”

 

The principles on which the Epistle to the Hebrews is to be interpreted are laid down in the Book of Leviticus.  We cannot read the Epistle to the Hebrews and not acknowledge that the Levitical priests “serve unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things,” Hebrews 8:5.  That the sacrifices of the Law pointed to, and found their interpretation in the Lamb of God, of which these principles were established in the Book of Leviticus and cannot be denied nor understood without command of this Book.  Therefore, those who attempt to understand the Book of Hebrews need first to venture into the Book of Leviticus to catch at least a flavoring of understanding of this both Books.

 

No other Book contains more of the very Words of God.  He is quoted almost throughout the entire Book and the direct speaker of It.  This is well marked by the opening statements such as:  “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying” or closing formulas such as:  “this is the Law,” God Speaking, not Moses or Aaron (Lev. 7:37-38; 8:1; 11:46-47; 13:59; 14:54-57; 15:32-33) and many others not sighted here (find them yourself as you read this wonderful Holy Book).

 

Our Lord also is clear to identify Whom It is that is giving direction and council.  Examples are:  “I am Yahweh your God,” Leviticus 18:2 & 4; 19:2 & 4, etcetera; or “I am Yahweh,” Leviticus 18:5 & 6 & 21; 19:14 & 16; etcetera; or “I am Yahweh. . . Who hath separated you,” Leviticus 20:24; or “Who sanctifieth you,” Leviticus 20:8; 21:8 & 15 & 23, etcetera.  In fact, of the 858 verses in the Book of Leviticus, 311 contain the Word “YHWH” in them.  Thus, “YHWH” appears every 2.76 verses (a little less than every third verse).

 

Canon Tristram, speaking of the remarkable discoveries regarding the flora and fauna of the Holy Land by the Palestine Exploration officers, makes the following statement:  “Take these two catalogues of the clean and unclean animals in the Books of Leviticus [Chapter 11] and Deuteronomy [Chapter 14].  There are eleven in Deuteronomy, which do not occur in Leviticus, and these are nearly all animals and birds which are not found in Egypt or the Holy Land, but which are numerous in the Arabian Desert.  They are not named in Leviticus a few weeks after the departure from Egypt; but after the people were thirty-nine years in the desert they are named, a strong proof that the list in Deuteronomy was written at the end of the journey, and the list in Leviticus at the beginning.  It fixes the writing of that catalogue to one time and period only, viz., that when the children of Israel were familiar with the fauna and the flora of the desert.”  “Palest. Expl. Quart.,” January 1887.

 

SACRIFICES/OFFERINGS:

 

There are five different kinds of sacrifices in Israel which are mentioned in succession twice; those being in Leviticus, Chapter 1:1 through 7:21, namely:

 

Leviticus, Chapter 1 equaling Burnt Offerings (Equals The Meal & Peace Offerings Which The Priests Eat);

Leviticus, Chapter 2, equaling Meal Offerings (Voluntary);

Leviticus, Chapter 3, equaling Peace Offerings (Voluntary);

Leviticus 4:1 through 5:13, equaling Sin Offerings (Obligatory);

Leviticus 5:14-26, equaling Guilt Offerings (Obligatory).

 

The repeated succession begins in Leviticus 6:1 through 7:21, namely:

 

Leviticus 6:8-13 equaling Burnt Offerings (Equals The Meal & Peace Offerings Which The Priests Eat);

Leviticus 6:14-23 equaling Meal Offerings (Voluntary);

Leviticus 6:24-30 equaling Sin Offerings (Obligatory);

Leviticus 7:1-7 equaling Trespass Offerings (Obligatory);

Leviticus 7:8-10 equaling that part of the sacrifices which belongs to the priest via the Guilt Offering;

Leviticus 7:11-21 equaling Peace Offerings (Voluntary).

 

The difference between these two accounts is proved by the fact that the first set of Laws, from Leviticus, Chapters 1through 5, is addressed to all the Israelites (see Lev. 1:2; 4:2), while the second set (Lev. 6:8; 7:21) is given to Aaron and his sons (compare with Lev. 6:9 & 25).

 

Josephus, in “Antiquites of the Jews,” book 3, chapter 9, volume 4, under the title, “Manner of Offering Sacrifices:  In the one case, what is slain is burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that name is given to it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for feasting those that sacrifice.”

 

Something important to notice is that all of the offerings involve salt.  “Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”  Matthew 5:13.

