Leviticus:

 

Hebrew: wayyiqra—And he called

“Leviticus” is a Latinized form from the Greek of the LXX-leviticon—Having to do with the Levites.

The Levites were the tribe dedicated to the Lord’s service and from which came the priests

 

Authorship: Remember documentary hypothesis—JEDP. Many modern scholars attribute L. to P (priestly source). Traditionally ascribed to Moses—Lev. 27:34

50+ times is the phrase “The Lord spoke to Moses.”

 

Leviticus concentrates on the priestly system and the festivals.

 

Relationship to Gen. and Ex. In Gen. God chooses and prepares his people. In Exodus he calls and redeems them. In Lev. he makes them Holy, based on his own character.

 

Themes: Atonement

                I am the Lord Your God

Holiness as a theme—The people are to be Holy as God is Holy (Lev. 11:45; cf. 1 Pet. 1:16).

Holiness is God’s basic character. He is wholly other, apart, sacred.

 

 

Chapter 1-7

Five kinds of offerings:

                1. Burnt—sacrifice completely burned up

                2. Grain—fine flour with oil and frankincense—unleavened and with salt. For the Priests

                3. Peace/fellowship—animal without blemish—all the fat burned—eaten with unleavened bread

                                by the offerer and the priest.

                4. Sin—bull, goat, lamb, or birds or flour—all the fat burned—meat eaten by priests—remains

                                thrown out of camp

                5. Guilt—ram without blemish, make compensation—meat eaten by the priests

 

Different kinds of offerings—burnt, whole burnt, trespass, peace, appear in ancient 15th century B.C. literature (ancient city of Ugarit).

 

Repetition of the phrase: “And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.” 4:20,26,31,35; 5:6,10,13,16,18; 6:7 etc.