Leviticus

NAME, Derived from the tribe of Levi.

AUTHOR, Moses, commonly accepted

KEY WORDS, “Access” and “Holiness”

SUBJECT MATTER, a digest of divine laws

CENTRAL PERSON, the high priest.

CENTRAL THEME, How can sinful man approach a Holy God? The word “Holy” appears eighty times in this book.

COMPANION BOOK, Hebrews

ANALYSIS

I. The Way of Access to God

(1) Through sacrifices and offerings

(a) Burnt offerings, signifying atonement and consecrations. # Le 2:1-9
(b) Meat (meal) offerings, signifying thanksgiving # Le 2:1,2
(c) Peace offerings, signifying fellowship # Le 7:11-15
(d) Sin offerings, signifying reconciliation # Le 4:1-35
(e) Trespass offerings, signifying cleansing from guilt # Le 6:2-7

(2) Through Priestly Mediation

The human priesthood;-

  • The call of # Le 8:1-5
  • the cleansing of # Le 8:6
  • garments of # Le 8:7-13
  • atonement for # Le 8:14-34
  • example of the sinfulness of Ch. 10 # Le 10:1

 II. Special Enactments Governing Israel

(1) As to food Ch. 11 # Le 11:1
(2) As to cleanliness, sanitation, customs, morals, &C., all emphasizing purity of life, as a condition of divine favour chs. 12-20 # Le 12:1 – 20:1
(3) Purity of priests and offerings Chs. 21. 22 # Le 21:1 – 22:1

 III. The Five Annual Solemnities, or Feasts

(1) The Feast of the Passover, beginning April 14. Commemorating the Exodus # Le 23:5
(2) The Feast of Pentecost, the sixth day of June, commemorating the giving of the law # Le 23.15
(3) The Feast of Trumpets, the first of October # Le 23:23-25
(4) The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of October, the high priest enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people # Le 16:1 23:27-32
(5) The Feast of Tabernacles, beginning the fifteenth day of October, commemorating the life in the wilderness, and thanksgiving for the harvest # Le 23:39-43

 IV. General Enactments and Instructions

(1) The Sabbatical Year; once in seven years the ground was left untilled. # Le 25:2-7
(2) The Year of Jubilee; once in fifty years the slaves were liberated, debtors were freed, and a general restitution took place. # Le 25:8-16
(3) Conditions of blessing, and warnings concerning chastisement # Le 26:1
(4) The law of vows # Le 27:1
(5) The book of Hebrews should be studied as a companion to Leviticus.