 

Also, there is another offering that is not mentioned in the Book of Leviticus, but is in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 15, verses 5, 7, 10, 24, which tells us basically that this “drink offering” was usually included with all of the other offerings.  And according to Numbers 28:7, it was to be “strong wine,” or “fermented wine.”  Now before the “wine” advocates jump on this and say, “See, it is OK Biblically to drink fermented wine,” let’s finish the verse, which states that it was “to be poured {out} unto the LORD,” not drunken.  See my Bible Study:  “WINE, BIBLICALLY ACCEPTABLE.”  The reason that this offering is not mentioned in the Book of Leviticus is that it was not observed in the wilderness, where and when this Book was written; but it first came to be observed after Israel had entered into the land of Canaan, which makes perfect sense, as grape vines would be readily available there as opposed to the wilderness area they were in at this time.

 

The first three offerings (Burnt Offering, Leviticus, Chapter 1; Grain Offering, Leviticus, Chapter 2; Peace, or Well-Being Offering, Leviticus, Chapter 3) were voluntary offerings, which were to remind the giver that, in the end, everything that we are and all that we have belong to God.

 

Within these offerings are also found two additional offerings connected in Leviticus 7:22-27.  One is the prohibition of the use of the fat; comprised in how the blood is to be separated.  While the second is in Leviticus 7:28-36, which are the Laws concerning the Wave-Breast and the Heave-Thigh.  Accordingly, this gives us a total of twelve Levitical Laws.

 

The Burnt Offering symbolizes the total dedication of the one making the offering.

 

The Grain Offering symbolizes the dedication of our material possessions to God, whether they are food, animals, or something else.  Also called the Heave Offering (Leviticus, Chapter 7, or Wave Offering, Exo. 29:27), was the first portion of the produce of the land that was required to be separated and kept pure for consumption by the priests.  It also represented the first time an offering was made for the year or ever (see Lev. 8:27 & 29 in correlation with the previous verses).

 

The Peace Offering (Leviticus, Chapter 3, or Well-Being Offering) is the only sacrifice in which the participant receives a part of the offering for personal consumption.

 

The Purification Offering (Leviticus, Chapter 4) and the Trespass Offering (or “Sin Offering,” Lev, 5:14-6:7) were obligatory.  The Purification Offering, usually called the “Sin Offering,” was offered after ritual defilement or after the person became aware of a moral defilement through sin.  Both offerings reminded the people that, though wrongs have consequences, those wrongs can be “healed.”

 

Note:  Chapters 1 - 7 are offerings that deal with sacrifices made at the Brazen Altar.  Chapter 8 deals with the (1) Administration of the Aaronic priesthood, their (2) Cleansing (see Lev. 8:6 where we move from the Brazen Altar to the Brazen Laver), and their (3) Clothing.  Chapter 9 deals with “an atonement” (Lev. 9:7) offering for the priests and the entire congregation in preparation for meeting with God (something we should be doing every day through prayer). Chapter 10 deals with the Aaronic priesthood obedience to God (what today would be considered the consecration of your Church pastoral leadership).

 

The rest of the Book of Leviticus deals with instructions for ceremonial cleanliness.

 

Leviticus Chapter 11:1-47 equaling:  Clean And Unclean Animals;

Leviticus Chapter 12:1-8 equaling:  Purification After Childbirth;

Leviticus Chapters 13&14 equaling:  Purifying Leprous Diseases;

Leviticus Chapter 15:1-33 equaling:  The Day Of Atonement;

Leviticus Chapter 17:1-8 equaling:  The Selection For The Location For Sacrificing;

Leviticus Chapter 17:10-16 equaling:  Laws Against Eating Blood;

Leviticus Chapter 18:1-30 equaling:  Unlawful Sexual Relations;

Leviticus Chapters 19&20 equaling:  General Holiness Laws;

Leviticus Chapters 21&22 equaling:  Holiness Laws For The Priests.

 

In and interesting fact, the little most powerful word “if” is used 166 times in the Book of Leviticus.  I mention this because it is mostly used when discussing the actions of the priests, sanctification, Commandment keeping, redemption, and basically all living holy lives.  Remember, this Book is riddled with be holy, for I [God] Am Holy.

 

“The Gospel is given in precept in Leviticus.  Implicit obedience is required now, as then.  How essential it is that we understand the importance of this Word!”  CCh:90.3.