Leviticus Introduction
Synopsis:
The Israelites have been redeemed by God from Egyptian slavery. They are now encamped at Mount Sinai, the Tabernacle has been erected, and the Lord is meeting with Moses on how the Levitical priests are to conduct proper worship, sacrifices, stay ceremonial clean, and how to observe the holy days and festivals.
The central theme in Leviticus is holiness. The word holy appears 90 times and sanctify appears 17 times in the book which is the expectation and call of God after redeeming His chosen people. To be called a son of God, one needs to remain obedient and faithful to Him alone or else one will resort to behaving like foreign, pagan nations.
Other Book Titles:
- Hebrew - wayyiqra “And He called”
- Greek - Leutikon “that which pertains to the priests”
- Latin - Levitcus
Simple Outline:
1. The Laws of... (Leviticus 1-17)
A. The Offerings (Ch 1-7)
B. Consecration of the Priests (Ch 8-11)
C. Consecration of the People (Ch 11-15 )
D. National Atonement (Ch 16-17)
B. Consecration of the Priests (Ch 8-11)
C. Consecration of the People (Ch 11-15 )
D. National Atonement (Ch 16-17)
2. The Laws of Santification (Leviticus 18-27)
A. For the People (Ch 18-20)
B. For the Priest (Ch 21-22)
C. In Worship (Ch 23-24)
D. In the Land of Canaan (Ch 25-26)
E. Through Vows (Ch 27)
7 Jewish Festivals:
1. Passover (pesah, Heb)
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (matsot, Heb)
3. Day of Firstfruits (bikkurim, Heb)
4. Feast of Pentecost (or Weeks: shabuot, Heb)
5. Day of Trumpets (rosh hashanah, Heb)
6. Day of Atonement (yom kippur, Heb)
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering; sukkot, Heb)
Other Sacred Days:
- Sabbath - 7th Day of the Week (solemn rest)
- Sabbath Year - Every 7th year is a "year of release” to allow the land to lie fallow
- Year of Jubilee - 50th Year or the year after 7 weeks of years.
- The New Moon - 1st day of each new month, day of rest, special sacrifices, and blowing of trumpets (Num 28:11-15; Ps 81:3)
- Dedication (Lights or Hanukkah) 9th Month - 8-day feast
- Purim (Lots) - 12th Month 14/15th Day in celebration of Esther's courage in subverting Haman's plan to annhilate the Jews under King Xerxes of Persia.
Types of Offerings:
- Burnt Offering - Lev 1 (voluntary)
- Grain Offering - Lev 2 (voluntary)
- Peace Offering - Lev 3 (voluntary)
- Sin Offering - Lev 4 (required)
- Guilt Offering - Lev 5 (required)
Prior Chapter
Next Chapter