Leviticus, 1 in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
LITERATURE
I. General Data.
1. Name:
The third book of the Pentateuch is generally named by the
Jews according to the first word, wayyiqra' (Origen Ouikra,
by the Septuagint called according to its contents
Leuitikon, or Leueitikon, by the Vulgate, accordingly,
"Leviticus" (i.e. Liber), sometimes "Leviticum"). The Jews
have also another name taken from its contents, namely,
torath kohanim, "Law of the Priests."
2. Character of Book:
As a matter of fact ordinances pertaining to the priesthood,
to the Levitical system, and to the cults constitute a most
important part of this book; but specifically religious and
ethical commands, as we find them, e.g. in Lev 18 through
20, are not wanting; and there are also some historical
sections, which, however, are again connected with the
matter referring to the cults, namely the consecration of
the priests in Lev 8 and 9, the sin and the punishment of
two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (10:1 ff), and the
account of the stoning of a blasphemer (24:10 ff). Of the
Levites, on the other hand, the book does not treat at all.
They are mentioned only once and that incidentally in 25:32
ff. The laws are stated to have been given behar Cinay
(7:38; 25:1; 26:46; 27:34), which expression, on account of
Lev 11, in which Yahweh is described as speaking to Moses
out of the tent of meeting, is not to be translated "upon"
but "at" Mt. Sinai. The connection of this book with the
preceding and following books, i.e. Exodus and Numbers,
which is commonly acknowledged as being the case, at least
in some sense, leaves for the contents of Leviticus exactly
the period of a single month, since the last chronological
statement of Ex 40:17 as the time of the erection of the
tabernacle mentions the 1st day of the 1st month of the 2nd
year of the Exodus, and Nu 1:1 takes us to the 1st day of
the 2nd month of the same year. Within this time of one
month the consecration of the priests fills out 8 days (Lev
8:33; 9:1). A sequence in time is indicated only by Lev
16:1, which directly connects with what is reported in Lev
10 concerning Nadab and Abihu. In the same way the
ordinances given in 10:6 ff are connected with the events
described in 8:1 through 10:5. The laws are described as
being revelations of Yahweh, generally given to Moses
(compare 1:1; 4:1; 5:14; 6:19,24 (Hebrew 12,17); 7:22,28,
etc.); sometimes to Moses and Aaron (compare 11:1; 13:1;
14:33; 15:1, etc.), and, rarely, to Aaron alone (10:8). In
10:12 ff, Moses gives some directions to the priests, which
are based on a former revelation (compare 6:16 (Hebrew 9)
ff; 7:37 ff). In 10:16 ff, we have a difference of opinion
between Moses and Aaron, or rather his sons, which was
decided on the basis of an independent application of
principles given in Leviticus. Most of these commands are to
be announced to Israel (1:2; 4:2; 7:23,19; 9:3 ff; 11:2;
12:2; 15:2; 18:2, etc.); others to the priests (6:9,25
(Hebrew 2,18); 21:2; 22:2, etc.); or to the priests and the
Israelites (17:2; 22:18), while the directions in reference
to the Day of Atonement, with which Aaron was primarily
concerned (16:2), beginning with 16:29, without a special
superscription, are undeniably changed into injunctions
addressed to all Israel; compare also 21:24 and 21:2. As the
Book of Exodus treats of the communion which God offers on
His part to Israel and which culminates at last in His
dwelling in the tent of meeting (40:34 ff; compare under
EXODUS, I, 2), the Book of Leviticus contains the ordinances
which were to be carried out by the Israelites in religious,
ethical and cultural matters, in order to restore and
maintain this communion with God, notwithstanding the
imperfections and the guilt of the Israelites. And as this
book thus with good reason occupies its well established
place in the story of the founding and in the earliest
history of theocracy, so too even a casual survey and
intelligent glance at the contents of the book will show
that we have here a well-arranged and organic unity, a
conviction which is only confirmed and strengthened by the
presentation of the structure of the book in detail (see
under II, below).
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