- LEVITICUS the third book of the Pentateuch; so called in the Vulgate,
after the LXX., because it treats chiefly of the Levitical service.
In the first section of the book (1-17), which exhibits the worship itself,
there is, (1.) A series of laws (1-7) regarding sacrifices, burnt-offerings,
meat-offerings, and thank-offerings (1-3), sin-offerings and
trespass-offerings (4; 5), followed by the law of the priestly duties in
connection with the offering of sacrifices (6; 7). (2.) An historical section
(8-10), giving an account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons (8);
Aaron’s first offering for himself and the people (9); Nadab and Abihu’s
presumption in offering “strange fire before Jehovah,” and their
punishment (10). (3.) Laws concerning purity, and the sacrifices and
ordinances for putting away impurity (11-16). An interesting fact may be
noted here. 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 [11] and Deuteronomy
[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., Jan. 1887). (4.) Laws marking the separation between Israel
and the heathen (17-20). (5.) Laws about the personal purity of the
priests, and their eating of the holy things (20; 21); about the offerings of
Israel, that they were to be without blemish (22:17-33); and about the due
celebration of the great festivals (23; 25). (6.) Then follow promises and
warnings to the people regarding obedience to these commandments,
closing with a section on vows.
The various ordinances contained in this book were all delivered in the
space of a month (comp. Exodus 40:17; Numbers 1:1), the first month of
the second year after the Exodus. It is the third book of Moses.
No book contains more of the very words of God. He is almost throughout
the whole of it the direct speaker. This book is a prophecy of things to